3D Fiction Fundamentals Collection
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/writing-reference-titles.html
 
Volume 1: First Draft Outline [formerly published as First Draft in 30 Days {A Novel Writer's System for Building a Complete and Cohesive Manuscript}]
 
“Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is an excellent approach to helping writers jumpstart their projects. It's well-written and personable--never boring. Most importantly, this straight forward, step-by-step approach succeeds in motivating writers to delve into writing their novels with a cohesive system that takes into account each writer's unique voice. This is not just some boring how-to book. Instead, Karen's book manages to excite writers by showing them they actually can do this! It guides writers through important facets that lay the groundwork for their novels. From the initial brainstorming and sketching out of a story's characters and plots, the writer begins to see the overall structure of their novel suddenly start to take shape. Additional chapters focus on research and the creation of the outline that then becomes the infrastructure for the novel. Karen then guides writers through each specific stage of their novel's beginning, middle, and end storyline arcs. She provides an intelligent approach to setting reasonable goals that can actually be met. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE just what it says. It's an inspiring and motivating resource that will exceed the expectations of most writers who may be intimidated at the process or have stalled in their writing projects.” ~screenwriter/feature filmmaker Thomas Mignone
 
“I’ve always been very suspicious of books or computer programs that offer up a system for writing. The methodologies proposed often claim to have nailed the perfect story structure, or character arc, and guarantee success if the writer sticks to the process described. Admittedly, a lot of these formulaic methodologies are aimed at people trying to write the next Hollywood blockbuster, but I’ve got an innate distrust of any process that claims to reduce the infinite variety of the novel down to a set of archetypes. So it was with some suspicion that I came across Karen Wiesner’s FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. I was faced with a significant rewrite and scratching my head about how to start. I’d always been a pantser, rather than a planner. I’d have a strong opening, a rough idea of where it was all going, and I’d start writing, hoping that like a walk in the fog, the vague shapes ahead would resolve themselves as I made my way along the path. Then I saw that The Guardian newspaper was running a series called How to Write a Book in 30 Days, as part of NaNoWriMo 2012. So I thought what the heck and decided to give it a go. It turned out that the article was exaggerating a bit. It was based on Karen Wiesner’s FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, and at the end of it you would have a fully-defined outline with all the plot, characters, research and background in place, ready to fill up with the actual words, rather than a finished book. I quickly found that, for me, the approach she was advocating actually worked and I’m now a committed planner following a bastardised/simplified version of the Wiesner method, despite years of standing in the corner and laughing cynically whenever someone ran into the room waving the next copy of ‘Desmond Throckle’s Epic Story Crafter 2.0′. So why am I hooked? To begin with Wiesner doesn’t really advocate a structural methodology–there’s none of this ‘Make sure your Contagonist enhances his feeling of Becoming before the Option Lock’ bollocks. The only approach she suggests is building a plot on a series of crises, failures and re-alignments, i.e. Heroine tries something, Heroine Fails, Heroine Thinks of Something Else, Heroine Tries Again, Heroine Fails--rinse and repeat until Heroine Succeeds in the penultimate chapter. You don’t have to follow this–but it gives you a prompt to keep the tension going if you are writing an action thriller or similar. This helped me tick off one of the cast iron rules of fiction, that there must be clarity and pace at all times. Essentially my version of Wiesner’s approach is as follows: 1) Sort out your characters  2) Sort out your locations 3) Decide your main plot 4) Toss in half a dozen subplots (including the romantic tension one) 5) Do your research/world building 6) Write a short outline 7) Rewrite the outline, each time expanding it to encompass plots and subplots, until you’ve turned your outline into a stack of ‘scenes’. And that, more or less, is it. It’s actually very simple, but if you stick to this approach you end with your story laid out in synopsis form, with all the plot wrinkles and character interactions sorted out before you start to write the actual words. As Wiesner points out, if you find out something is not working and you only have a synopsis to change it’s a lot easier and less traumatic than having to go back and rewrite massive portions of the actual novel itself. The beauty of it is that the stress and chances of writer’s block are hugely reduced. If I get stuck on a scene I can skip it and write one further down the list, knowing that because the story is already worked out I’m unlikely to bugger up the continuity or development. I can highly recommend her planning methodology.” ~author John Guy Collick
 
“My bookshelves groan when they see me approach with a new craft book. I have so many that I hesitate to buy one in the bookstore for fear that I actually own a copy and it's just hidden behind a mountain of other books. I was given the opportunity to review Karen S. Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and I think I can probably unburden my bookshelves. Wiesner's book is good with a solid and doable process. And, honestly, the book reads like a friend who is telling you how to write your draft, a good friend, not one who will leave you in the lurch. I took the challenge of trying to write a first draft in 30 days following her method. What makes FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE so essential is that even when Wiesner is explaining the basics of structure, you can't help but learn something. With each element that she explains, she illustrates it with excerpts from fiction you've probably read or, if you haven't, it's been on your list to read. Also, even if you are doing some of what Wiesner suggests, such as keeping a project folder, Wiesner illustrated how to organize your system so that it works for—not against—you and your book. Wiesner's days are grouped into six crucial areas, so chapter three, for example, includes days 7 to 13, when she suggests you research your idea. By day 30, you are revising the formatted outline that provides your novel with its solid frame helping you to, as Wiesner writes, 'lay out the full course of the story as it flows from beginning to end.' She recommends using this full outline to set the stage for your second draft. This outline keeps your plot more focused and helps to avoid any pitfalls. What worked for me with Wiesner's approach is that she gives you the steps—even providing the worksheets and schedules in her appendices—and encouragement for setting writing goals. Both are incredible for getting started on a novel or even with revising a novel. Even if you aren't sure that you want to follow an outline method, such as Wiesner proposes, FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE gave me some insight I needed about writing fiction. In fact, I found myself making notes on how to revise a work-in-progress while drafting another manuscript! A WOW! Colleague told me she hoped Wiesner's book got my pen really moving. It did and much more. It's not surprising; Wiesner is an accomplished author--talk about prolific! In a couple weeks, I'll review Wiesner's COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. I can't wait!” ~Elizabeth King Humphrey for WOW! Women On Writing
 
“Last month we reviewed Karen S. Wiesner’s COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. This book, FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, is actually an earlier book and the focus is on helping you to create a system of creating an outline so detailed and complete that it is actually your first draft. The beauty is that Wiesner can teach you how to do this in just 30 days. With this book, she hopes to save authors time and the heartache of having to toss out draft after draft of unfinished, not-quite-adequate fiction works. This book includes several worksheets and an enormous amount of information and instruction. She also offers examples, which I always find useful in the how-to books I study. If you write novels or are thinking about writing one, consider purchasing both FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and COHESIVE STORY BUIILDING. I’m writing a series of mysteries and I’m using both of these books in the process. Thank you, Karen.” ~Patricia Fry, President of SPAWN
 
“Novels are daunting, complicated, intimidating projects. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is a smart, sharp, tight step-by-step guide to outlining and wrapping our arms around the process. The guides, examples and worksheets give a writer no excuse to feel lost since Karen S. Wiesner holds your hand and leads you into the fear and out the other side with a solid first draft in hand. Remarkably sound textbook on how to get a novel out of your head and onto paper.” ~author and editor C. Hope Clark
 
“I'm ready to start outlining my story. Since I have past experience to help me judge whether I'm the kind of writer who works better from an outline or just keeping it all in his head and exploring as he goes, I know that a mix of the two, about 80%/20% is ideal. Chris Baty, the founder of NaNoWriMo wrote a book that I mean to read every year, called NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM that is both about the NaNoWriMo experience and how to fix up stories that are, shall we say, lacking in some areas. This was going to be the year that I read it, I was so on top of the game, but it was not to be. I was thwarted by some jerk that stole the library's copy. Undaunted, I went to book number two, which had not been stolen, but I'm still reading it, so you'll hear about it later. Book number three on my list is the actual topic of this review, FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE by Karen S. Wiesner. Knowing nothing about the book except the summary on Amazon, I expected a book much in the same vein as Chris Baty's book. What a surprise upon reading Ms. Wiesner's book to find it was nothing at all like I was expecting, and a pleasant surprise at that. What I thought I was going to be reading would be an upbeat attempt to guide a budding writer into creating a plot from an idea and following a complete story arc--in a month. It's not really what I need, and it's not what Wiesner had to offer. The 'first draft' referred to in the title of the book is not what I think of as a draft at all, but is instead a very thorough formatted outline, that while being created ends up generating a lot of documents to support the story. Wiesner's book turned out to be about workflow and creating a set of habits that will allow a writer to get from an idea in her head to a book in a very short amount of time. Ms. Wiesner is a published author, though I've never read any of her books. But, the fact that she is an author is important in how she wrote this book. This was not an intellectual proposal for how someone should write a book, based upon potentially outlandish notions of the importance, and thus how long should be spent, various parts of the story. It's written matter-of-factly, with a "'his is what I do' attitude, that upon completion of the book makes it seem completely reasonable and more importantly something I am capable of doing. Each of the chapters of the book is straight-forward--a boon in this type of book. We're given an introductory thought, an outline of the goal for specific days in the process, and then explanations of each part with examples from famous modern fiction, almost none of it her books, though apparently she has written quite a few. I take this for modesty as much as for the fact that this process is not terribly hard to reverse engineer for already written books, that were not only good enough to be published, but good enough to be famous--I may not have read half of them, but I had heard of all them. Wiesner starts you off knowing that there are six parts to her program. It all sounds very rational and dare I say, doable. I quite liked how straight-forward and unmystical her writing was. I felt FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE was one writer talking to another, albeit an experienced, successful writer talking to someone yet to attain those goals. It's funny how sometimes in life you end up getting exactly what you need by accident. Just as I am getting ready to write a comprehensive outline for a writing project, I read a book that tells me how to do this.” ~Unpublished author Eric on the sweaty bloggopotamus blog
 
“FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE gives a well-detailed, practical system of how to write a novel in a month. It can be personalized to work for anyone. Attempting to write a novel in thirty days is a tremendous undertaking. Award-winning author Karen Wiesner insists that anyone can do this by using her system. In this book, she reveals how she keeps ahead of her writing deadlines and continues to write prolifically. For a writer looking for a method to write a novel quickly, this book is one to consider. It's an essential tool for succeeding at NanoWrimo. Even if it is not used strictly on a thirty-day schedule, the method, charts, and forms will benefit writers looking for a way to write a novel in an organized manner. For more support on the second half of the process, Karen wrote COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. This book goes even deeper into her method and shows the writer how to turn the formatted outline into a well-written manuscript.” ~Suite101.com
 
"At this letter's writing, I have completed the third draft to a book I had been working on for years. The plot was very complex and I didn't have the tools to put it together. I came across FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE in my desperate search for an outlining system. Up to then I worked with very little structure, believing that it would stymie my creativity. I wrote a book before on this principal and, all told, it took me years and dozens and dozens of rewrites to finally get the book in shape. Needless to say I didn't sell a million copies as so many fresh writers are prone to think. I could only afford to promote it locally, but when venues to do this ran out I was faced with two dilemmas: come up with more money to promote it and writing another book. Then reality set in--it had taken six years to write that book! You can't make any money writing at that rate. Let's face it, everyone wants to be Stephen King or J.K Rowling, or Grisham or Sheldon but most of us aren't. But with a system like Mrs. Wiesner's it is possible to be more productive and that's what I was looking for, got, and all I expect from it. The key here is PRODUCTIVITY. By the way, when I got her system it took a while to clean up my WIP because of how messy it was. But her system enabled me to see all that I had done wrong. My book had guts and a soul, but it was just too fat and we started there, trimming it down and laying everything out on the table. We took out all the defective parts and fixed the ones that were absolutely essential, built a skeleton and slowly put them back in. Now it wasn't easy by a long-shot but after a while I could see how this baby, the one I'd been feeding and carrying for so many years would look like. When I finished it I allowed it to sit, as Wiesner recommended, and started another Idea, this time using her system from scratch. I couldn't believe it. I finished this Idea completely, from brainstorming, through research, preliminary and finally, the formatted outline in FOUR WEEKS! Two weeks following this I went back to my previous project and as suggested in her book, looked it over again and the perspective of six weeks away showed me even more than I saw when I left it. The moment of truth came and I started writing from her FORMATTED OUTLINE format. It was baby steps at first but soon I discovered that this system of ORGANIZATION didn't stymie creativity, in fact I felt liberated. Free from worrying about what to say or how to describe scenes, point-of-views, all those little things that can obscure the real truth of the story itself. Really it was like fitting puzzle pieces together, each scene locking perfectly and tightly with the next. I couldn't believe it; my wife couldn't believe it. Things in my life had gone from being impossible to 'here and now'. My biggest regret in life is that I didn't come across this system sooner. There are some good books on writing out there, from THE FICTION WRITER'S HANDBOOK by Hallie and Whit Burnett, THE WRITING HABIT by David Huddle and even Stephen King's ON WRITING. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is far, far superior in the same way as the computer is over the old IBM typewriters I used in school years ago. Stephen King's a great writer, some would argue a genius, but try to write as he suggested in his book and you'll find yourself rewriting every draft and ultimately discouraged altogether. ON WRITING is a great book with a lot of invaluable insight and info but if you want to survive in this game and write more than one book every ten years and write something you can be proud of, get Mrs. Wiesner's system." ~Unpublished author
 
