How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method (Advanced Fiction Writing) (Volume 1)
Why I picked it up:
I liked the approach of building your novel in repeating smaller forms like a fractal. I wanted to see how he used the analogy.
My Expectations:
I expected a unique approach to novel writing; something to do with the math of chaos theory.
Intended Audience:
Writers in the planning stage of the novel-writing process who don’t mind the odd fairy-tale retelling.
What I liked:
It covered the basics in a straight forward way. It did somewhat follow the fractal idea as it starts with a one sentence pitch and builds it to a synopsis (big picture) then looks at character overview leading to character specifics, then scenes and scene structure. I felt it had many of the same ideas as The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know
What made this book different from other writing instruction books is it is told in the form of a story itself. Part of me thought this was a great way to make the content less dry and incorporate examples of concepts while learning the concepts. Clever. But I could not get over the character choices. I could only take it in small doses and thought about giving up on it a couple of times.
What I didn’t like:
Goldilocks and the three bears, The Big Bad Wolf and the three little pigs, Robin Hood and Old Mother Hubbard are all at a writer’s conference. It annoyed me. And it wasn’t only that these characters were used, but they kept calling Goldilocks “Blondie” and that didn’t bother her, but Robin Hood kept leching on her, so she finally called him out for calling her “wench”. I also didn’t find the writing “method” unique, but, like the characters, a rehash of the basics.
Rating: ♦♦♦◊ 3.5 out of 5
Overall, I think the writing ideas are useful and clear, and the concept of presenting writing instruction through story is unique and a good idea, but I found the character choices grating and distracting which cheapened the effort.
. My cousin (whose birthday is the day before mine) got me this book for my birthday years ago when I started my first novel.
.
, in its gorgeous orange cover, was inspired by this song:
to choose from.
by Friedrich Nietzsche and 
.
by Seamus Heaney, specifically “Edward Thomas on the Lagans Road,” “A Clip,” and “A Chow.” This book of poems has great examples of using specific descriptive nouns.
by 
and for this review, I also read his book 
.
by Terrance Hayes, especially “Lighthead’s Guide To Addiction” and “Satchmo Returns To New Orleans.”
from the editors of Writer’s Digest. His book 
was mentioned in a section called Parent-Adult-Child which talked about three primary roles people/characters occupy in life.
, so I picked them up instead. They are both part of a series called 
by Mary Buckham yet, so I still wasn’t clear what sort of magic made setting active and hoped this book might clear that up.
which has a vibrant setting and uses setting (weather) as a character. Not only did this book answer my questions about active setting, it inspired me, through straight-forward exercises, to think about setting differently in my novel. This book really clicked for me and helped me understand aspects of setting that I hadn’t thought of before.
by Larry Brooks is intended to help authors “reinvigorate” rejected novels, but I found it lacking in tangible instruction and full of discouragement.
from the editors at Writer’s Digest and started looking up the different authors who had written chapters. Because I am focused on editing and revision, Larry Brooks’s book looked like a good choice.
by Cheryl B. Klein. I reviewed this book as my
by James Scott Bell
for when you’ve finished your draft and you’re ready to edit.
from Aristotle, it describes the five act dramatic structure of classical plays, but also works as a model of rising action.
tree. The skilled woodsman takes efficient strokes and controls where the tree falls, but the “city slicker” hacks away, exhausting himself and endangering his neighbors.
Experience Writing 