Introduction
Noah Lukeman
Author of The First Five Pages and The Plot Thickens
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Noah Lukeman "In his book THE FIRST FIVE PAGES, Noah Lukeman… gave writers a great gift. Now, in THE PLOT THICKENS, he shows writers how to build stories in which the plot emerges from fresh, alive, and intense characters. Both beginners and more advanced writers will find many wonderful, thought-provoking concepts and approaches here to help them hone their craft." -- James Frey, author of How to Write A Damn Good Novel and The Key. "THE PLOT THICKENS is full of practical common sense about how to write fiction and answers many of the difficult questions first novelists ask themselves." -- Michael Korda, author of Queenie, The Fortune and Making the List. "Brilliant. It literally gears a person up to writing big-themed, deep, humorous, and varied fiction. Personable, buoyant, and very wise." -- Carol Bly, author of Beyond the Writers’ Workshop. Noah Lukeman’s bestselling book The First Five Pages was praised by the Detroit Free Press as "most useful in its guidance on preparing and submitting your work," and Kirkus Reviews called it an "intelligent and entertaining instruction" that "should be read by all novice writers--and by those whose books are already published but who intend to write more." The First Five Pages has now become a required text in the writing curriculums of universities across the country. In THE PLOT THICKENS: 8 WAYS TO BRING FICTION TO LIFE (St. Martin's Press, July 2002), Lukeman expands on how to better succeed in the writing craft. As a Manager in the New York office of Artists Management Group, Michael Ovitz’ multi-talent management company, Lukeman heard thousands of book pitches a year. Often the stories sound great in concept, but never live up to potential on the page. THE PLOT THICKENS explains to writers the importance of looking at the bigger picture in terms of heightening suspense and conflict. Lukeman’s approach is to show how plot grows out of character development. Accessible with a warm and conversational tone, Noah’s book on plot writing supplies readers with innovative principles, techniques, and numerous thought-provoking exercises. Noah Lukeman has extensive experience in the publishing world as an agent, editor, and founder of PrePub.com, one of the first publishing rights Web sites. He lives in New York City. Unlike other dry, academic texts on writing, THE PLOT THICKENS offers valuable, down-to-earth advice in an entertaining format. It is sure to be treasured by aspiring writers everywhere.
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When literary agent, Noah Lukeman first contacted me, I had no inkling of his many accomplishments. I agreed to preview the galley of The First Five Pages, and when it arrived in the mail I sat by the fire for a quick read. I stayed awake past midnight studying the well-crafted book on technique. Within 24 hours I had completed The First Five Pages, and was starting over, this time applying exercises from each chapter to my own belabored novel--with beneficial results.
Keep in mind I'm not a total beginner. I was a content editor for a corporate Internet company, have taken workshops and classes from the University of Iowa, Iowa Woman Magazine, Painted Rock, and the Writer's Digest School, have worked with professional editors on my writing, and have belonged to two writers' groups (and I'm almost ashamed to admit, once paid a New York City literary agent 10 years ago to read a novel I'm still rewriting). I'm familiar with "show, don't tell," using too many adjectives or adverbs, weeding out repetition, avoiding florid prose, and the importance of professionalism. Though I have no degrees in writing, I have learned a few things while stumbling through my own creative process. And I discovered many new techniques from Noah Lukeman's book and took other, more familiar lessons to heart as if learning them for the first time.
Noah Lukeman felt immediately accessible to me since he had written fiction himself. I realized he was sharing more than general information that would improve my skills: his book meant to fortify me, give me insight into the publishing industry from an agent and editor's point of view. It's a competitive world out there. I needed to interview him. Luckily, he agreed.
At age 26, this former editor is the founder and president of his own New York City literary agency where he represents many prestigious clients. He is also a gifted writer in his own right, as you will soon learn when you read our interview and the introductory sample chapter of The First Five Pages at his site. He is articulate, educated, and Web savvy, founder of PrePub. His mother, Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D., also a writer, is the author of Why Men Leave. When he speaks of her, women all over the world will want to embrace him. He sounds like the ideal son. Not only has he promoted her work, but represents two uncles: Alex Lukeman, Ph. D. author of Sleep Well, Sleep Deep and Daniel Myerson M.A., A.B.D., Blood and Splendor: The World's Greatest Tyrants. Noah's oldest brother, Josh Lukeman, M.B.A., is the author of The Art of Day Trading: The Seven Pillars to Success, another client of Lukeman Literary Management.
When you read The First Five Pages, you'll hope Noah Lukeman will one day teach us more. How many of us caught up in this age of technology still believe in working for as long and as hard as it takes to produce art?
I don't usually praise books on writer's craft on my site. Most of my suggestions pertain to creativity, but The First Five Pages is exceptional. It is your choice of course, whether or not you apply everything the author suggests to your work, but you may learn something important about the publishing industry.
Interview: Part I Interview: Part II
Relevant Links:
Books:
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Copyright (c) by Catherine Tudor, 2006. Catherine Tudor founded One Woman's Writing Retreat in 1996 in order to create a network for writers at all stages in their careers. She is the managing editor and webmaster of One Woman's Writing Retreat. Read more about her here. |
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