"As a perpetual dieter and unorganized fiction writer, there are two things of which I am most skeptical: quick weight-loss schemes and programs that claim to help scattered writing souls like myself compose fiction from an outline. While I still haven't found anything to help my waistline more than following the good, old-fashioned adage of eat-less-exercise-more, I dare say Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE has me reconsidering--and almost excited about--the value of outlining prior to writing. Like diet programs, I've tried every plotting/structure/organizing plan for writers known to mankind. From books to index cards to computer programs and everything in between, I accepted long ago that I'm a pantser (as opposed to the neat and orderly plotter) and that to try and organize my fiction writing process was an exercise in futility. While I write from outline in my nonfiction pieces, the impulsive, dynamic nature of fiction made me believe it almost impossible to reign in on the direction of my stories in advance. Until Wiesner's book. Though I read with an open mind, the skeptic in the back of my mind continued reminding me of the similarities between the first few worksheets in the book and other methods that haven't worked for me. I've done the character, setting and plot sketches before only to leave them behind (Days 1-6). I've composed lengthy lists of information I need to research for inclusion in my second drafts (Days 7-13). I've even tried writing fiction from an elaborately created outline nearly half the length of the final book (Days 16-30). What I hadn't done is consider my story sections (beginning, middle and end) with the 30 Days' Story Evolution Worksheet and information (Days 14-15). Part Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey, part your own application, the Story Evolution information was just what my non-structured brain needed to take those necessary baby steps to get me from the point of idea/concept/writing to a solid, workable, sensible outline I could use to get me to my final draft. In fact, after reading the story evolution chapters, I proceeded to head to bed after a long day of teaching, but the impact of those chapters, the possibilities of their being able to truly change the way I approached my writing excited me so much I had to get up and try for myself. In a matter of minutes, I recreated the worksheets on my laptop, printed them off and in an hour had the entire first third of my story outlined. I don't recall being so excited by brainstorming and outlining in a long time. Okay, quite possibly never--which illustrates my point. In addition to the schedules, worksheets and goal sheets in the book, there are also sections on how to use the 30 Day Method if you have a work in progress, how to keep track of romance, mystery and suspense/thriller plotlines if that's your genre and even suggestions and plans on how to outline your career path as a writer. While it's true each writer approaches their craft in a unique way, there is a great deal of information to be learned from Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. Even if you don't use her structure, thinking of the elements of story before you're knee-deep in plot, scene and structure couldn't hurt. Then again, neither would an extra jog on the treadmill…." ~Writer2Writer.com
 
5 stars! "Nicely laid out plan! 1) I love lists and templates and this has 'em readily available. 2) Chapters aren't too long or filled with unnecessary examples. She states her points, gives an example then tells you what page the template is on so you can fill in your own. Efficient and not a waste of my time. 3) Like any novel writing program, if you stick with it you'll get it done. So if you go this route, do it from beginning to end. A very good book. Another plan that makes it look doable if one simply commits to writing." ~Spartan Soul on Amazon
 
4 stars! "Don't let Karen Wiesner's romance background scare you away. This woman is a professional, and she's got some sensible suggestions. She's written a lot of books in a lot of genres. Perhaps even more impressive is her planning acumen. Wiesner is always two, three novels ahead of the game, thanks to her formatted outline. Many writers either can't or don't want to outline their novels in advance. Wiesner couldn't either at first until she developed the formatted outline. Wiesner refers to the formatted outline as the first draft of the book. When she revises, she revises the outline rather than suffer through countless drafts of the manuscript. This woman is a real left-brainer. She plans virtually everything, including time to let the manuscript marinate. The appendices include character, setting, plot, and research outlines as well as a place to write potential interview questions for possible experts and your characters. Her story evolution worksheet is almost as helpful as the formatted outline. And--oh,yes--I almost forgot chapter eight. It's for us poor shleps who already have a completed manuscript with all kinds of holes. She shows us how to use her system to salvage the mess. As one who has endured twenty-three drafts on his first effort, Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is a godsend." ~Dave Schwinghammer on Amazon
 
5 stars! "This is a great book if you're the type of writer who is organized and needs to have structure. The book is very detailed and thorough. Series writers might enjoy this. I've used a plot outline before that was about 14 pages, this method builds a 60-paged or over outline! You'd include every detail so that you can sit down and do the creative work on your novel. I'd highly recommend this for the writer who needs lots and lots of structure to do the creative work. I never realized that I was missing so much until I began to use this method." ~Comfortably Sisterlocked on Amazon
 
"I have been at this for a number of years but frustration and disorganization almost did me in. I needed a system and FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is it! I have made a commitment and have submitted to it entirely. This book clarifies that working hard isn't the only thing; working smart is the edge and this system is that. I admire what the author is doing for writers like me and I believe this book is very significant in my development. Disorganization has been like a disease in my life, and this book has enabled me to see a lot of things more clearly. Putting everything in a format (like Karen points out) demystifies the process. I wish a lot more writers were as unselfish as this author is in passing along concrete advice. I've scanned a lot of books proposing what FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE delivers and none of them comes close. Going in, I had no illusions that I would actually complete my book in 30 days right off, but I can see measurable progress and, with practice, I can see myself actually reaching goals I could only dream of. Now I understand how the seasoned writers can be so productive. It's all in the outline, which I've never respected up until this time, until FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE opened my eyes. Underachievers like me are going to benefit tremendously off this book and some of us will actually realize our dreams. Thank you." ~Unpublished Author Johnny Booker
 
"I have officially put two novels through the FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE process. The first was already in progress, the second was comprised of just a few random scene cards. Normally, I'm an obsessive organizer. My first novel has been hindered by my habit of trying to get things in some order. I was almost to a point of good organization having adopted this system to help me out. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE finally got me situated." ~a Writer
 
"FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is a method of outlining. I can hear the shrieks from the anti-outliners out there, but if you need organization focused on the elements that make a good novel then this is for you. This book will not write a novel for you. If you cannot write, it will not help. There are three major parts: The method itself, applying the method to a work in progress and organizing career goals. I did not feel a need for the last part as I follow my own goal system already, but this could come in handy for someone who has not thought this through. The method itself is a layering of elements. There are six stages, which are spread out over 30 days. Wiesner includes the worksheets in the back of the book for each part of her method. Wiesner's worksheets are very broad on this. You can get much more detailed if you need to. The plot sketch is a single worksheet where you lay out motives, plots and subplots. This was handy and something I would constantly refer to in my novels. Days 4 through 6 solidified my novels for me. For these three days, you are to lay out your novel scene by scene. I did a lot of editing at this stage. I moved scenes around when I realized that they would suit better other places, and then edited my setting sketches to match. I added chapters as I realized what I needed to add and again revised my sketches. By the end, I had a good set of estimated chapters. Overall I was a very pleased with the product. Thanks to Wiesner I finally have an organizational method that works for me. The parts that I felt were overkill I had no problem stripping away. I've begun applying this to short stories and other fiction that I write as well. I've recommend this book to all my writer friends. It has truly been helpful. A note on FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS and Nanowrimo: I would fully recommend using this method to outline for Nanowrimo. It does depend on what your goal for Nano is but if you want a working draft, I believe this is a solid way to start. My second novel is a Nano novel, and I used this method to outline. So far, my output is much better than the previous 4 years that I have participated." ~author Michelle Norton
 
"Writers are always at their most productive when their work has gathered momentum, when they know where they are going and are able to drive their material forward to achieve the end result they want. Giving your novel the desired momentum is what Karen Wiesner’s book is all about. She sets up a 30-day programme which takes you from starting your story through to having the first draft completed. They are 30 full working days: by the end of day six you should have completed your character sketches, your setting sketches and your plot sketches and should have brought all these together into a preliminary outline. However, you don’t even get to day one until you have brainstormed your story, which means until you have a good idea in your mind of the story you want to write. For the Karen Wiesner programme to work, you need to have thoughts and ideas in your brain that you are simply bursting to get down on paper. The preliminary outline you should have by end of day six gets driven towards what Karen Wiesner calls a formatted outline by the end of day 24. The last six days are spent fleshing out the formatted outline into a first draft" ~Writers' News Writing Magazine 
 
"The idea that I could write a first draft, or in Wiesner's case, an incredibly detailed outline (which she equates to a first draft), is seductive. Summary: Good for the plotter of plotters. What's awesome about it? The research list, and character sketches. I love the research list. The idea behind the research list is that you jot down things you need to research while you outline and then research them on days set aside for the task. This is great because it allows you to stay focused on the task at hand without worrying about forgetting all of the things you still need to look up. At some point most of us fill out character bios, but Wiesner has turned this into a step in her 30-day plan, calling them sketches. What I like most about this is that they're steps in the process and filling them out forces you to think not just about your character, but your locations and how both fit into the story. Wiesner's template for a location sketch is also quite good. Conclusion: If you're the kind of person who likes to plan everything to the nth degree you're going to love FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. Track down a copy now and devour it. If you're even a little bit on the pantser side of the scale you'll still find things to love. Take what you like and add it to your own writing method." ~author Belinda Crawford
 
"Writers need a productive way to funnel ideas and Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE offers novices and veterans such a program. Many books about writing present inept opinions or convoluted theories. A prolific novelist, Wiesner focuses on the nuts-and-bolts system for outlining works in progress as well as for brand-new projects. Her method simplifies complex steps into achievable daily goals. Worksheets included in the book make accomplishing these goals a joy. Sourpusses may bear stiff upper lips sneering at what they see as factory fiction. Let them! Wiesner never tells anyone what to write. She simply explains one way to marshal yours ideas. That's all, but that's everything. Her system organizes the chaos of creation. Order clarifies, and clarity removes self-doubt. Confidence--the trait every writer needs--flowers in just a month's time with FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE." ~Writer's Digest Book Club member Lawrence McGuire
 
5 stars! "A must-have for any writer's book shelf! Karen S. Wiesner's book gives you the tools you'll need to successfully organize and outline your novel in a month. Rendered in an easy-to-read style, the author provides readers with instructions on how to finally get the book idea that's stuck in their heads OUT on paper and into a form that assists in efficiently delivering the first-draft of a manuscript quicker than they ever thought possible. Do yourself a favor: buy this book!" ~B. Walton-Porter, editor of Scribe & Quill Newsletter
 
