Review: How Not To Write A Novel

How Not To Write A Novel
by Sandra Newman & Howard Mittelmark

My rating:         Non-fiction / Writing

Illustrated with countless examples of so-bad-it's-good writing, this is a book of writing rules written with a lot more humour than most I've encountered. In fact, I have to admit that I read it more for the laughs than for the serious points: there's very little in here that I haven't heard before, but oh, it's funny.

There are sections on everything from plot and pacing to literary style - all of which are provided with carefully constructed, cringe-worthy examples featuring implausible heroines, feeble villains, and stereotypical sidekicks. Definitely a fun way of conveying what could otherwise have been rather dry material.