Aristotle’s Rhetoric: The Irresistible Novel

I’m officially closing the book The Irresistible Novel after this post. It’s been a great journey over the past twenty-seven weeks. This study has no doubt helped to shape me as a writer and helped me to evaluate and form my own writing voice. The last idea discussed in this fantastic writing book by JeffContinue reading “Aristotle’s Rhetoric: The Irresistible Novel”

One Last Shot!

This is the final call for entries into my first giveaway! I will be giving away a free copy of The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke to one lucky subscriber who fills out the following form. Be sure to read all of the details before signing up! Give Away Details This give away is in responseContinue reading “One Last Shot!”

Archetypes: The Irresistible Novel

There is one more week left in The Irresistible Novel Giveaway and one more chapter after today to examine before the blog closes its 6 month journey through creating an irresistible novel. What are some things you’ve learned from walking through the pages of this book with me? I’ll be summarizing some of my favoriteContinue reading “Archetypes: The Irresistible Novel”

What’s It All About, Alfie? And a Give Away

As promised, this week is your first chance to enter to win your very own FREE copy of The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke. Over the course of the past twenty-four weekends I have reviewed and summarized chapters from this book about writing your own novel. I have received permission from the author to offerContinue reading “What’s It All About, Alfie? And a Give Away”

A Brain Chemistry Story Map: The Irresistible Novel

Thanks for staying with me, readers, for the past 23 Saturdays as I’ve read and reviewed each chapter of The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke. We started out the first part of the book reviewing grammar and writing practices. Now in the second part of the book we are taking a look at the humanContinue reading “A Brain Chemistry Story Map: The Irresistible Novel”

Character-Brain, Plot-Brain: The Irresistible Novel

Venturing into week 22 of The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke requires a couple of short lessons on brain chemistry. In order to write a novel that is irresistible for readers one must understand the basic way a reader’s brain functions. In order to write this portion of his book, Gerke enlisted the advice andContinue reading “Character-Brain, Plot-Brain: The Irresistible Novel”

Hacking Your Reader’s Brain: The Irresistible Novel

The second part of The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke opens with the Greatest Commandment in Fiction: You must engage your reader from beginning to end. The rest of this book is dedicated to helping writers ensure that they are creating that connection between reader and novel. In the process he enlisted the research ofContinue reading “Hacking Your Reader’s Brain: The Irresistible Novel”

Vote for a Title

If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time you are well aware of the fact that I’m working on a novel. Last December I finished my first draft and I’ve spent the past seven months editing and reviewing my work. In order to move forward in the process I’ve had to setContinue reading “Vote for a Title”

The Big Enchilada: The Irresistible Novel

I can’t believe we’ve been spending the past twenty Saturdays looking at The Irresistible Novel by Jeff Gerke. This week’s chapter marks the end of the first half of the book entitled: Freeing Yourself From the Paralyzing Rules of Fiction. This portion of the text wraps up with an examination of several rules sorted intoContinue reading “The Big Enchilada: The Irresistible Novel”

Elmore Leonard’s Rules: The Irresistible Novel

In chapter 19 of The Irresistible Novel, Jeff Gerke takes a closer look at Elmore Leonard’s rules. Elmore Leonard is a famous author of tons of famous novels including Fifty-Two Pickup, Be Cool, Out of Sight and Mr. Paradise. The point of adding this chapter to The Irresistible Novel is to show that even theContinue reading “Elmore Leonard’s Rules: The Irresistible Novel”