"I’m so excited and happy to share this book with everyone at Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. Like many authors I’m a fly by your seat writer. I let the characters pull me along. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. Oftimes inconsistencies arise and plot problems overwhelm a writer; this leads to extensive revisions, dismay, and another unfinished manuscript. In today’s fast paced world, time is valuable. What author wants to spend months revising a book? Many of us hope to become a multi-seller like Wiesner. To do that we need a plan that will help us work quickly and more efficiently. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is crafted to help you build a cohesive story through outlining. The author has provided the reader with worksheets, day pages and goal pages. Wiesner never says it’s easy and on page two, she defines her first draft concept as being a comprehensive outline, the foundation on which your entire book will rest. She also states plainly that at first it might take you longer to produce that first drafted outline. However, once you’ve done it several times it will become easier, you will be writing faster, and most importantly, have a saleable plot. That statement prompted me to try her method. I started with three stories that have been percolating for years but have not developed into the richly flavored story that I had hoped they would become. I began with Worksheet 1 (The Character Sketch) and found out a lot of interesting things about my characters. I liked the worksheet because it was short but yet it let me envision my characters more clearly. I see changes that I need to incorporate already. I was pleasantly shocked when I got to the Plot sketch worksheet and ended up writing down ideas that I didn’t even know existed in my head. The research worksheet helped me target important details that I needed on. The summary sketch painted an entire picture of the beginning of my book. In less than a week, I completed the first basic steps for my three overdue stories and saw them bubble to life. This method has worked for her, it’s working for me, and it can work for you too if you are willing to give it a try. Don’t take my word for it though, check out FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE." ~Tamara Fairchild for Celtic Hearts Romance Writers "Call of the Clans" Newsletter
 
"Saying Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is about outlining is like saying that Titanic is about a boat! This detailed yet easy-to-follow approach gives me hope that the next time I tackle my long-postponed novel, I might actually manage to finish it!" ~author Moira Allen and editor on Writing-World.com
"This book reminds me of an income tax form: It may be a headache to fill out, but it will get you there. If you have no idea how to write your novel, this will practically do it for you, with a good deal of good advice along the way." ~author Piers Anthony
 
"An outstanding resource! As both a fiction author and a writing instructor, I’ve pored through more than my fair share of how to books, many of which deal with the problems of organizing and outlining. Most are not only boring, but prove exceptionally unhelpful. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is different. Author Karen S. Wiesner–an outstanding fiction writer, herself–provides an easy to follow method that not only guides any writer through the novel-creation maze, but does so in a compelling, fun-to-read manner. Wiesner covers all the bases, from scheduling writing time to researching to making (through the use of superbly crafted worksheets) the dreaded outlining process a breeze. Highly recommended for beginners and pros alike!" ~author Elizabeth Dearl
 
"All the Tool--A Swiss Army Knife for First Drafts! I ordered Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and it showed up last week. I've read about half of it, and find a lot to like in the book--the 30 day schedule seems a bit daunting, but there is so much organizational stuff in her book that I know I'll find ways to adapt many of her strategies to the way I research, outline, write, procrastinate (oops, strike that one!) and rewrite. The author clearly invested a lot of herself in making the book a highly-usable tool. The book is head-and-shoulders above the typical craft how-to guide." ~author Charles Entwistle on Amazon
 
"Plotting Simplified! If you've ever had trouble plotting a book, then FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE will definitely give you the boost you need. The day by day instructions lead you through every step of the process, from character sketches on Day 1 to creating a formatted outline on the last two days. I've never done much plotting before. I'd just get a vague idea in my head and sit down to write. No wonder most of my stories fizzled out somewhere in the middle. Karen Wiesner's book has shown me the way. I've been following her plan and I'm amazed at how smoothly everything's going. I'm working on a story I've started before, but never finished because I'd become lost in the middle. I didn't know my characters or my setting well enough. I had no subplots so the one plot had to carry the entire story. This time I know the people much better. I can see my settings. And things are already happening that I hadn't planned, like a heart attack I hadn't known about before. If plotting's always been difficult, or if you thought you didn't need to plot, give Karen's book a try. It's easier than you thought, and gives you a formatted outline that takes you by the hand and leads you from chapter to chapter as you write your story." ~writer Florence Cardinal
 
"The review should never be about the reviewer, but it’s only fair to issue a caveat before I start. I have just taken three years to write a novel. That’s approximately 1100 days, which is about 980 more days than Karen promises to get you through a novel. (I did construct an outline—about halfway through the rough draft—and then promptly departed from it.) This is the guy reviewing a book on outlining and organizing to such an extent, you can actually create a first draft novel in a month. And even a congenitally untidy novelist such as myself can appreciate this marvelous guide. Karen’s book is as much about structuring your writing life as structuring your novel. Here you’ll fine timelines, worksheets, and formats, all designed to help you put the creative coffeepot on to perk (brewing is 75% of the process, Karen says), get your research done, organize your plot and keep it moving forward, and—perhaps most importantly, to finish the darn thing! Here’s a bonus: whether you want to buy into Karen’s superstructure or not, reading this book will help you understand and appreciate the anatomy of a novel—yours or anybody else’s—no matter how long it takes you to write it. When she gets you through your novel, Karen goes ahead and helps you outline your entire career! For the organizationally impaired, this is a must! Karen obviously practices what’s she’s preaching here, by the way. She’s published a lot of books in a lot of genres." ~author and writing instructor Marshall J. Cook
 
"A wonderful resource for writers! This book guides fiction writers through a method for building a detailed outline of a manuscript. Ms. Wiesner makes it clear in her introduction that the outline itself is NOT a first draft, but that if her method has been followed, the resulting first draft will be more polished than one written without it. Beginning with brainstorming, Ms. Wiesner leads the novelist through the various components required to create a work of fiction--from characters and research to plot and setting, she covers it all. Detailed worksheets are provided to record the results of the brainstorming and questions posed throughout the chapters. For those who have completed an ms., but are a little stuck, she includes a chapter adapting her method that will help jumpstart the ms. By analysing what you've done, what works and what doesn't, you can move forward. So far what has impressed me the most about the book is the emphasis by the author on the fact this is a method that can be adapted to an individual writer's needs. NOTHING is set in stone. She's giving you tools to work with, not a set of iron-clad rules on how to write a first draft. Its very flexibility is what makes it so appealing. I can see myself using it and making it work. Once I've had a chance to apply it to my upcoming new ms, I'll update my review. But overall, I'm EXTREMELY impressed. This book has inspired and energized me like no other how-to book for writers I've read before." ~writer Teresa Basinski Eckford
 
"I wish I’d read a book like FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE when I started out. Karen Wiesner reveals step-by-step in a friendly yet authoritative style how to save time and brain explosions when writing a novel from scratch. Both eager beginning writers who want sure-fire advice and more advanced published writers who work against deadlines can learn valuable insights by studying this author’s personal methods. Karen Wiesner shows how the plan for a book goes way beyond pounding out a static outline. For Wiesner, the outline is a flexible, creative extension to the way we set goals for every part of our productive lives. Her method brings a sense of can do mastery to writers, making them so eager to fill in the blanks of their story that the actual novel evolves almost magically, completing itself before we realize all the work writing entails. The only problem with this book on writing? You have no excuse any more for not finishing your novel in a timely fashion." ~author and writing instructor Christine DeSmet
 
"The adjective 'productive' has many synonyms: creative, prolific, fruitful, dynamic—isn’t that exactly what every writer wants to be? Karen Wiesner’s offer that I read and test FIRST DRAFT OUTINE was a godsend. I had roughly outlined my third in a series and had drafted only a quarter of it—-in five months. Not exactly something to write home about. I was procrastinating extensively, I allowed myself to get side-tracked by other projects, and—-worst of all—-I was totally disorganized. Now that I use her method, I write at a steady pace and enjoy it more than ever. Can her book do the same for other writers? I am convinced that it can. Karen speaks to you directly, frankly, cheerfully. She shares all her secrets and lets you look over her shoulder as she plots, outlines and edits a novel from start to finish at breakneck speed. She never sounds patronizing. Instead, she points out that there is no wrong way to write a book, but that some ways are too ineffective for a writer who wants to write salable books on a regular basis. She doesn’t bore you with theories. This how-to book is a wonderful proof that every fiction writer’s prime directive, 'show, don’t tell', applies to non-fiction as well. Karen is like a dance instructor who knows how to make people tango with grace even when they have two left feet. With the help of her worksheets I found it easy and satisfying to put her method into practice. I profited immensely from reading this book, and I highly recommend it to every writer who is tired of doing endless rewrites. After testing Karen’s method once, you’ll never suffer from writers’ block again." ~author Christine Spindler
 
"Fiction Writing Demystified: Unpublished? Suffering from sagging middles and burn out? Losing track of parallel plots? Overwhelmed? Karen Wiesner gives wonderfully specific tips and examples to help any novelist become [a productive writer]. This is a user-friendly how-to book. While muses are scintillating, Wiesner assures us that goals, timelines, and an outline, which keeps track of plot threads, are the tools that ensure success. Her outlining technique demonstrates how to 'tag and trace' plot threads which will cut the need for rewrites. She explains her technique, then demonstrates it with examples from her own writing. In specific, direct prose she shares her process. She demystifies the process of keeping track of several plots at once. When she looks at her outline, she knows exactly what she will be writing on any given day. Wiesner’s career is living proof that her method works, and her specific tools give hope to those of us who have not published a novel. If you rely on the muse for inspiration and get bogged down in the midst of projects, find practical tips for organization and outlining in FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. Use the techniques described here to keep writer’s block at bay." ~unpublished fiction author B. Lynn Goodwin, editor of WriterAdvice Newsletter
 
"My objective analysis of Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE from the standpoint of content--it is first rate. There is nothing arbitrary or random about her call for a tightly-disciplined approach to book creation. Dispersing learned counsel in rapid-fire bursts, she lays out a good sequence for outlining your book. Preliminary thoughts, research, story evolution, formatted outline, evaluate strength, a revistation, and, importantly, putting it on a shelf for a quiet period of rest and final reflection before proceeding into the first draft. A good pecking order." ~author Jack Payne on Amazon
 
"Bringing order to the process, FIRST DRAFT OULINE by Karen Wiesner presents an orderly approach to the potentially messy process of creating a novel. Whether or not you ever actually write an entire first draft within thirty days, Wiesner's format provides a track to run on, to help get organized. It's an opportunity to satisfy the left brain's need for structure and organization, so the right brain can romp and play. No doubt, some readers will cringe at the 30-day approach. As novelists, we often lack deadlines, self-imposed or not. This is a potential pitfall, as the time absorbed in the completion of any task tends to expand to the time available. Some writers may worry that the resulting formatted outline may not really qualify as a first draft. Rather than be turned off by the whole concept of outlining and organization, use the portions that work for you and ignore the rest. And if you're like me, you occasionally end up with a manuscript that 'needs something.' Wiesner outlines a process for using FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE to troubleshoot a manuscript and get back on track. This by itself is worth the price of the book." ~ Mike Klaassen for Helium
 
5 Stars! “Writers seeking concrete a path for improvement could not go wrong with a guide which provides rules and guidelines for improved writing. Karen S. Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE doesn't just admonish that rewrites are necessary: it shows how to avoid rewrites by producing an outline so detailed that it can double as a first draft. Character sketches, plots, scenes: all can be condensed into a draft outline which works, and Wiesner's chapters set the foundation for producing outlines for all aspects of plots, subplots and more.” ~Midwest Book Review
 
