Resources for Fiction Writers

A part of our mission here at Castle Gate Press is to nurture authors. We know what it’s like to work hard polishing a novel only to receive rejection after rejection in response to query letters.

Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction to get on the right track. Other times, a full-blown revision is needed. Either way, to make it in the publishing industry you must have a willingness to learn as well as perseverance.

We have discovered a number of excellent resources. We would like to share them with you, and pray God will use them to bless your writing.

Click on the titles for more information.

A Guide to Writing Your Novel

Lee Roddy, a multi-published author of youth fiction, offers a comprehensive manual published by the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Instruction is based on thirty years of proven, practical methods of developing an idea into a complete story. The book covers creating characters, plotting, and tips for writing in a variety of genres. A good place to start. Beginning level. (Your can read a sample here: IEW Sample)

The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile

Written by agent and author, Noah Lukeman, this book reveals the necessary elements of good writing and points out errors to be avoided. It is an invaluable reference that allows authors to improve their technique as they learn to eliminate even the most subtle mistakes that are cause for rejection. Great for the beginning author.

Writing the Perfect Scene

Randy Ingermanson’s article does an excellent job of introducing the concept of motivation-reaction units (MRUs), a technique which makes the story flow and keeps it showing instead of telling. It also discusses the use of scenes and sequels and their importance in a novel. While you’re there, check out the rest of his website and blog; it’s a treasure trove of writing advice.

Susan May Warren’s How to Write a Novel website

An award-winning, best-selling Christian author of 50 novels offers the Online Story Crafters course, complete with the opportunity to ask questions of a coach. This is for beginning and intermediate novel writers. She also offers online resources, weekly video classes, and occasional face-to-face retreats for all levels. Where else can you get ongoing help from someone so successful?  Her methods work for any genre.

Plot Versus Character: A Balanced Approach to Writing Great Fiction

Jeff Gerke, former owner of Marcher Lord Press (now Enclave Publishing) shares from his experience as both author and publisher in this hands-on guide to creating a well-rounded novel. Filled with helpful examples and friendly instruction, Plot Versus Character takes the guesswork out of creating great fiction by giving you the tools you need to inject life into your characters and momentum into your plots.

Structuring Your Novel

In this IPPY and NIEA-Award winning guide from K.M. Weiland, author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will learn the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. It will show you how to perfectly time your story’s major events and will provide you with an unerring standard against which to evaluate your novel’s pacing and progression.

Write This Way: Take Your Novel to the Next Level

Write This Way, written by Castle Gate Press’s own Suzanne Hartmann, will lead new authors through the forest of grammatical rules and stylistic guidelines, and give them specific instructions on how to polish a novel. “This book is laid out so well, writers will have the information at their fingertips.” Linda Glaz, author and agent with the Hartline Literary Agency