How do you get started as a novelist? How do you write a novel? What do you do with it once it's finished? And how do you get a career as a novelist off the ground?

Most honest novelists will attribute some combination of talent, hard work and luck in their success, but each of these qualities can be nurtured with a little guidance. With clear and honest insight, author and publisher Jon Sealy shares his own story of how fiction works, from writing the first draft to building a multi-book career. In this short book, you will learn:

• How to write your first draft

• The basics of point of view, character development and structure

• Tips for making your scenes come to life

• An overview of publishing

• What a novelist's career looks like in the 21st century

The book is structured in three parts:

(1) The Career: “Read a lot, write a lot” is often offered as advice for aspiring young writers, but how much is enough? And what about the networking aspects of the job? In surveying his own story, Jon gives practical advice around whether you need an MFA, how to get an agent, what to expect on book tour and what life is like as a midlist novelist.

(2) The Craft: Part two examines the ins and outs of the novel as an art form. After showing you one process for getting the first draft on the page, Jon lays out the major elements of fiction: setting the scene, establishing character, building the structure and revision. Here you will find a few tips even the most seasoned novelists struggle with.

(3) The Business: The book concludes with an overview of publishing and the process of transforming a book from a Word document on your computer to a published novel in the world. Literary agents, types of publishers, publicity and more make an appearance.

Part memoir, part craft analysis, this book breaks apart the elements of fiction and explores one writer’s path from student to professional. Aspiring writers will find a toolkit for understanding fiction — and a roadmap for getting started.