5 Stars! "Excellent For New and Seasoned Writers Alike! Karen Wiesner has a deceptively simple system that she has used to get published and stay published as an author. Lucky me, she has chosen to format that system into something the rest of us can use and adapt to our own work. Karen gives us easy to use worksheets for each step in forming a detailed picture of the work we want to create. Personally, I have been one of those make-it-up-as-I-go-along writers my entire life, and while I could come up with some decent ideas for stories and even entire sections of them, I would inevitably stall and abandon project after project. Not a very good way to get published. This method is so much better. Far from the staid, rigid outlines of English Class term papers, this system lets you create a fluid, adaptable outline that is easily translated into the story you want to write. You're not limited to writing in sequence, though the suggestion is to get as far along with outlining your chapters in order as you can. If you get stuck part way through, you can work on writing the already outlined chapters, or writing scenes for later chapters, for example. This is great for me, because I often get scene ideas in my head long before I'm ready for them to occur in the story. Now I can create them, and work them in as I'm ready for them. I find it very simple to create my own worksheets, and once you have them set up you can adapt them into your own templates. Some of the details Karen needs may not be what I need or you need, and that's the beauty of it. Karen isn't telling anyone to write exactly like she writes; she encourages writers to make the system personal and adapt it to fit their own projects. While some people may think "Well, what do I need her book for, then? I could just make up my own sheets." I say this: I always vaguely knew I needed some kind of outlining system even while I struggled with the unstructured way, but again, I didn't know where to begin. This book gives you that beginning. It gives you the bones of a good, easy to use method and lets YOU take it where you need it to go. I was fortunate enough to participate in an online workshop with Karen Wiesner on this method and receive personal answers to my questions, in conjunction to delving into the book. She is very generous with both her time and advice, and the tone of her book reflects that about her. As soon as I began Karen's system, I found myself invigorated and refreshed with respect to my writing, and new ideas seemed to pop up every day. I'm currently working on my novel using the "First Draft" method, and I feel confident for the first time ever that I will have a completed manuscript done and ready to try and publish within a reasonable time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fresh approach to writing." ~Coco Rogers on Amazon
 
5 Stars! "In reading this book, it's obvious that Karen Wiesner knows her craft. I've been working on my novel series for years ever since the idea first came to me in 1991. I wrote the first draft in 1995, yet since I was only just starting out as a writer and hadn't developed my style yet, I scrapped the first draft. I started researching and brainstorming for and writing the current version of my story yet I kept hitting walls when it came to plot development. Once every few years I would get inspired and start working on this story again. Yet, I kept hitting those walls. So, I decided to give this a try. So, today I did conceptual drawings of characters and settings. In just the first day I've come up with all of the major plot lines for the first 3 novels in the series as well as the major plot lines for the final book in the series (of which there will be a total of seven). Merely looking at my conceptual drawings I keep having those "A-Ha!" moments and everything just keeps coming to me. I'll start with the rest of this process tomorrow. I can't wait to see where this journey leads me. I'm tempted to just start banging my novels out. I think I'll give more of this new strategy a try before I actually start writing the meat and potatoes of my manuscript. I'll update this review as I outline and write the rest of my series. I've shared my ideas with a few trusted confidants and they're all in awe. I'm very excited and feel very energized to keep on writing. Those creative floodgates have opened and ideas full of win and awesome just keep pouring out.  This process will help you outline your story and once you have the outline fleshed out the First Draft should come out naturally and quickly." ~E. Vickers on Amazon
 
5 Stars! "GREAT GREAT GREAT! I read this book and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. They're not set up to require you to buy both, but they complement each other very well. I got just as much helpful info from each book, not repeats like I've found from other 'series'. I can't say enough good things about this book. I can now figure out where my issues are in each MS, prop up the middles and get them cohesive. While I may have been able to eventually get published without the help of these books, I don't think it would have happened any time soon. At first glance, her method looks a bit complicated. But after reading the book all the way through, and starting at the beginning, It is rather very simple. There are some things I use (99%) while I discard the items that don't work for me." ~BookLover13 on Amazon
 
4 Stars! "This is an excellent book for anyone who gets lost in the middle of writing a novel and needs an organising structure. I can understand why a writer might react negatively to the idea of using an outline when writing a first draft, especially if they have never done it before. But this book does teach an invaluable method of brainstorming and harnessing all of your creativity PLUS organising the chaos so that you get your book written. Give it a try and you'll soon discover that it is easy to be more creative with outlines than without them. If you don't use outlines, take note - they are like steroids for your Muse. I did find this book inspiring as well as very useful, and I found that using the techniques in this book enabled me to create more wonderful, more crafted and more satisfying books. In my experience, grinding to a halt without finishing my novel - that's ugly. This brilliant book takes away the ugliness.  I use this book regularly, years after I first bought it. I also use many of the principles in this book when I am teaching creative writing to students of all ages. It's a great book - I heartily recommend getting it and putting it to work for you. You'll be creative in ways you only hoped and dreamed about before." ~Mr. P. D. Williams on Amazon
 
Volume 2: Cohesive Story Building [formerly published as From First Draft to Finished Novel {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building}]
 
5 Stars! “I was fortunate to get to review Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OULINE before diving into COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. In this book on crafting a novel, Wiesner continues to carefully lead you through different layers of the process of writing—and finishing—a novel. Peeling back the layers, Wiesner helps you to set the stage for building a strong and cohesive story. As she does in FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, she provides real-life examples from drafts and published novels. Wiesner puts together a blueprint to follow that starts with setting forth and laying a strong foundation. She encourages brainstorming and then researching. Along the way, Wiesner gives writers the tools to understand how to write their stories. Her appendices include a glossary that helps to explain some of the elements of fiction writing. Wiesner also gives writers the easy-to-follow checklists and exercises to keep on track. After laying the solid foundation, Wiesner spends two parts putting up the walls of your story. She helps to guide writers through evaluating their own stories, which is essential if you are going to make the story work. Then, thinking in layers, Wiesner suggests how to improve on the foundation and walls of your story. In the third part, Wiesner helps guide writers in the revision process—giving ideas on how to involve critique groups or partners—through to the final polishing. Want to sell the novel? Then Wiesner helps you put your proposal together. (I'm not there quite yet!) Wiesner's style is approachable and friendly. Her advice seems to be vested in you developing the best novel you can. Her examples are contemporary and work to help demonstrate the concepts she's exploring. Her precision focus and guidance should easily help you get from your first draft to a completed novel. Her preparations helped me to look at my work more objectively. She's the writers' coach you wished lived next door to you.” ~Elizabeth King Humphrey for WOW! Women On Writing
 
5 Stars! “Have you ever wished for a blueprint for your novel—one that would ensure that your story was strong, your characters interesting and your pace perfect? Karen Wiesner an award-winning author of a hundred books has created a reference you’ve been waiting for. I'm telling you this so you'll understand this author's credibility when it comes to novel-writing. It's unusual for a novelist to write a cohesive nonfiction book. Obviously Wiesner is an exception. I found this book to be extremely informative, well laid-out, and easy to follow. She says that writing a story isn't much different from building a house and she provides clear instructions along with many relevant and useful examples. I got a kick out of how she uses the process of building a house throughout her chapters to help writers understand the importance of taking each step in sequence. Works for me! I especially appreciate her checklists. She provides a story-plan checklist, a cohesion checklist, revision checklist, punch checklist, as well as exercises and worksheets to help the reader put into action the valuable information she offers throughout this book. Are you having trouble organizing or expanding on your story idea, your plot, the editing, or your submission package? Are you confused about point-of-view, character development or even how to conduct research for your novel? Take a look at this book. It is very well-designed and jam-packed with excellent information and instruction. In fact, it should be required reading for fiction writers. First there’s the idea, then you have to lay the foundation. Next comes the actual building of the house (or writing of the story) and the decorating (revising). And she offers detailed chapters reflecting this theme throughout. Do you like workbook pages and exercises? Then you’ll enjoy working your way through this book. Read Wiesner’s wise words, follow her instructions and you may complete a more cohesive, entertaining story, and in record time. In her book, Wiesner also teaches you a lot about self-editing—something that all writers and authors should understand. I love her examples, most of them taken from published books. One thing she suggests is that you write effectively enough that the reader has the same reaction as the POV character. This book is full of assistance and enlightenment. If you are struggling through the writing of a novel, if your critique group tells you that your characters need depth or your scenes could use more pizzazz, take a look at Wiesner’s book. And I am happy to report that she has devised a complete and meaningful subject index. This is a book that you can read from cover to cover, but keep it nearby because you’ll want to reference it often throughout the process of writing your novel.” ~author Patricia Fry, President of SPAWN
 
5 Stars! “Finally, a book that isn't just theory when it comes to writing a novel. Karen S. Wiesner takes your first draft and shows you how to mold it into a novel, to include query and synopsis stages. Half the book consists of an abundance of checklists, exercises and worksheets, making this book a hard-core practical, useful tool for the novelist. COHESIVE STORY BUILDING is the best hands-on, common sense guidebook to getting a novel into the world that I've seen in years. No fluff...just how to make it happen.” ~author and editor C. Hope Clark
 
“Like many aspiring writers, my bookshelf is loaded with various books related to the craft of writing. Along with the standard dictionaries, thesauri, and grammar guides, I have books that cover everything from how to write a novel to college textbooks that pick apart short stories. What I can’t figure out is why I have so many of them! If I’ve discovered anything over the last few years, it’s that the most valuable writing books are the ones which actually inspire the act of writing. My Favorite How To Books: #1 COHESIVE STORY BUILDING by Karen S. Wiesner. When I decided to start writing a novel, it became glaringly obvious that I had no idea what I was doing. Wiesner’s book gave me a wonderful place to start in plain, simple language that gave me some hope of actually achieving my goal. She uses a wonderful analogy of how building a house is similar to the process of writing a novel. For example, the first phase of building a house is laying the foundation just as brainstorming is the first step to writing just about anything. As an added bonus, the back of the book is filled with appendices that include checklists, graphic organizers, real world examples, and outline layouts.” ~author C.B. Wentworth
 
"From that first idea to the finished product, Karen Wiesner helps writers write the novel they’ve always wanted to write. Wiesner believes writing a novel is much like building a house and uses the analogy to help the reader visualize the process. Wiesner delves into the workings of writing the novel and also helps with the necessary and often dreaded query letter, synopsis, cover letter and partial manuscript to be sent to the agent or editor. COHESIVE STORY BUILDING is a wonderful addition to the writer’s reference library. Wiesner makes things as easy as possible for the reader. She includes a glossary of terms, story plan checklist exercises, editing and polishing exercises and various worksheets. Her writing is concise and easily understood, even for the novice writer. The book is laid out in a readable manner and includes information and directions to help move along the writing process. Not everyone will use everything Wiesner puts forth, but that’s not the idea. The information is offered and can be used if it’s wanted or needed. Armchair Interviews says: Want to write a novel? COHESIVE STORY BUILDING would be a good reference source in helping you with that dream." ~Armchair Interviews
 
"COHESIVE STORY BUILDING by Karen Wiesner uses an interesting analogy for creating your novel. The idea of looking at your novel as building a house is different than anything I’ve read and a unique approach for the writer who likes a strict format. Ms. Wiesner’s approach is refreshing. Each section is considered one layer of the process with four stages. There are lots of good ideas that can be used by anyone at any time during writing. There are also several appendices containing worksheets, exercises and examples of how to use everything. I found her examples showing how other authors’ novels could be broken down in this format. Overall, a very helpful tool for a writer to have on their bookshelf or their e-reader." ~The Readers Roundtable
 
"Although this writing manual is a companion book to FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, one can work with it independently of the earlier book. COHESIVE STORY BUILDING begins with a lucid summary of the method in FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE so that a writer can adopt that method and go on to integrate it with the techniques recommended in the new book. Using the metaphor of building a house from a blueprint and a solid foundation, Wiesner lays out a step-by-step plan for developing a polished novel from the formatted outline produced by the FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE method. She gives an abundance of examples from published novels so that the reader has no trouble grasping exactly what she means by each of her recommendations. This book introduces two very helpful concepts new to me: story sparks and the punch list. It also includes a large quantity of useful checklists and worksheets. For writers like me, to whom outlining and pre-planning come naturally, COHESIVE STORY BUILDING will definitely be of great value. Many of its suggestions are bound to benefit pantsers, too, however. If you already have FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, be sure to add this sequel to your collection. If not, consider buying it anyway; COHESIVE STORY BUILDING, as I mentioned, can stand on its own." ~author Margaret L. Carter
 
