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Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
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Publisher's summary
They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
From lauded writer and teacher Matt Bell, Refuse to Be Done is encouraging and intensely practical, focusing always on specific rewriting tasks, techniques, and activities for every stage of the process. You won't find bromides here about the "the writing Muse." Instead, Bell breaks down the writing process in three sections. In the first, Bell shares a bounty of tactics, all meant to push you through the initial conception and get words on the page. The second focuses on reworking the narrative through outlining, modeling, and rewriting. The third and final section offers a layered approach to polishing through a checklist of operations, breaking the daunting project of final revisions into many small, achievable tasks.
Whether you are a first time novelist or a veteran writer, you will find an abundance of strategies here to help motivate you and shake up your revision process, allowing you to approach your work, day after day and month after month, with fresh eyes and sharp new tools.
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All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with 32 practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable 35-year career.
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You love Dungeons and Dragons. As an experienced dungeon master, you've run dozens, if not hundreds of games. You put a lot of work into making your games great. What if there's another way to look at how you prepare your game? What if it turned out you could spend less time and less energy and have a better game as a result? It's time to unleash the Lazy Dungeon Master.
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What listeners say about Refuse to Be Done
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-02-24
Structure
This book was great in helping me structure my book writing. Great ideas in improving your writing.
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- David Carlsten
- 08-18-22
Short but worth the credit!
I will definitely listen again and probably again. It's shortness is good as some writing guides get bogged down. Everything here was useful and to the point. It provides a realistic look at how each draft process might look. It comforted me to know how okay it was to have a crazy messy first draft. Highly recommend!
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- Navelgazing Writer
- 07-30-23
Better Thank I Expected
As an established writer, I was surprised to learn techniques I had not heard before. I have bookmarked this to use as I edit my WIP when the time comes.
I was really surprised because so many advice books for writers hold the same information. Not this one!
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- joey carbo
- 06-10-22
Excellent resource
The only problem is the narration. I had to slow it down to .8 and still it was hard to catch certain things until afterward. He jumps so quickly into what you can tell are subheadings that he makes them part of the sentences that precede them.
It did give me several techniques I’ve put to good use.
My only other complaint is that it’s a little scattered. Like a million ideas from notecards, just listed off at high speed with no real organization.
Still I learned a good bit.
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- lauren
- 06-30-24
many great tips
really great break down on writing, really enjoyed the ideas here and learned a lot
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