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No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days | 
 enlarge | Author: Chris Baty
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $3.81
You Save: $11.14 (75%)
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Rating:  95 reviews
Sales Rank: 38017
Media: Paperback
Pages: 176
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0811845052
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.3
EAN: 9780811845052
ASIN: 0811845052
Publication Date: September 16, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Chris Baty, motivator extraordinaire and instigator of a wildly successful writing revolution, spells out the secrets of writing -- and finishing -- a novel. Every fall, thousands of people sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which Baty founded, determined to (a) write that novel or (b) finish that novel in -- kid you not -- 30 days. Now Baty puts pen to paper himself to share the secrets of success. With week-specific overviews, pep "talks," and essential survival tips for today's word warriors, this results-oriented, quick-fix strategy is perfect for people who want to nurture their inner artist and then hit print! Anecdotes and success stories from NaNoWriMo winners will inspire writers from the heralding you-can-do-it trumpet blasts of day one to the champagne toasts of day thirty. Whether it's a resource for those taking part in the official NaNo WriMo event, or a stand-alone handbook for writing to come, No Plot? No Problem! is the ultimate guide for would-be writers (or those with writer's block) to cultivate their creative selves.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 90 more reviews...
 Writing in a Twitter world June 23, 2009
Alligator Legs (New York, NY)
Chris Baty's the founder of NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month Competition. Every November, more than 100K writers around the globe try to write a 50,000 word novel in just one month. There are daily pep talks, "write-ins" with fellow NaNoWriMos, an online regional database to locate other participants, and a certificate upon completion.
Sound a little crazy? Maybe it is. But there are far crazier things in life than writing a novel in a month -- say, writing a novel in 10 years.
I tried it last year; but life, fate, and my crazy roommates conspired against me. I don't think it's a farfetched idea at all, it's certainly quite doable. But there are quite a few things that need to be in place to create a favorable environment for Nano-ing and writing in general. What's great about his book is that it is written for people who have a lot on their plates -- like school, work, and family -- and live in an internet culture that creates these overwhelming and nonproductive sucks on your time.
Chris offers tips on how to prioritize your writing and deprioritize time sucks like web surfing, washing dishes, and hanging out till all hours of the night. There's this great little tool, called a Time Finder, for figuring out what things you can do without. For a whole week, you keep a daily log of your activities, noting how long it takes you to do them. Then you go through with a colored pen at the end of that week and categorize each activity as REQUIRED, HIGHLY DESIRED, or FORGOABLE. Once you do that, you cut out all the forgoable activities (and highly desired if push comes to shove) for those four weeks and voila -- you found the time you need to write!
I always feel like I don't have enough time in the day, so this Time Finder seems really amazing. I certainly do waste a certain amount of time every day which, taken together, I could be using to enormous good. At the same time, one thing that Chris finds is that your down time becomes enormously productive as a result of getting your writing done. Spending time with friends, the sunrise, even a slow walk in the park seem more enjoyable.
And I can vouch that writing at least a couple of hours every morning has been very good to me. I find that I'm far less irritable with other people because I'm getting my own work done and I can really be present with them.
All those folks who subscribe to writing in a quiet room of one's own aren't living in the real world. Chris Baty is. A definite must read.
 "Finally A Book With All The Answers, According To The Writer" April 7, 2009
Russell A. Rohde MD (West Covina, California USA)
"No Plot? No Problem! A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days", by Chris Baty, Chronicle Books, CA, 2004. ISBN: 978-0-8118-4505-2, SC (HC) 176 pgs., Index 3 pgs. Inveiglements include several cartoons & text highlighting, 7 " x 5 ".
Author Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month [...] is an accomplished writer who has created for aspiring writers an inspirational book full of confidences, motivational asides and tongue-in-cheek jokes that'll rouse and enthuse even the most forlorn want to-be novelist. It is obvious this level of humor must originate in successful writers after suffering previous neglect by publishers -
All in all, and the title tells it very well: write like hell, no excuses and DO complete a 50K word novel in one month. Explicit instructions are given as to the best modus operandi to accomplish that mission. Be forewarned, many drop out for the diverse reasons as the author cites.
Unquestionably, this is a worthy read for those wanting to write but have some problems starting and staying the course. One of Baty's many secrets to being a successful novelist is in establishing a completion dead line. I think he's done an admirable job. At last check, NaNoWriMo.com needed an update.
finis
Love this book! February 25, 2009
Notwitty (Boston)
I love this book! Easy to read, written in a very funny and laid back style, very witty! My friends and I are attempting the Write a Novel in 30 Days approach next month, hopefully it will help us finish something, good or not, just finish it. Even if it doesn't work for me, it was a great read! I highly recommend this book for writers or wanna bees
 Phooey! February 19, 2009
Dorothyanne Brown (Westport, ON)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book when I was feeling blocked and planning to participate in NaNoWriMo. I hated it. It was filled with ersatz information and was childish and unprofessional. I read it in about half an hour. Don't waste your money on this one. Go buy a coffee and a bunch of file cards or paper and just write.
If you ever wanted to write a novel...buy this book! December 18, 2008
Lori L. Marble (Neosho, MO United States)
I have told many people they need to buy this book. I have read this book aloud to my husband until he begged me to stop. Chris Baty's writing style is perfectly peppered with humor. His insights into the roadblocks we all erect in the path preventing us from writing is dead on. This is the only "how to write" book you need.
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