5 Stars! "Where has this book been? I was stuck in a major rut. I did some of the creative writing exercises, knew my plot, had a vague idea of characters, etc., but I still could not get past the blah, blah, blah of most writing books. This book does not go into all of that. It gives you very practical advice to PLAN FOR YOUR WRITING SUCCESS. It does not take a rocket scientist. I never thought that checklists and organization tips could be so inspiring, but the more information I compile in my writing notebook, the more tangible result I can see. It's absolutely infectious enthusiasm which has already carried me through more than 5,000 words. Plus, by the time I get done reading a portion of this book, I am ready to depart on some totally relaxed writing exercises. If you are looking for a book to tell you about characters or plot, then look elsewhere. This book guides you to an acquaintance with intimate details of your character which you didn't know existed. It may not make your writing artistic, but it will make your ideas clearer. It is an excellent power-up for beginning book writers (like me) who are just a little overwhelmed by a feeling of inadequacy or by what appears to be a lack of progress." ~Elizabeth on Amazon
 
4 Stars! "Great for a first time writer. I have listened to webinars and bought books to be able to be sure I was doing things right. I wished I could get my time and money back and use just this one book." ~Norma Spradlin on Amazon
 
5 Stars! "A must have for the up and comers! I am repurchasing... I bought this many, many years ago when I was visiting WVU with my best friend because I had such a strong passion for writing. This book really takes you in depth and helps you to really map out each aspect of your story to make it the best possible version. Unfortunately somewhere in between my moves, I lost the original version when it was published under the title FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL. This book is worth every penny if you’re interested in making your stories the best." ~Carol Cannraili on Amazon
 
Volume 3: Writing the Standalone Series [formerly published as Writing the Fiction Series {The Complete Guide for Novels and Novellas}]
 
5 Stars! “I’ve made it no secret that I’m a fan of the previous two writers’ reference books from Karen Wiesner–FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. So I was thrilled when she sent me her most recent release for writers, WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES. This was a timely read for me. I’m gearing up to take part in my first NaNoWriMo, when I’ll finish drafting the first novel in a mystery series. Because I’m doing the NaNo 'rebel' thing this year, I’m also working on two shorter series—one with horror short stories and the other is a series of children’s picture books. Given that all of my current big writing projects involve writing series, I was looking forward to picking up some tips. The author didn’t disappoint. I wholeheartedly recommend WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES to any writer even toying with the idea of writing a series. Actually, I equally recommend it to fiction writers who haven’t considered series before. The author does a good job of pointing out the value in writing fiction series and the fact that series aren’t just a recent trend—they’re the way many people like to read. In this book you’ll learn about how series ideas can make you more marketable if you choose to pursue a publisher. But if you’re an indie author, don’t count them out. They can help you build more loyal readers too. The real meat of the book however is how to go about creating a series. And that’s where it shines. Let’s look at some of the highlights. First, I love the emphasis on planning ahead. One of my biggest pet peeves as a regular reader of series novels is that authors tend to be inconsistent. While a fact might seem insignificant in the first novel of a series, throwing that fact out the window in a later book might completely pull your reader out of the story. Remember, your readers aren’t always following your series as the books are released. If they’re reading an existing series from the beginning, one book right after another, they’re more likely to pick up on those things, and inconsistency pulls them out of the story when you want to immerse them in it. In WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES, the author offers tips and tools to help you map out your series in a way that will make you less likely to have these consistency issues. The series bible worksheets are a fantastic set of tools to help you stay on top of the basics. They’ll not only serve as reminders of the little things like personality quirks of your characters, but they’ll also keep you on track with series story lines so you never neglect a series arc and leave your readers hanging too long. Another high point is the chapter on marketing a series, which poses additional challenges (and benefits) when compared to marketing a standalone book. I found her section on timing your series releases especially interesting. There she shares readers’ views on how often novels in a series should be released. Is there any solid rule? Of course not. But it gives you a lot of good viewpoints to consider when figuring out your own schedule. I thought the author covered everything I’d want to know about writing a series and planning things out effectively. She even includes exercises along the way. All in all, I’d say this is a must-have book for authors considering writing a series of their own. If anything, I’m surprised that this is the first book I’ve seen on the topic. There is no doubt it fills a gap when it comes to writers’ reference books.” ~Jennifer Mattern for AllIndieWriters
 
5 Stars! “I'm so glad that I have the chance to review Karen Wiesner's new writing guide book, WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES, because I am currently writing book one of a middle-grade mystery series. As Karen says in her introduction, 'A better question might be who isn't reading, writing, and publishing a series?' which means that many of you are also probably writing a series—for children or seniors or everyone in-between. Readers love series! So, how will Karen's book help you? First off, it's a well-researched study on successful series, and it covers multiple genres. I'm thankful for all the series mentions that Karen lists and explains in her book because she provides concrete examples that I can use when thinking about my own series and what I want it to become. I will have to be consistent and develop characters throughout the books. So when Karen discusses Recurring Character series, I made notes because it's important to know what I'm writing and find other examples out there. I'm not creating a premise/plot series or a setting series, but now I have even more ideas brewing for other series after reading this chapter! After you know what you're writing or want to, Karen delves into how to write it. Chapters two, three, and four help with this. If I was to tell you all the useful tips in these chapters, this blog post would go on and on and on. She helps you with your individual story and series arc, develop characters who can stand the test of a series, stay consistent in your series (you will need a series bible!), and how to organize yourself and your series. When I finish the second draft of my book this summer and my critique group gets finished giving me their notes, I plan to use SEVERAL of the tips in chapter four to keep myself organized—believe me, I need it. I'll use tips, such as the series organization worksheets—I'm going to fill one out before I ever start querying this book, ideas for my series bible, and creating maps of my fictional town (and even individual story places). The other thing this book will do for you (and I've mentioned this a bit already) is give you some ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. I love the idea of a cameo appearance, which is an idea provided by an author Karen interviewed, Linda Varner Palmer. At the end of each chapter, writers will find build your series muscles exercises, which are call-to-action activities and writing prompts for you to do with your own series. In a nutshell, these should force you to work on your series while you are also using this book. If you already have a series, this book is still useful to you because it can help with marketing your series (chapter 5), including creating your brand, and preparing for the conclusion of a series (chapter 6). Appendix A provides blank worksheets to use on a new or existing series to help with consistency and writing. Appendix B provides case studies of successful series. She also takes the seven Harry Potter books and shows authors the overall series arcs, the individual book arcs, and the series plant arcs for each book. This is an incredible resource! I highly recommend it for anyone writing or considering writing a series!” ~author and writing instructor Margo L. Dill for WOW! Women On Writing
 
5 Stars! “Not only does this book fill in a long overdue gap in craft skills for novel writers, but it also delivers. Although I knew a preview copy was en route, I couldn’t wait so purchased the electronic copy to get started. And I stayed up very late my first night reading. This does not happen very often with craft books. In fact only a few of the writing books I read make it to my column. Wiesner is also the author of FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. One ongoing feature of her books is her inclusion of practical, accessible worksheets and graphs. Organizing one novel can be daunting at times let alone a series. Wiesner skillfully blends the organizational skills together into comprehensive sanity. In WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES, she extends her additional resources by including ongoing advice and encouragement from series authors and publishers across multiple genres. There are over one hundred. This is a field that is vibrant and hungry for good writing. And that is the key behind this book: writing a quality series. Wiesner details the definitions, catalyst, styles, focus, organization, and marketing required for any series by showing explicit examples, case studies and stumbling blocks. She thoroughly examines and warns about the importance of characters and consistency when writing across extended novels. On the surface this might seem to be commonsense, but in reality it is a danger that can sink your series, and/or lose future readers. I happened to be doing novella research of my own on three separate series and applied Wiesner’s criteria. Some were written by the same author and some by multiple authors. Each book did a good story individually. Every series tripped up. One I tracked for location ties, one for character and one for premise—an ongoing mystery. The mystery series in particular had all kinds of inconsistencies—the worst being the last book mischaracterized an earlier murder altogether. Not a good way to finalize a series and hope readers will return for the next. WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES warns you of the potential landmines and shows you navigable routes to write a sustainable high-concept fiction series and enjoy the process. Advice that is long overdue. Advice that is fun to implement.” ~Marcy Weydemuller, author, creative writing instructor, and editor
 
“I am a fan of Karen Wiesner and the many how-to books she has written. She is great at gathering and assembling information from many sources and putting it into a readable and the most organized form. This book about writing fiction series is no exception. If you are thinking about writing a series, you will get many ideas about how to go about that, what makes or breaks a series, the pitfalls and what to look out for, and just about any other question that you might have concerning the ongoing writing of a series. I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking about writing or in the process of writing a series as I do all of Karen's books.” ~author Marilyn Meredith
 
"Entertaining and Educational. Informative and inspirational. A must read for anyone considering writing genre fiction. I enjoyed it immensely." ~author N.J. Walters
 
“I usually don't write reviews of books so I'm taking a stab here. WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES is a book not to be read in one swallow but to be read in small bites. The information is interesting and if you've ever contemplated writing a series or are even involved in writing one or even more than one this book will give you a lot of insight into how the process works. Readers enjoy series but there are so many kinds of series and series are written in a variety of genres and for many audiences from children to adults. WRITING THE STANDALONE SERIES gives many hints about constructing the series. A number of series are examined and each type is analyzed. In fact this book is so chock full of information that it will take weeks to read and to enjoy. The chapter on series organization gives a wealth of material to study and is helpful when planning a series. Advice about blurbing the series, and the individual stories, on creating a bible for the series, for creating the ARC plan and creating checklists for the series. These are shown step by step. This book published by Writer's Digest is worth the study and should help any writer who is working on a series or dreaming of writing one. I know I'll be referencing it frequently as I work on any series I'm contemplating.” ~author Janet Lane Walters
 
5 Stars! “I introduced Karen Wiesner in August (2013) when we reviewed her book COHESIVE STORY BUILDING in SPAWNews. I committed an unforgivable sin in so doing. I relied on the author information published in the book and it was outdated. Here’s what Karen told me recently. She has just published her 101st book and she has won or has been nominated for 126 awards in the last 15 years. What writer of fiction wouldn’t be interested in reading what this professional has to say on the subject? Most fiction authors I know are writing series. Publishers are interested in authors who have more than one excellent book in them. Wiesner says there are some things you should consider before launching out in that direction. For example, you need to have a strong focus for your series and strong, recognizable characters. You must be consistent throughout the series. You need to know how to effectively market a series of books. As every writer of fiction knows, keeping track of the details in your story can be difficult. Multiply that by three or more stories, and an author could become very confused. Wiesner provides downloadable worksheets to help you sort out the details of your stories and keep them straight. I found her section on story arcs versus series arcs fascinating and useful. I’ll definitely use her ideas, and in fact this entire book, as I create the third book in my fiction series. If you’re contemplating a series, I recommend that you reference her book, as well. Not only does Wiesner draw from her own knowledge and experiences, but she has invited other successful authors to provide tips and share their techniques. Included are Marilyn Meredith, Carl Brookins, Rowena Cherry, Joanne Hall, and others. Wiesner also devotes several pages in this book to case studies that any thinking novelist will appreciate. If you have a series in mind or in the works, you really should take a close look at this book.” ~Patricia Fry, President of SPAWN
 
Volume 4: Writing the Overarching Series {or How I Sent a Clumsy Girl into Outer Space}
Coming soon!
 
