Page-Turner: Your Path to Writing a Novel That Publishers Want and Readers Buy

I received the best possible news this week from The Wild Rose Press, a New York publisher. They have accepted my manuscript and I just signed a contract for my very first mystery novel. Woohoo! I couldn't have done it without Page Turner taking me through every step in plotting, storylining and keeping the action moving. Thank you, Barbara Kyle. This book now lives on the corner of my desk, within reach, as I begin plotting book 2.

I paid a professional editor $1700 for my first draft and $2700 for the second. I could have paid $10 for this book and produced a much better piece of work. This book is jammed with precise tips and techniques, like a full course in creative writing by a pro. Oh how I wish I'd bought it before I started writing my novel. Every rookie mistake I made is listed in her book. I'm not on my 3rd draft, confident this time I'll have a real story. If you're serious about writing a commercially successful book, buy this one BEFORE you start.

I ordered this new book yesterday, started reading it and got so enthralled I couldn’t put it down until I’d read through the entire thing by 2:00AM this morning. The book definitely lives up to its title.Seriously, this is a terrific, accessible manual that offers a wealth of wisdom and practical tips for emerging or first-time novelists like myself. The book is intelligently yet warmly written without sounding condescending, is beautifully organized and easy to follow. It’s thorough in addressing not only the “basics” but also some of the more subtle nuances (e.g., “deep genre”) of the writing craft, and it's well-rounded with many examples across different genres from both both male and female authors. The author's (Barbara Kyle's) vast experience as actor, author, and writing teacher/mentor really comes out in a unique way that adds immense credibility and vitality to her writing — (e.g., her insightful explanation of the differences and similarities between what a novel writer vs. a screen actor needs to convey to their respective audiences.)I especially liked the “organized template” that the book offers, not only for helping an author think through the novel conceptualization and initial drafting stages, but also for aiding and guiding the author’s follow-up discussion with a professional reviewer/mentor as well as steering the creation of subsequent drafts.One of the additional indirect benefits of “Page-Turner” (especially as I get into later drafts of my first historical novel) is that it reminds me to keep checking myself on my overall “societal” goals for writing a novel in the first place …- How do I want my readers' thinking to be changed as a result of reading my novel? (What Barbara refers to as the novel’s “deep genre” aspect)- Who am I primarily writing my novel for? (target audience: e.g., more scholarly military/religious history-lovers? Christian community vs. broader commercial fiction market?)- What “benefits” am I most eager for my novel to provide to my target audience? (entertainment? artistic/aesthetic pleasure? historical learning? Inspiration through important social or “faith” messages?)“Page-Turner’s” last section on marketing considerations also raised a vital question for me … do I really want to take my first novel through the traditional publisher agent-seeking route, or do I go self-pub and accept possible limitations/challenges on distribution? In any case, I’ll want my novel to be the best it can be so I’ll be at peace knowing I’m putting out the very best of which I’m capable from a craft standpoint. “Page-Turner” will no doubt help me in this process.I can safely say many of the concepts presented in this book are going to have a significant and positive impact on the next (hopefully, getting towards final!) draft of my first historical novel, and can't wait to get started.

Barbara Kyle provides invaluable information and advice. I've read an awful lot of books about fiction writing, and have found "Page-Turner" to be the most thorough.

Is your story plot driven or character driven? Are you even sure? I wasn’t. But Barbara Kyle already knows. And she’ll tell you, while she blows away another fanciful notion (there are lots of them) under which even veteran writers labor. Page Turner isn’t the last book on the craft that you are going to need. It’s the first.She doesn’t tell you what to do, she tells you what works. Principles versus rules, she explains, an approach that lets you as creator put those principles discussed in Page Turner to work for you.Ms. Kyle gives you a look inside a story. At one glance, you see all the structural and moving parts; character, story structure, setting, dialogue, each performing its task and all working toward the same end.Then she shows you how those parts are engineered. And Page Turner is an engineering manual, something I realized as I read her discussion of Empathy versus Sympathy and her Five Tips for Building Empathy for your characters.Page Turner inspires and encourages, but it doesn’t let you think that a novel springs full grown from some bubbling inner fountain of creativity. Ms. Kyle stresses that it takes work, discipline, and knowing the craft, and why you must develop your own approach to facing the task you’ve set before you.With so much to cover, it would have been easy to overwrite Page Turner. But she doesn’t. Her writing is focused and lucid, as all good writing is. (You won’t realize how much you are learning, not on your first reading.) But all the essentials are there, each examined and its relation to the others explained. Page Turner is economical, comprehensive, and all the while easy to understand—not a simple trick to pull off.In any profession, it’s easy to pick up bad habits and to forget the fundamentals. That’s why you’ll want to take Page Turner from the shelf and read it again, maybe once a year or just before you begin a big project. I’ve read any number books on the writing craft, and good ones too. But this is one to keep on your desk while you work.

Page-Turner is the BEST book on writing I’ve ever read! And I've read plenty. Every page is filled with great advice. I’d never done a storyline before, never had the patience. Thirty pages?!?! Are you kidding me? But I decided to try it, and I found it an amazing tool for working things out ahead of time. Instead of being limiting, I’ve found it to be incredibly freeing. It give a writer perspective by leaving all options open to be tried, then accepted or rejected if they don’t feel right or serve the plot. It saves SO much time! I wish I'd had this book twenty years ago!

I’ve read dozens of books on writing, but Barbara Kyle’s Page Turner really stands out as being packed with useful advice which is easy to absorb and fun to read. In fact, I read and overlined the e-version first, then sent for the 3D version as I felt I had to have a desk copy to which I could keep referring. It is as good as that! From getting your characters together to writing a letter to an agent, this book is a source of help and encouragement. Whether you are a beginner, or have a drawerful of manuscripts, you won’t regret buying this one!

The Page Turner is an indispensable tool for organizing your story. Chapter by chapter it hits all the highlights of what it takes to write a good story and allowed me to edit my rambling manuscript into a vastly improved product by carefully following the books suggestion on structure, character development, settings and so much more.

Barbara Kyle has written one of the best self-help books for fiction writers. This concise book has helped me to greatly improve my writing. Tremendously helpful. Thank you, Barbara.

This book answers all your questions

Ms Kyle knows her craft. She has helped many authors succeed in completing the novels. This is a step by step guide for beginners and veterans of novel writing. There is a lot of hard earned advice offered that can help you write a great story. An accomplished actor and author, Ms Kyle can help you create your own masterpiece.Highly recommended.