<b>A complete guide to writing and selling your novel</b><p><b>So you want to write a novel?</b> Great! That's a worthy goal, no matter what your reason. But don't settle for just writing a novel. Aim high. Write a novel that you intend to sell to a publisher. <i>Writing Fiction for Dummies</i> is a complete guide designed to coach you every step along the path from beginning writer to royalty-earning author. Here are some things you'll learn in <i>Writing Fiction for Dummies</i>:<ul><li><b>Strategic Planning</b>: Pinpoint where you are on the roadmap to publication; discover what every reader desperately wants from a story; home in on a marketable category; choose from among the four most common creative styles; and learn the self-management methods of professional writers.<li dir="ltr"><b>Writing Powerful Fiction</b>: Construct a story world that rings true; create believable, unpredictable characters; build a strong plot with all six layers of complexity of a modern novel; and infuse it all with a strong theme.<li dir="ltr"><b>Self-Editing Your Novel</b>: Psychoanalyze your characters to bring them fully to life; edit your story structure from the top down; fix broken scenes; and polish your action and dialogue.<li dir="ltr"><b>Finding An Agent and Getting Published</b>: Write a query letter, a synopsis, and a proposal; pitch your work to agents and editors without fear.</ul><p><i><b>Writing Fiction For Dummies</b></i> takes you from being a <i>writer</i> to being an <i>author.</i> It can happen—if you have the talent and persistence to do what you need to do.