Volume 5: Three-Dimensional Fiction Writing [formerly published as Bring Your Fiction to Life {Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity}]
 
5 Stars! “Without a doubt, THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING is one of the most in-depth guides for writing that novel than any I've seen in years! This is a book for the writer with that deep, burning desire to get serious in this profession. Not a gloss-over, and not the stale, routine advice found across the web. This is quality advice that makes you dig down and discover the magic that makes a novel marketable and memorable. Karen Wiesner is a writing how-to guru, and this book shows you why.” ~author and editor C. Hope Clark
 
5 Stars! “Go deeper. Bring a multi-layered perspective to your writing from the initial spark through to the published launch. At whatever stage you are in your writing career this craft book delivers a solid foundation, clear instruction, several practical suggestions, and expert advice. One of the qualities I most appreciate in Karen S. Wiesner’s books on writing is her intense commitment to share and develop her personal experience. She undergirds each concept with well-founded definitions, gives concrete published examples to amplify them, and then offers high quality understandable applications to follow. Her ongoing feature of her books to include accessible worksheets goes the extra mile here by giving authors readymade templates from which to personalize. And she does not generalize them but gives specific details for each skill set she develops. Personally I found two particular areas I’d like to explore more in my own work immediately. Wiesner points out that our blueprints are ‘just one of many layers of your story’. Her ideas regarding examining them for cohesiveness helps reduce uncertainty and laborious revision by catching the holes early on. For career writers she has insightful suggestions for applying the multilayered approach to all our stages and projects to produce quality consistently. Taking the time to recognize the potential benefit of three-dimensional characters, plots, settings, scenes, marketing, goals, and personal process, is valuable time spent to truly develop stories that readers can’t resist. Enjoy.” ~Marcy Weydemuller, author, creative writing instructor, and editor
 
5 Stars! "Karen Wiesner’s book THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING is a completely fresh, innovative take on how to write in ways that truly engage readers and also distinguish the uniqueness that’s in each writer. This new approach takes writers on an enlightening, educational journey on how to create characters, plots, and storylines that have true three-dimensional shape. It’s as if Karen has figured out how to make a 'virtual reality' version of the writing process! Karen’s techniques are laser-focused so writers can delve into the specific writing processes, rather than on just read about generalized, nebulous concepts. I would recommend THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING to any writer, novice or experienced, who’s seeking practical, useful writing techniques that really work and a genuine grasp on how to apply these insights to defining and reflecting their individualities as writers." ~screenwriter/feature filmmaker/director Thomas Mignone
5 Stars! “The worksheets and step-by-step advice in this new writing guide by Karen Wiesner present a solid foundation for anybody writing their first novel or revising a novel—or teaching novel writing in college or at a retreat. This book is filled with valuable charts and exercises. Karen offers sage advice and elegant, simple ways to ironically create more complexity from the get-go. A bonus—unlike some books about novel writing that give only a cursory nod to settings, Wiesner’s book uses a solid chapter to show how to create layers and depth in settings. Throughout the text she illustrates a technique called 'Present/Past/Future' which nudges a writer to expand the way he or she thinks about building scenes, characters, plots, and settings. Writing a novel via her method almost seems too easy, however that’s what makes a great writing text. Karen has synthesized things for us. She cites wisdom from several writing experts and coaches, too, which helps the reader discover other worthwhile sources for further study on novel writing. THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING is a stellar contribution to novel-writing knowledge and instruction.” ~author and writing instructor Christine DeSmet
 
5 Stars! "An indispensable guide to depth and richness in fiction. Every writer who has read and benefited from this author's previous writing manuals will want this one. That said, THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING stands on its own and doesn't require you to have read the other books such as FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. (This book, however, does helpfully include what amounts to an overview of the Writing in Stages method.) Wiesner's emphasis on including past, present, and future dimensions in every scene is an approach I'd never seen before and very illuminating. She applies this structure to plot and setting as well as character. The 'multilayered' quality so essential to fully developed stories and characters is explored from several angles. Like her other books, this one analyzes various published novels as well as her own work to demonstrate these methods in practice. The book also includes an abundance of useful charts and worksheets. I especially enjoyed her breakdown of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to show how the elements of three-dimensional writing function in that classic, an excellent choice because almost everybody is familiar with it." ~author Margaret L. Carter
 
5 Stars! "Are you writing a book? THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING is a fantastic book on how to skillfully create realistic characters and a deep, meaningful story structure. Learn how to build and analyze a comprehensive outline for your book using worksheets. You will develop a story by learning who, what, when, why, and where through the eyes of your characters. As you create the layers of your story using the author's unique formula, you will find that you have constructed strong plots, characters, and settings, just by using the detailed sketches that help you understand your character's past, present, and future. Compare your outline and sketches to the worksheets provided and quickly identify any issues before they complicate your writing. Are you ready to write an elaborate story with fascinating characters? THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING is a brilliant how-to book on writing a novel. The author starts by presenting the reader with the fundamentals of creating three-dimensional characters using her profound PPF system. Then, she takes them through the processes, step-by-step, in a comfortable narrative style. By the time the reader has completed the exercises, they have a comprehensive knowledge of what makes a good fiction story. I am in the process of writing a novel, so I decided to try applying the techniques presented in the book. I downloaded some of the worksheets and implemented the strategies and tools the author teaches. I was impressed with her thoroughness. After reading this book, I am better able to see areas that would cause trouble in my story and promptly correct them. I also have an excellent understanding of my characters now; something I wasn't aware I was struggling with until reading this book. An excellent source of information and writing tools, and a superb how-to book. I would recommend it to novice and seasoned writers alike." ~Readers' Favorite
 
5 Stars! "There is no shortage of how-to books for aspiring authors. I should know. I’ve spent hours in Barnes and Noble scouring the shelves, looking for the one book which will not only inspire, but will also unlock the creativity lurking inside me. The one book to which will help me become a successful author. I’ve read my fair share, and while most provided a tidbit or two, none really lit a fire under my...derriere. Therefore, when I picked up THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING, I will admit I was a bit skeptical. After all, I’d been writing several years. I’m an English teacher. Surely she would not have some magic formula to fix my writing problems. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong. Let’s start with the basics. Her book focuses on aspects every novel needs: characters, plot, and setting. She breaks her book into chapters accordingly, but takes these three elements one step further. She asks her reader to consider the three-dimensional aspects of each category. Let’s take characters, for instance. It’s not enough to create their likes and dislikes, their hair and eye color. An author needs to consider the present, past, and future self of their characters. These same elements transfer into the plot and the setting. When you look at your work as a living being–so to speak–you add layers. Just as our lives have a past, a present, and a future, so does the “life” of your book. The result? With Wiesner’s instruction, you’ll have a multi-dimensional book with three-dimensional characters, a solid narrative structure, and rich settings which keep the reader engaged. My favorite part of Wiesner’s book–besides the clear explanations and the logic behind using three-dimensionality in writing, are her templates. She models how to use the templates–both with published novels and with her own work–helping her reader understand both their function and the benefits of using them. There are four worksheets in Appendix A (for characters, scenes, back-cover blurbs, and development), along with cohesion checklists, scene-by-scene outlines, and goal worksheets. Later, in Appendix B, she provides exercises, where her readers can breakdown passages for practice. Not only is Wiesner explaining the process, but she offers practice to teach mastery. As a teacher, I appreciate the scaffolding. She provides sound advice for those in the throes of writing. She stresses the importance of giving each dimension equal time and attention. Later, she suggests using a publishing service to print a hard copy of your final draft, which serves as the perfect advanced reading copy to use as a final read-through. Throughout, she suggests distancing oneself from the manuscript at key moments, offering a timeline for those who hope to make writing their career. Wiesner also offers advice for novice, intermediate, and master writers. One can tell that she understands the basic processes of authorship, and she strives to meet her readers at their level. In the interest of full disclosure, I started writing a new novel just before I picked up Wiesner’s book. By the time I finished reading THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING, I stopped writing and started planning, using the worksheets and charts I’d acquired from her book. She helped me see the importance–and the positive benefits–of creating three-dimensional writing. So much so, in fact, that I feel I cannot move forward without first creating a quality outline with multi-dimensional characters, plot, and setting. 'Everything that happens at the beginning of the book must be linked to something that happens later on,' she writes, and those words continue to resonate with me, as has much of her book. This is a must-read for beginning and experienced writers." ~Bethany Masone Harar, author, teacher, blogger and book reviewer for WOW! Women On Writing
 
5 Stars! "A book for the career novelist! For what some writers seem to do intuitively, others need a little coaching. In THREE-DIMENSIONAL FICTION WRITING, Wiesner teaches objective methods to help you plan out your story, or go back and diagnose what's missing. With ample charts she guides you into the past, present, and future of your characters' lives to help you create a story that comes to life. I've applied these techniques to my own work, and have experienced that lightbulb moment: Ah! So that's what was missing. Not only does Wiesner teach you how to improve your writing, but she also teaches about the business of writing. Filled with her tried and true tips on how to maintain a writing career, this book will leave you with actionable steps to be writing books for years to come. (As a bonus, the book contains a link to free downloads of all her charts.) If you've ever been stuck trying to figure out what's wrong with your book, this might be the book to get you unstuck." ~Shonna Slayton, author and writing teacher
 
"Detailed, deep, and deft. For anyone who wishes to hone or improve the craft of fiction writing, one can do no better than in Wiesner’s capable hands." ~Colleen Gleason, New York Times bestselling author 
 
"A fascinating and functional guide from an incredibly prolific author!" ~Jeff Strand, four-time Bram Stoker Award-nominated author
 
