Novel Writing

Romesh Gunesekera's first novel Reef was shortlisted for the 1994 Booker Prize. He is the author of six novels including The Sandglass, (winner of the inaugural BBC Asia Award) and Heaven's Edge, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. A L Kennedy is a prize winning novelist and author of short stories and non-fiction and Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, UK. Her novels include Everything You Need (1999), The Blue Book (2011) and Day (2007) which won the Costa and Saltire Book of the Year.

• Foreword by Ali Smith Preface by Carole Angier and Sally Cline Part 1: On novel writingReflections What is a novel? A. L. Kennedy and Romesh GunesekeraThe novel – what I wish I’d known beforeI started A. L. Kennedy Creative worrying Message from DelphiA solitary vocation The joy of not writing Writing my first novel Romesh Gunesekera Reading firstThe advice Starting to write The plan Autobiography My lessons ElementsBeginnings and preparation A. L. KennedyWho are you? Who is your reader? Environment Health RoutineIt’s different for girlsCharacter and plotDeep ideaSupport networksSetting, place and atmosphere Romesh GunesekeraCharacters A. L. KennedyMoral and personal issuesThe chicken and the eggGeneration of elementsPoint of view and perspective Romesh Gunesekera Voice, language and dialogue A. L. KennedyVoiceLanguage and dialogueEndings Romesh GunesekeraLife lessons A. L. KennedySensesMediaWithin any given monthThe poisoned chalice A. L. KennedyThe publicStalkingInterviews Other exposure and activitiesOther writers Saying no A. L. KennedyPart 2: Tips and tales – guest contributionsTips from Novelists Hanan Al-Shaykh Bernardo AtxagaTash AwJoan Brady Amit ChaudhuriDavies Anita Desai Louise Doughty Anne Enright Jonathan Franzen Lynn Freed Alan Hollinghurst Doris Lessing Andrea LevyTim Lott Glenn PattersonTim Pears Philip Pullman Michèle Roberts Elif Shafak Evelyn ToyntonJeanette Winterson Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 2013 Naomi Alderman Tahmima Anam Ned Beauman Jenni Fagan Adam Foulds Xiaolu Guo Joanna Kavenna Benjamin Markovits Kamila Shamsie Evie Wyld Part 3: Write onDistance by Romesh Gunesekera Silence by Romesh GunesekeraEarly issues by Romesh Gunesekera Planning The ‘W’ decisions Research 149Tools Routine, time and zone Finding your voice Writing tips by A. L. Kennedy Starting Keeping on Reaching the end Rewriting and editing Nuts and bolts by A. L. Kennedy Grammar Punctuation Tenses Point of view (POV) Layout Writing with others by Romesh Gunesekera Courses and workshops Workshopping Writing exercises Collaboration Mentors An agent’s view by Antony Harwood A brave new world: Digital media by Romesh Gunesekera An alphabetical list of questions for the digital age:Chris Meade interviewed by Romesh Gunesekera The seven ages of the novelist by Romesh GunesekeraResources by Romesh Gunesekera Books UK courses US courses On-line Workshop exercises by Romesh Gunesekera Procrastination Travel toolkit by A. L. Kennedy References Basic kit 100 milestones of the modern novel End piece by Romesh Gunesekera Conclusion by A. L. Kennedy Bibliography Index