No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days

Do You NaNo?

This is an excellent addition to any writer's reference shelf. Nanoers will definitely want to pack it for their 30-day cruise to NaNoLand aboard the S.O.S. NaNoWriMo. Don't forget to kennel your inner editor! Chris tells you how in his book. The book is packed with useful information for the Nanoer, and advice that can be applied to the writing life in general. Likewise, Chris shares the insights of past NaNoWriMo participants, describes some of the pitfalls that come with trying to write a 50,000 novel in just thirty days, and how to avoid those pitfalls. Even the non writer will find this book just plain fun to read, largely due in part to Chris' sense of humor and his affable style. No Plot? No Problem! has a permanent home on this writer/reviewer's bookshelf. Do you NaNo? Go ahead and give it a try! You didn't have anything else planned for the month of November did you?

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Recommended reading for NaNoWriMo participants

Each November, thousands of people attempt the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge - to write 50,000 words of original fiction in a month. This book, by the creator of the challenge, contains tips for writing a good novel as well as for surviving the physical, social, and mental demands of the challlenge. It is written in a very friendly tone and informal style. If you are looking for a good book on general novel writing, there are others I would recommend like Cleaver's Immediate Fiction. But if you need a guide to NaNoWriMo, this is it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Take the challenge and learn to write

If you want to learn how to write a lot, get this book and follow the instructions. Do it in November during NaNoWriMo and use their website to help encourage you. Before you know it you will have written a "novel". It may never be published and no one may ever read it, but you will have written 50,000 words and doing that will make writing anything an easier task.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sound Advice on Writing...and Fun Too!

How you would feel if you were told you could write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Would you picture yourself quitting your day job and retreating to some log cabin to write it? Could you see your name on the New York Times Bestseller list? Well, in Chris Baty¿s new book ¿No Plot? No Problem!,¿ the author explains just how the seemingly impossible goal is attainable............ Baty is the founder of the National Novel Writing Month challenge (NaNoWriMo), where everyone from the polished author to the newbie is given the task of writing a novel in 30 days. The book serves as a step-by-step guide on how to achieve the goal. Why is the writer only given 30 days? It¿s because people seem to work better when deadlines are established. Baty explains: ¿¿most of us become ¿one day¿ novelists. As in, `One day, I¿d really like to write a novel.¿ The problem is that that day never seems to come, and so we¿re stuck. Or we were stuck, anyway. Because as far as artistic deadlines go, this book comes with a doozy.¿............................. What about the person who hasn¿t a clue about novel writing? Not a problem. Baty shows you how to get started by developing characters, writing what you know or want to know, and participating in free range writing without worrying about editing. By the time you¿re done, you¿ll have a first draft of that great American novel you¿ve been promising yourself you¿d write. Well, uh, at least you¿ll have written an American novel, which is the goal here anyway. The editing phase and getting published are a whole different ball game. So if you¿re just writing a novel just to say you¿ve written one or to get a major publishing deal like a few of the NaNoWriMo participants have done, there¿s something in this book for you..................... ¿No Plot? No Problem!¿ is filled with sound advice on how to write the first draft of a novel, even if you don¿t adhere to the 30-day rule. Baty¿s humorous writing style makes reading the book a fun way to learn all about the writing process without necessarily taking the task too seriously. So if you¿re interested in writing a novel just for the hell of it or to sign that two-book deal with a major publisher, this book is great desk reference to help you get started.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you are going to NaNo

Is not much good for the general writer. BUT what it does do is tell you what to expect from yourself and others if you decide to join NaNoWriMo. And it tells you how to deal with those things you will meet.

I plan to NaNo this year and this makes me feel prepared for what I shall face.

Highly Recommended

Any aide that gets your butt in the chair and your pen to the paper is welcome. This book is accomplishes that and more.

I gave a 1 star rating because I object to the publishers' high prices for ebooks.

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

I will never lose it again!

I may lose my mind every November, but now I will always know where my copy of NPNP is! I bought a paper copy of the book three years ago and devoured it eagerly in the month of October, but when November rolled around, it had vanished. I floundered for a week, lost the plot, then had a nice little panic attack. I finally found the book in my daughter's room and did a dance of joy (literally? it looked silly, but I didn't care!). Pretty much the same thing happened the next two NaNoWriMo seasons - then I got my Nook and discovered NPNP was available in e-book form. Now my daughter can have the paper copy all to herself and I will always know where mine is! Plus, there's the added advantage of notes, highlights, and bookmarks, so my favorite parts are easy to find. My reccomendation? Get your copy, either at the bookstore or on your e-reader in plenty of time for November, but if you get a paper copy? well, hide it from your kids!

Get this book...NOW

Let me just say that after 28 days this book took me from a woman with writer's block to a woman with a novel! I have loved to write since I was very young but have never been able to complete anything beyond a novella. I picked up this book and began to read and it works! Not only do I now have a novel, I also have a sense that I can do absolutely ANYTHING. The writing in this book takes you through how the process of writing a novel in a month will be and if you follow-through, you too can have a novel in a month. GREAT JOB!!

Just in Time for NANOWRIMO 2010!

I enjoyed this book thoroughly, and found it just in time for Nanowrimo 2010.

Must read this book!

If you have any problem with getting started, this book will inspire you to just sit down and write! Not only is Chris Baty hilarious in his presentation of the 30-day write-a-thon, but his book holds you to the task!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Book That Lit a Fire

I've been an irregular writer for years, and almost never finished anything I started. It was this book that encouraged me to use the power of the Deadline to write my first novel in January of 2005 and my second that November. If you've ever tried writing only to find yourself dawdling and picking over your work too much, the deadline-driven, quantity-centered approach in this book may be the thing you need to just get the idea down already, without the need to get it right on the first try.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

You didn't buy this book yet? Problem!

Most definitely the resource of all resources for NaNoWriMo. Get yourself a copy before November!

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Are you ready to join in on the challenge.

This book is great!!! I read it in the Bookstore and several times people gave me weird looks as I laughed out loud. I definitly plan to enter the contest this year. It starts Nov 1st.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

NaNo 2004? Not too late!

I'm doing NaNo this year -- for the first time! I'm so glad this book came out, I feel like it has helped me so much in preparing. I'm 14 hours into the challenge, and I'm ready!

A writing guide that's fun and fresh

Done in the style of a 'field guide,' this book has none of the pretense or 'professorial-lecture-as-book'. The book is divided in two parts. The first part is part inspiration, part suggestions for 'gearing-up' for the task. The second half is about actually getting words on the page - daily goals, writing techniques, etc., - structured around the National Novel Writing Month challenge (aka NaNoWriMo) of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. A fun and fresh approach to writing fiction.

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