Develop the Skills to Get Published.

Have an idea for a story? Do you dream of seeing your name on bookstore shelves? Writing fiction (whether a story, a play, or a novel) takes talent, discipline, and research.  For beginners aspiring to greatness and more experienced writers looking to learn new techniques, there’s a book from the trusty For Dummies® series that may be able to help.

Writing Fiction For Dummies (Wiley, 978-0-470-53070-2, Dec. 2009) covers the entire publishing process, from crafting a unique manuscript to finding an agent. But what some forget is that one of the keys to writing fiction is reading fiction, and there is a difference between reading for enjoyment and reading as an exercise in creativity. This book will teach you how to effectively read in order to write.

The book provides advice on:

• How and what to research
• Planning a daily writing schedule
• Constructing believable characters
• The importance of engaging dialogue and voice
• Building a well-structured plot
• How to overcome writer's block
• How to structure, format, and present a proposal or manuscript
• Tips for editing a manuscript from top to bottom
• Business practices between authors, agents, publishers, and booksellers
  

Writing Fiction For Dummies can take you from being a writer to being an author. It can happen if you have the talent and persistence to do what you need to do.