See Jane Write: A Girl's Guide to Writing Chick Lit

With chick lit novels popping up on every bestseller list, millions of readers are all thinking the same thing: I could write this stuff. I could write a bestseller and never go back to the office again!

 

And here’s the guide that will show you how. Bestselling novelist Sarah Mlynowski and veteran chick lit editor Farrin Jacobs cover every stage of developing and selling your soon-to-be bestselling novel, with information on

 

     •  developing an idea     

     •  learning the basics of plotting

     •  deciding on a point of view     

     •  pacing, and conflict

     •  making your characters likable    

     •  finding an agent

 

—and much more, including humorous tips and advice from scores of established writers (from Meg Cabot and Marian Keyes to Emily Giffin and Sophie Kinsella). If you’ve got stories to tell, See Jane Write will take care of the rest!

"Writer Mlynowski (Milkrun, Me vs. Me) and editor Jacobs, formerly of Red Dress Ink, team up for this handy dandy guide to penning 'chick lit,' which they define in the first part, 'The Big Picture,' as 'often upbeat, always funny fiction about contemporary female characters and their everyday struggles,' citing Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary as the watershed moment for the genre ('not necessarily the first chick lit author, but ... certainly the most popular'). The balance of the first part goes into preparation for writing, describing it in terms of therapy ('It's your opportunity to vent, reveal, create, and release') and dating ('You want to charm your reader'), and providing a lesson in motivation, 'Getting Back at Your Ex and Other Reasons to Write.' The text contains plenty words of wisdom from other chick lit pros, including novelists Meg Cabot (Queen of Babble) and Sophie Kinsella (Confessions of a Shopaholic). Fiction writers of all stripes, however, should find useful a substantial chunk of this irreverent, easy-to-read guide, especially in part two, 'The Details.' Chapters on character, plot development, structure and pacing all translate well. Though warning against stereotypes like 'Multiple Personality Mary' and 'Perky Patty' aren't exactly earth-shattering, this primer covers the basics with wit, style and plenty of welcome encouragement from those who have been there." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

An author and a former chick lit editor and scores of established writers offer advice and humorous tips for those with stories to tell.

Focuses on choosing an idea, choosing a point of view, making your characters likeable, creating secondary characters, learning the "Three Ps" (problems, plotting, and pacing), revising your text, finding an agent, and more. This work also features tables, charts, and sidebars.

Sarah Mlynowski started her publishing career at Harlequin Enterprises and used her experiences to fuel her first chick lit novel, Milkrun, which has sold more than 600,000 copies worldwide. She is the author of Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, Me vs. Me, Bras & Broomsticks, and Frogs & French Kisses, and coeditor of the bestselling chick lit anthologies Girls’ Night In and Girls’ Night Out. She lives in New York City. Farrin Jacobs is a former chick lit editor for Red Dress Ink and current freelance editor and writer. Her articles have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, the New York Times City section, Blender, Time Out New York, Men’s Journal, and Teen People. She lives in New York City.