5 Stars! "Stresses crafting a detailed plan. I purchased a copy of this book for several reasons: I am a publisher owner of a small publishing house that focuses on publishing series and I wanted to better advise and critique on such works as they are submitted to us; I am preparing several series bibles for projects our house will oversee; and I am just planning the intricate interactions and outlines for a ten-novel epic-fantasy series. I discovered the worksheets posted online at Writers Digest Books, and this led me to order the complete book because I have found so little elsewhere on the topic of writing and publishing a full series of novels (or nonfiction, for that matter). I am highly pleased with this book as a key reference book for my office. It offered advice and insight I've never seen anywhere else. I'd stop my review here, normally, but there are so many conflicting reviews posted for this book, I feel compelled to discuss its value to me, point by point, in hopes that the readers who most need this book will not overlook it. Wiesner is one of those writers who is highly prolific, writing a good-quality novel about every two months or so. There are many writers who feel this is not possible, but I have had the pleasure of working with several such authors (although not Wiesner) and I know that the path to failure is to wing it and the path to success is a vastly-detailed plan series wide. This is the essence of Wiesner's advice, drawn from her experience and from the many authors she interviewed. If it seems she spends a lot of time talking about her own works, it's a good thing. She discusses her thinking and planning processes. She quotes not her books, but her planning notes, to illustrate the processes. As there are many ways to tie a fiction series together, from simple trilogy to the everlasting Nancy Drew, Wiesner gets a lot of differing opinions from other authors and has to paint her advice in broad strokes in many areas, but in ways to tie books together, Wiesner gives concrete examples. Chapter 1 covers the "catalyst" of a series: A series that stems from a stand-alone novel, a series that an author plans as a series before beginning to write the first book, and the multi-author series managed by a publisher's "bible." There is no mention of how to arrange licensing for a media tie-in series, but the technical end of writing a publisher-originating series–including the foibles and follies of coordinating such a massive project–are well explained. Chapter 2 discusses story arcs and series arcs. The part about story arcs is covered in many other writing guides, from basic 3-act structure to the famous mythological hero's journey. Authors who are familiar with some of those guides may find this section redundant, but Wiesner actually compares some of these structures from other guides and offers a simplified summation. She then proceeds to discuss story structure based on the summation. It all seems to deviate from the topic of series, but it is a solid review for those less knowledgeable. The discussion of series arc then ensues, and it's time to get out the highlighter. The issue here is that a story arc must tie up all loose ends, but a series arc must leave loose ends hanging. I've seen so many bad submissions of series novels that I know this is a tricky maze to navigate for even the most skilled of authors. Wiesner gives good advice on how to run a common thread through a series while each individual book remains fresh and original. The chapter also talks about "plant arcs." I've seen this in other presentations called tie-backs, threads, and seeds. Unlike foreshadowing as one dies in a novel, a series presents a hard fact, prop, character or setting that has only small importance in the current novel but is surprisingly important in a later novel, and also previous bits that were important in earlier books make cameo appearances, and bits waiting in the wings for a later book are seen with a consistent theme in the background. The concept of tying all this together is simple, but the practice of it is complex and requires deep notetaking and advance planning. Wiesner provides a copious appendix of worksheets meant to keep this complexity tamed. The chapter continues by covering various facets of a series that provide texture, worth considering: stand-alone stories versus cliff-hangers, single genre versus multiple genres, novels versus or combined with novellas. Chapter 3 delves deep into character development and character consistency across the series arc. In a single novel, a character is developed, challenged to the breaking point, and then settles into a new balance. At the same time, a character must have enough imbalance to be motivated to enter the next story of the series arc. This motivation is variable based on whether the series is based on a single recurring character, a rotating cast of characters, different characters united by setting, or characters united by a common premise or plot. There are many views on how to manage these characterization issues. Wiesner wisely interviews other authors to present different ways of thinking.
The walk-away knowledge from this chapter cannot be overlooked. Like Plant Arcs, Characterization and Character Development must weave through each story of a series, without distracting from any singular story arc. Thus, once again, detailed and thoughtful planning for all books in the series is required before starting in on the writing of it. Many of the worksheets in Appendix A are dedicated to characterization and character continuity. Chapter 4 is more about the technical aspects of organizing one's thoughts and outlines and a series bible. Wiesner presents her process for going from idea to detailed outline. Along the way, she gives example from planning notes of her own series, of which she has written many. To some readers, this may feel like self-promotion, because the examples go on for several pages instead of just half-page sidebars often found in other writing guides. Frankly, I'm very appreciative to have a first-hand detailed look into this thought process; it was very informative. Again, there's more than one way to write a series, and Wiesner offers different planning processes of other authors she interviewed, giving her readers' ideas on how to craft an individual process that works best for them. I really liked Chapter 5 the best. It covers "Series Marketing." I am all about book marketing, so I keyed right in on this. Sadly, publishers do not not generally market a series as cohesively as they should. Even something simple like a logo or a common title font seems beyond most publishers' thinking. And when a series changes publishers, the process gets even murkier. Wiesner gives concrete ideas on how authors can promote their series despite these publisher-mismanagement obstructions. Chapter 6 is titled "Preparing for the Conclusion of a Series." One might expect it to be about the ennui of saying goodbye to one's characters or how to push through the writing process to the very end. Those points are in this chapter, but don't skim past the chapter, because there's an important issue deeply explored that the title to this short chapter fails to state: Premature Series Termination. Publishers go out of business, merge, promote and fire editors, give up when books sell poorly, and in some cases, the publisher dies. Often, this leaves an author in a highly precarious, sometimes ruinous position. It is more likely than not that a series will stop in mid-arc. Wiesner visits the pitfalls she and her interview subjects have encountered, including what went wrong, what should have been done to prevent it, and how they recovered (if at all). Knowing what can go wrong in the publishing process can help authors prepare and be proactive in the management of the series' commercial success. The two appendices then take up half the book. Appendix A holds quite a sheaf of worksheets designed for planning a series and its individual novels. Appendix B is an extensive collection of plans for various novels, including Wiesner's and of the authors she interviewed. Some say this is filler, others have said it's mere self-promotion. Me, I found a wealth of new knowledge following how others planned out a complete series. And then there's Harry Potter, perhaps the greatest controversy surrounding this book. Wiesner says she has read and dissected the entire 7-book Harry Potter series twice a year for several years. She presents her notes, indicating the series arc alongside the different story arcs, along with the "planted" facts and character arcs. It examines how the relationships and motivations evolve naturally one book to the next, how each book affects all of the others in the series, and how the inevitable clash between Harry Potter and Voldemort changes, twists, and ends up in a logical yet unexpected climax. It took JK Rowling five years to craft this twisted plan before she started in on writing the first book. To dissect and understand this plan from an author's point of view would likely take just as long. Thus, having Wiesner unfold this for other authors is a very welcome lesson, though many authors seeking simpler guidance may not have the patience to dig into what is the last half of her book. It's intense, and I suggest going through it with notepads by one's side. Overall, a great guide to writing a novel series. This book does make one think. As such, it brings wisdom to most all writers of series novels and novellas. This is an original review that I have written myself on my own professional time. I read this book for professional reasons, to further my publishing business and my efforts as an author of an epic-fantasy series. I reviewed and recommended this book with a professional agenda: that authors of series will read this book and heed its advice before submitting their ideas and novels to Flying Pen Press for publication. And I see value in pointing out helpful writing guides to struggling authors." ~publisher, author, marketing consultant and business manager David Rozansky on Amazon
 
4 Stars! "Nothing Else Like It! I am writing a cozy mystery series and was having problems figuring out some of the details of how to create separate books that still link together to form a series. There was not a book out there that explained this issue until now. Perfect for the 'want to be" series writer." ~Kathleen E. Chrisman on Amazon
 
5 Stars! "One for the Keeper Shelf! This is a must-have for anyone even thinking about writing a fiction series. I borrowed this book from the library first and read it cover-to-cover. There was no doubt in my mind that it was a keeper that I would be referring back to all the time so I ordered my own copy from Amazon. It covers key concepts as they apply specifically to writing a series as well as providing worksheets for future use. I also found the detailed case studies at the back really solidified the principles in my mind so that I could move on to working with them on my own stories." ~BMCBookBabe on Amazon
 
5 Stars! "Unlike writing the one-off novel, a series takes a bit more in terms of foreshadowing and ways of holding a reader's interest so that they will keep coming back book after book. Karen Wiesner gives great advice on writing the fiction series including good resources and suggestions on world creation and style. Very recommended!" ~Christina Paul on Amazon
 
Volume 6: CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction {A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships}
 
5 Stars! "CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION is a writer's handbook that all of us will want on our shelves. Lucky for me, I received a review copy from Karen S. Wiesner, the talented author of a few writing craft books. So let's talk about why you may want this book on your shelf! If you like writing craft books that make you feel like the author is in the room with you and teaching you how to make your stories and characters better, then this book is perfect. While reading it, I felt as if Karen was in my living room, giving me advice with her helpful and easy to remember acronyms to keep me from boring my readers into falling asleep instead of turning the pages. This is what Karen's book will do for you: Give you helpful tips, like how to diagnose if your characters are ALIVE, and then help you write better characters and plots. The book is divided into seven chapters, plus an intro and conclusion, and then something very valuable--an appendix full of worksheets. I know this is every writer's dream--at least it is mine. Karen includes worksheets for both plot and character development help. Then there are also worksheets on relationship development between your characters. If you are writing a romance, you'll especially want to check out the Links in the Chain of Romance Relationship Development Chart. If you don't have those links, then your romance readers will not be happy with you! I think one of the most helpful chapters for any writer at any level is at the beginning of the book, chapter one, where Karen helps you with ten ways to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships. And by dead characters--she's not talking about the dead body on page one of a murder mystery. She means your character is just there, existing on the page. With chapter one, you receive 10 points to look for in your manuscript to diagnose what may be wrong with it. Then she goes on to chapter two, where she introduces you to three-dimensional writing and scenes. Karen has a previous book where she talked about those concepts more. But in CPR, she reviews these strategies for writers, as she gets ready to really dig into your characters (chapter 3), plot (chapter 4), and relationships (chapter 5). I like this book so much because of the relationships' sections. A lot of writing craft books about plot and characters don't spend as much time on examining the relationships in the book. But think about it--when you watch a movie or get hooked on a book series, aren't you very interested in the characters and their relationships? You want the relationships in your plots to stick in readers' minds like these previous ones did for me. This writer's craft book helps you diagnose what's wrong with your manuscript, and then fix it with tips and advice from Karen. If you're a fiction writer looking to improve your craft as one of your yearly goals, then CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION is for you!" ~Margo L. Dill of Editor-911.com
 
5 Stars! “I do not read, much less review, many non-fiction books because I normally read to escape the problems of everyday life. However, I have often wondered how authors managed to keep us (readers) engaged in their stories, especially if the story is more than one title in length. This book explains it all. If you an aspiring author, this book is crucial in making your story something that publishers would want to get out to the public. This book also explains ten ways to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships. It also talks about the needed research that authors must do. Not only that, but good writers also take detailed notes on each of their characters. This book explains why and how. Even having said all this, it hardly touches everything that the book covers. This is a valuable resource for any author, published or not.” ~Huntress Reviews
 
5 Stars! "For plotting all my novels and novellas, I depended heavily on Karen Wiesner’s FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. Her books on writing can be invaluably helpful not only for dedicated plotters and outliners like me, but for the intuitive 'pantser' as well. This new book, CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION delves more deeply than any of her previous works into the intricacies of creating effective characters, plots, and relationships. After a comprehensive guide to recognizing and diagnosing 'dead or lifeless' writing, the book works through every stage in the planning and writing of a novel, with numerous examples from popular literature and other media. The step-by-step approach carries the reader along the path of conceiving, developing, and animating characters, from the initial inspiration to the ultimate goal of a cohesively plotted, vividly alive story. The organic imagery of living, dead, and 'zombie' CPR woven throughout the text captivates the reader’s attention, as do the numerous concrete examples of how to apply the author’s instruction and advice. The appendix contains a collection of useful worksheets. As a bonus, the conclusion offers an eye-opening analysis of the current state of the publishing industry. You don’t need to be familiar with the author’s earlier books on writing to benefit from this one, since it covers all the highlights of her method. If you haven’t read them, though, you’ll probably want to get one or more after immersion in CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION." ~author Margaret L. Carter
 
5 Stars! "CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION is stunning in every way. One of my favourite reference books is TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER by Dwight V. Swain, an absolute classic. I'm convinced that this book stands a good chance to become a classic as well. It's not just for writers who want to fix a manuscript, but also for those who want to avoid creating lifeless fiction in the first place. It's both for beginners and experienced writers. And it's written in a wonderful entertaining style, which makes it an easy, fluent read. In short: this book nails it. I like the homework and the short summaries at the end of each chapter for those who have read the book and come back later to check up on some aspects. All they'll need is a quick brush up--and that's what they get. CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION is delightful and inspiring." ~author Christine Spindler
 
Volume 7: Writing Blurbs That Sizzle--And Sell!
 
5 Stars! "This Book is Must-Have for All Book Writers! You need this book! If you're a novelist, you need this book. If you're a self-published author, you need this book. If you're a memoir writer, you...Well, you get the point. WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL! will help you write copy for your query letter and your website, for Amazon and a book's back cover, for press releases and marketing emails. The advice in this book will even improve your writing--how you tell your story, how you plot your book, and how you think about your reader. It has plenty of helpful examples and resources, exercises and checklists. So let's start at the beginning. Karen explains the term blurb and where it came from. Then she goes on to explain how to write a blurb for many different types of books, including genre books, literary fiction, an entire series (you can have a blurb for each book and then for the entire series, nonfiction books such as self-help or humor, anthologies, and children's books. She ends the how-to section of her book (part one) with a chapter on blurb dos and don'ts, which gives great advice for writing the best blurb you can and practical applications of this advice. Did I mention there were plenty of examples? I love examples! This book is like a workshop. The value you will receive for the price of this book feels like you have found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I'm not exaggerating here! The appendices (or part two) of the book start on page 211 and go to page 382, and it is packed full of evaluations of blurbs that are already published, exercises for blurb crafting and revision, and worksheets and checklists she mentions during part one of the book. So I used Karen's advice to write a blurb for a novel. Since I talk about/overshare, people are often asking me: what's your book about? I didn't have a good answer and tried poorly to describe it, and then I was worried that maybe I didn't know what the novel was about. Maybe it was horrible and rambling, and no one would ever want to read it. But Karen's blurb book and her advice saved the day. So I wrote the blurb for my WIP based on Karen's book. I didn't stop there though--I wrote one for each of my already published books, which I plan to use on my website soon! The other good thing about this book is you could read the sections that pertain to your writing and then work the exercises that pertain to you. So it's not like a novel where you read cover to cover. Also I forgot to mention, there's a whole section on author branding, too-this book is an investment and a big help in your marketing plan! I'm so lucky to have received this book in return for a review. I will be recommending this to all of my writer friends. So, check out WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!. If you need a gift for a writer, this is perfect--or put it on your own holiday list!" ~Margo Dill, writer, editor, and teacher for WOW--WOMEN ON WRITING
 
