Book review: How to Write the Perfect Novel by Chancery Stone

Posted by Judy Darley

February 7, 2009

A tongue-in-cheek guide

If you’re fed up with trying to second-guess agents, editors and publisher, this book could be an invaluable source of advice, humour, and a reminder that you’re not alone.

The book began life as a blog written by unsuccessful (so far!) novelist Chancery Stone, and is the perfect antidote to the thousands of well-meaning, hefty writers’ guides that currently flood the market.

The “Negative Learning” examples are priceless – you may well find yourself reading snippets aloud to your spouse, friends or nervous fellow commuters. Each of the major genres is covered, including a wonderful chapter on crime fiction that features fencing-maestro Miss Marble and poet Inspector Dogleash.

If nothing else you’ll be inspired to write some mock-fiction of your own, as Chancery seems to have had a wonderful time churning out these pseudo classics.

Other chapters cut dangerously close to the bone, as Chancery takes delight in describing aspiring authors as “fat, ugly and socially inept”, with their sole aim being publication to prove that they are worthwhile.

Chancery’s bitterness is sometimes a little unpleasant to swallow, but if you can bypass this to get to the humour, this is a fabulous escape from the reality of rejection slips, and may even remind you why you wanted to write in the first place.

How to Write the Perfect Novel: A Tongue-in-cheek Guide to Certain Literary Success by Chancery Stone is published by Poison Pixie Publishing Ltd

To submit a review of a book, course, magazine or website, please email judy@EssentialWriters.com