Welcome to the Easy Writing Newsletter, a 
weekly blast of inspiration to help you and 
your writing – creatively and financially. 

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Greetings

Over the last year, many people have asked me
to set up a critique group designed to help
writers.

IMHO, too many crit groups are destructive 
and cruel. I wanted to create something that
nurtured talent and encouraged self expression.

With this in mind I set up the Easy Way to Write
Critique Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ewtwcritique/

Okay, so there are rules - posted at the site -
but take a look and be assured that your work
will be treated kindly and fairly by all the
writers involved:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ewtwcritique/

As always, contact me for any reason at:
rob@easywaytowrite.com

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Building Novel Templates

During some recent chat sessions I’ve been banging 
on about building novel templates assuming everyone 
knows what I’m talking about!

I tend to forget that not everyone out there has 
read The Easy Way to Write a Novel. 

Really? How bizarre!

http://easywaytowrite.com/novel.html

Seriously, for the benefit of those who want to 
know how to go about constructing simple plans 
for their novels, here’s a simplified version of 
what’s in the book.

First, know your characters inside out, work 
through a rough story outline either in your 
head or on paper, making sure it’s your characters 
that define the story and not the other way round.

Okay, so that’s the tough bit. Now for the easy bit.

Get a piece of paper and write 1 to 10 down the 
left hand side with plenty of space for writing 
in between.

Next to No 1, write Intro.

Next to No 10, write Finale

At No 1, write one sentence, no more, describing 
your opening scene. 

At No 10, write one sentence describing the last 
scene in your book.

For instance, if you were writing a love story, 
next to No 1 you might write: ‘Jane finds herself 
alone after husband John dies’

At No 10, you might write ‘Dirk asks for Jane’s 
hand in marriage.’

It’s simplistic I know but that’s almost the point.

Now, against 2 to 9, write down the major plot points 
that will take your reader from the beginning of your 
novel to the end. These will act as cues for scenes 
in your writing.

Now read it through. Is there logic? Does it seem 
satisfying? Is there a moral, a point to the story?

If so, good. If not, start again. It’s no big deal.

If you’re happy with what you’ve got, write a couple 
of words, lines etc linking the plot points. These 
act as more cues for scenes in your novel.

Next, transfer everything on to PC and begin to 
expand on your short sentences.

Start to describe how you’re going to open scenes, 
what you’re going to write about, what actions take 
place, what the various conversations will be about 
and how issues might be set up and resolved.

At the end of this process you should have a draft 
template for your novel.

Read over if a few times to see if it includes 
everything you want to mention in your novel.

This is a great exercise for many reasons, not 
least that it helps you visualize your novel in 
its entirety, probably one of the best tricks 
you’ll ever have to pull as a writer!

Not only that, it can help you iron out problems 
before you start writing. Too many writers 
stumble during their novels because they run 
out of steam and can’t remember where it was 
going, or discover it’s now different from how 
they imagined it. 

I know planning novels is not everyone’s idea of 
creative bliss. Indeed many writers tell me they 
just can’t do it, don’t want to do it, and will 
fight to protect their right to make up the story 
as they go along.

Fine. That works for some.

But let me tell you something I’ve learnt, in my
long career teaching writers to write novels. 

With a novel template you are at least twenty 
times more likely to finish your novel than 
without one!	

Sobering thought, eh?

So before you dismiss the idea, at least give 
the template a fair go.

robparnell 2004, 
Author of the classic Internet bestseller:
The Easy Way to Write a Novel
http://www.easywaytowrite.com/novel.html

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Featured Resource

Thriller Writing. 6 weeks.

I just can’t help mentioning my new e-course 
again. It’s taken me a year to put together 
and I think it really is the best thriller 
writing resource available on the Net at 
this time!

Check out what’s on offer and join me for 
live interactive lessons and help and more:

http://easywaytowrite.com/thriller.html

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Inspiration, Which Rock is That Under?

Imagine life as a toad. Describe your day.

Or if that’s too easy, imagine you are a plant 
with a brain and can’t speak. How do you feel? 
How are you going to communicate your plight 
and overcome your obstacles?

Answers on a postcard please…

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Till next time, thanks for reading, 

Do keep well and happy,

Yours ever,

Rob@easywaytowrite.com
Creating Better Writers
http://easywaytowrite.com
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