There are probably a million reasons why you still haven't written that novel you've been dreaming of. But here's a book by someone who knows how to get the job done -- and can offer you practical advice to make it happen in one year's time.

Walter Mosley, author of Devil in a Blue Dress, Fortunate Son, Fear of the Dark and many other successful novels, turns his expertise to your advantage. This Year You Write Your Novel offers the crucial steps you need to take to create the novel you've been itching to write. Mosley offers guidance in the form of basic rules (write every day, even if you feel you have nothing to say) how to choose your narrative voice; how to write without restraint; showing vs. telling; metaphor vs. simile; character development ("in part , the purpose of the novel is to map out the events in the protagonist's life that cause her to change"); how to engage the reader; and much more. Mosley's approach is very down to earth and accessible, and as he says, you may not be the next Dickens, but with his help you can write a book that's entertaining and even saleable.