Summary

"How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide" by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman is a humorous and insightful guide designed to help aspiring novelists steer clear of common pitfalls that often lead to rejection. Rather than providing prescriptive rules, the book offers observations on recurring mistakes seen in unpublished manuscripts, acting as a navigation system for writers to avoid creative dead ends.

The book is structured around various elements of novel writing, including plot, character development, style, perspective, and theme. It dissects common errors in each area with wit and illustrative examples, showing writers what not to do through entertaining scenarios and memorable chapter titles. From plot-related issues like weak setups and pacing problems to character flaws such as generic descriptions and unsympathetic heroes, the authors cover a wide range of potential missteps.

Mittelmark and Newman delve into the nuances of style, addressing issues with word choice, sentence structure, dialogue, and narrative voice. They caution against overusing jargon, relying on clichés, and creating unrealistic conversations. The book also tackles the challenges of setting, research, and theme, advising writers to avoid anachronisms, maintain authenticity, and integrate their message subtly.

In addition to creative aspects, "How Not to Write a Novel" offers practical guidance on navigating the publishing world, specifically focusing on query letters, synopses, and manuscript presentation. It warns against common blunders that can doom a novel's chances of being considered, such as inappropriate formatting, poorly written synopses, and unprofessional communication with agents and editors. The book aims to equip writers with the knowledge to avoid these pitfalls and increase their chances of success in the competitive publishing industry.