5 Stars! "Even the most prolific and careful author, the one who polishes and corrects their masterpiece until it is error-free, becomes lazy when it comes to writing a book blurb. The importance of blurbs is generally underestimated, but this is a crucial aspect that has significant consequences on the reader’s decision to buy the book--or not. A blurb is neither effective nor good if it cannot draw readers’ attention and make them want to read the book. If you are a writer and want to learn how to craft perfect blurbs for your publications, then Karen S. Wiesner's WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL! is a must-read that will reveal the secrets to excelling in this delicate step of the selling process. This book is good both for theory and practice. Wiesner writes in a conversational tone that clarifies everything at once. She not only gives useful advice to her readers but constantly engages them with exercises aimed at improving their skills. She explains how writing blurbs is different from writing a story and what elements you should highlight or avoid when you present your work to potential readers. WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL! offers valuable advice on the different types of blurbs, how long they should be, and the right time to write them. I think every author will benefit from this book, so I recommend it to those who want to take their book blurbs to the next level. They will find everything they need to know within these pages." ~Readers' Favorite
 
5 Stars! “WOW! Once again Wiesner has expertly taken a critical aspect of a writer’s necessary abilities and made it understandable and, even more important, doable. Most of the authors I know cringe at the word ‘blurb’ and even the ones who are capable without extreme stress see them as a necessary evil. This book gives a well-needed tutorial for each potential blurb format. The various versions, and the many ways, blurbs are misunderstood or misused has been both startling and encouraging. Knowing what is a wrong approach and why clearly explains why so many authors find them almost terrifying. But after listening to Karen S. Wiesner’s clarity, they now become an interesting and strong resource to complement each individual book. Right now there is so much misuse or misinformation regarding blurbs that the need to have them each stand out is undermined. WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL! takes each detail, explains the purpose, points out the potential pitfalls, differentiates between genres and readers, gives tips, offers clear techniques, and shares multiple examples and exercises to evaluate and ‘to hone effectively good blurb writing skills’. One quality I extremely appreciate in all of her writing books are the hands on step-by-step examples and worksheets for every tool she discusses. Here she doesn’t only explain the differences between High-Concept Blurbs, Back Cover Blurbs, and Series Blurbs but shows a wide range of examples—both bad and good—then walks us through the process for our own stories. A blurb is meant to be for the reader’, she says, not the many other versions. It is to invite your reader to enter into a compelling story. ‘The purpose of the blurb is a-three fold C for a reader: capture, (to provide) content, (to give a reason to) care’. In WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!, we can learn to sizzle, too.” ~Marcy Weydemuller, author, creative writing instructor, and editor
 
5 Stars! "This writing reference is for authors or potential authors who hate trying to write back cover blurbs for their stories. Blurbs are important since they help convince readers to part with their hard earned money and purchase your story. This novel can be your go-to reference guide in how to craft your blurb into potential sells. The great thing (to me) about this book is that the author does not just deliver information to you. She also gives several examples and follows up with worksheets and templates to help you hone your new craft of wring excellent blurbs. For extra information, the author encloses links throughout the novel for you to get even more reference material. This book is a must for new or aspiring authors to have in their library and most well established authors can benefit from it as well." ~Huntress Reviews

OUT OF PRINT WRITING REFERENCE TITLES
 
ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING The Definitive Guide (published annually from 1998 to 2003)
 
"Genre writers shut out by diminishing mass market lists will find this is a must-own resource." ~Publishers Weekly

"Karen Wiesner has done the publishing world an immense favor..." ~Dan Seidman, Editor of SPANworks
 
Award of Excellence Winner and 5 Stars! "Very highly recommended! Karen S. Wiesner succulently captures all the "need to know information" for authors interested in epublishing in ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING: The Definitive Guide. Written as a friendly, informative source for novice and experienced authors, this resource will prove itself to be invaluable. The first section consists of the ins-and-outs of electronic publishing. With her characteristic frank style, Wiesner compares epublishing several years ago to today, including changing reader opinion, reviewers, and contests. Perhaps the most insightful material is her own personal experience when Wiesner compares paper versus electronic acceptance. Formats, copyrights and distribution are also discussed. Furthermore, as a staunch proponent for ebook readers, I was delighted to discover Mary Z. Wolf's insight regarding technology, which also proves most illuminating. The second section consists of a comprehensive list of epublishers and publishing groups. The following topics are addressed: web site, submission guidelines, royalties, advances, contract terms, submission address, formats, and forms. In addition, the interviews provide even more detailed information about each publisher. A wide variety of opinions, philosophies, and experiences reveal the diversity of these publishers thereby helping the author to target their submissions. The third section consists of practical advice for authors considering epublishing. Inspiration and encouragement blend with web pages and live chats. Additionally, advice regarding contest and promotion will also encourage the author in this new direction. Filled with Web sites, lists of ideas and more, this section alone makes the purchase of the book worthwhile. As a lover of interactive text, I heartily recommend readers to use this book with access to the Web. The resources allow the reader to explore independently while leading to excellent publishers, reviewers and other necessary resources. As the Senior Editor for WordWeaving, the most frequently asked questions that I am asked are certainly answered here." ~Cynthia Penn, senior editor at WordWeaving on Amazon
 
THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS
 
5 Stars! "As a rather shy individual, I read THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS with reservation how it would affect me--a loner. Before I was done, I'd dog-earred pages, highlighted links and underlined whole paragraphs. I'd heard of writers coordinating together for promotion, but never had I realized how serious these groups can be...and how much promotion they garner for the members. From identifying writers that click together to coordinating shared advertising--even how to publish an anthology or join venture, this publication covers every possible question you'd have in originating a promotional group of writers. Whether you need to share financial expenses, crave a promotional partner to dull the stress of public appearance or wish to ride on the coattails of others to increase attention for your work, this is a book that teaches you how there's "strength in numbers" in a big way when it comes to being a writer and selling your wares." ~author and editor C. Hope Clark
 
Recommended Read! "Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author with 42 titles published in the past nine years, which have been nominated for or won 55 awards. Now she has shared with us some of the things she’s learned about promotion, especially how to promote your works, in her latest book THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS is jam-packed with everything you could possibly need or want on how to promote one or more stories either by yourself or with others: Promotional groups, websites, press releases, giveaways, and a zillion informational links. As a matter of fact, there is so much information here it makes my head spin! Ms. Wiesner starts with the basics of promotion, but then focuses on the benefits of promoting with a group. She points out that groups can have similar styles of writing, the same publisher, close proximity, or some other bond holding them together. The most important part of group promoting, though, is a plan and clear agreements between the members of the group how the group promotions are going to work. To this end, she includes wonderful resources and guidelines in the appendix, as well as instructions and suggestions on how to start and develop such a group. This book is invaluable not only to authors interested in working with a group in promotion, but also to the individual author just starting out in promoting their works. We happily recommend this book!" ~Long and Short Reviews
 
"The internet is full of opportunities for authors to promote their books. From online review sites, to blogging, to virtual book tours, the internet offers inexpensive book publicity. One of the ways authors can publicize their books is through promotional groups. In her latest ebook, award-winning author Karen Wiesner demystifies these groups and explains everything you'll ever need to know about them. What are the basics of group promotion? Who should promote? How many hours a week? What are the different types of groups? How do you find the group that's right for you? How do you join? What are some of the most successful groups out there? Should you start your own promotional group? If so, how? Wiesner answers these questions, and a lot more. The author examines the advantages and disadvantages of promotional groups in detail and includes hundreds of resources and sites with their appropriate links. In this sense, the book is an amalgam of resources for authors who are interested in spreading the word about their books, even if outside of promotional groups. There's a checklist at the end of the book and various appendices--one of them offering a list of about 700 websites where you can promote your group. The author writes in a clear, concise style that is also engaging and interesting. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS is an essential and informative addition to any author's virtual bookshelf." -Blogcritics Magazine
​
“Here is an ebook that all of our author followers should read. The book is called THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS and it is written by Karen Wiesner. As the title suggests, the book covers how to promote an ebook using various types of group efforts. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS is well written, easy to follow and highly recommended to anyone who is new to the world of ebook publishing. With this book a new author can expect to learn:
•             All about four different types of promotional groups that can take your ebook sales to the next level.
•             Elements you should have in your own toolbox to promote your work yourself.
•             How to target your promotions inexpensively over the long term.
•             Places where you can get inexpensive paid advertising to help with your promotions.
•             How group anthologies can help to bring your own work to a wider audience.
The ebook also lists hundreds of organizations and other tools to help you along the way. My personal feeling after reading this one is that anyone who is new to the world of ebook promotion should read this book. It will help you take your fiction (or likely non-fiction) work to a new level of readership.” ~eBookGuru
 
"This past year, I formed yet another writing group. This one wasn't for critiquing, or even getting together at coffee shops to write. This one was for networking. Some of my local writing friends decided we were all getting close enough to the serious possibility of being published (a couple were already there!), and that we should start talking about the business aspect of writing. So we've been talking and reading and swapping ideas. It's been good. Eye-opening, to say the least! One of the interesting things I found is an e-book by Karen Wiesner. Karen is the author of THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS, a book I've mentioned here before, the one I'm using to plot my current WIP. I love the FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE book, not just for the organization ideas, but for Karen's wonderful understanding and explanation of plot structure. So, when I had a chance to read Karen's new e-book, THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS, I went for it. And I'm glad I did. The e-book presents ideas for anyone starting a promotional group. Karen talks about both the pluses and minuses of these groups, and gives writers plenty of ideas about why and how to set one up. She discusses the money aspect of promotion, which we all worry about, and shows how a group can make that part a lot less painful! The other thing I like about the book is Karen's emphasis on professionalism. Writers, in general, are very nice people. Karen reminds us that even nice people disagree, and the best way to run a group like this is with some basic guidelines and rules...on paper! And she provides excellent examples for anyone not sure how to get started. If you're thinking about building a promotional group, check out this book. It's a good place to start." ~Becky's Levine's Blog
 
"THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS by Karen Wiesner is an incredible how-to book for any author interested in banding with other authors for promotion purposes. The beginning presents a persuasive and well-documented argument for the usefulness of author promotion groups. Her comprehensive research and hands-on knowledge of the subject is not only amazing, but presented clearly and concisely. She continues with a detailed discussion of the benefits and pitfalls in forming such groups, creating an excellent template for every author seeking to promote books through group efforts. As an added bonus, the extensive lists of urls for various types of promotion are priceless." ~author Jane Toombs
 
WEAVE YOUR WEB: The Promotional Companion to ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING The Definitive Guide
 
THE WORLD OF AUTHOR KAREN WIESNER (A Compendium of Fiction)
 
5 Stars! "When it comes to romance, I mostly enjoy authors who seem to have eclectic tastes. Author Karen Wiesner is such a writer. Though Wiesner has written non-fiction, it is her romances that intrigue me. (Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance, and even some Romantic Suspense.) Sometimes Wiesner adds in some mystery and/or paranormal elements. To me, the author just seems to enjoy tasting various subgenres whenever she cooks up a new story. You like romances that are no longer than a single book? How about a series, but each title can stand alone? Do you enjoy anthologies? How about holiday themes? No problem. Wiesner has written them all! Oh, perhaps you are an aspiring author and you need to learn how to make your story more interesting to today's fickle readers. You need to know how to market your story or just where to start? Again, Wiesner has written it. This thick, oversized book will give you a close look into Karen Wiesner's world. Here is every title Wiesner has done since the year 1998. Also enclosed are the upcoming releases for the next few years. Each book has a thumbnail picture of its cover and a synopsis of the story. Then Wiesner gives various types of information; which publisher was used, the cover blurb, information about the cover, honors/awards received, what inspired the story, interesting things that happened while she was working on the book, the status of the book, and even upcoming releases if the title is part of a series. Aspiring authors should strongly consider picking up a copy of this book. Use it to compare which publishing companies accepted what types of genre. Wonderful resources can be found within these pages. However, if you are simply a fan of Karen Wiesner, as I am, then you need this compendium more than anyone else. Not only can you reminisce about the stories you have already read and enjoyed, but you will get inside information about reissues, upcoming stories, and so much more." ~Huntress Reviews