Jump to Main Content

Books for Writers

How-to writing books by Elizabeth Lyon, author, editor, and instructor, available in print and digital form.

bookManuscript Makeover

Elizabeth Lyon
Perigee Books

Available through:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's
Chapters/Indigo

 

Introduction
Preparing to Revise

Part I: Style Speaks
Chapter One: Inside-Out Revision
Chapter Two: Outside-In—Simple Revisions
Chapter Three: Outside-In—Advanced Revisions

Part II: Craft Works
Chapter Four: Revise for Genre
Chapter Five: Whole Book—Five-Stage Structure
Chapter Six: Whole Book—Journeys and Less Common Structures
Chapter Seven: Movement and Suspense
Chapter Eight: Time and Pace

Part III: Characterization Endures
Chapter Nine: Viewpoint
Chapter Ten: Character Dimension and Theme
Chapter Eleven: Character-Driven Beginnings
Chapter Twelve: Character-Driven Scenes and Suspense
Chapter Thirteen: Character Personality and Voice
Chapter Fourteen: Character-Driven Narration

Part IV: Marketing Pays
Chapter Fifteen: Copyediting
Chapter Sixteen: Queries and Synopses—Polishing for Marketing

 

bookThe Sell Your Novel Took Kit: Everything You Need to Know About Queries, Synopses, Marketing, and Breaking In

Elizabeth Lyon
Perigee Books

Available through:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's
Chapters/Indigo

Barnes and NobleLearning to market your novel will make it stand out from the thousands of other books clamoring for the attention of an ever-shrinking number of publishers. Step by step, Elizabeth Lyon details what editors want, what questions to ask them, and how to develop a marketing strategy. You will learn:

• How to categorize your novel and the sixteen ways of describing it
• Nine ways of selling your novel
• Description of the jobs of literary agent, editor, and writer
• Examples of actual story synopses and dozens of successful query letters in all the genres
• How to prepare sample chapters
• Thirty questions a writer needs to ask a prospective agent
Information on writers' organizations, market guides, and much more

Elizabeth Lyon has written a masterly work that belongs on every writer's bookshelf.
―Jean Naggar, literary agent

Throw away all of your other how-to books; the Sell Your Novel Toolkit is the only book you'll need to break into print. My dog-eared first edition helped me draft a query that landed an agent, which ultimately resulted in a three-book, six-figure deal.
―J. A. Konrath, author of Whiskey Sour

 

 

bookA Writer's Guide to Fiction

Elizabeth Lyon
Perigee Books

Available through:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Powell's
Chapters.ca

 

A concise, practical guide for novelists and short story writers that covers how to: Barnes and Noble

Develop the art and craft of storytelling: five-part structure, Hero's and Heroine's journeys, scene, set-piece, subtext; pacing, description, narrative hooks, endings, and theme
Create memorable characters that live and breathe: in-depth characterization, character chemistry, point of view, dialogue, archetypes.

Apply professional keys to self-editing, with checklists and summaries.

Discover strategies to successfully market your work, with sample query letters, insider tips, resources, and directories.

"A Writer's Guide to Fiction" is a terrific resource for authors; positive in tone (VERY important to aspiring writers), well organized (a critical point for both authors and the librarians who are often called upon to advise them in these matters) and concise. I wish this book had been available when I fired up my own writing career!
―Jayne Ann Krentz

Elizabeth Lyon's latest book "A Writer's Guide to Fiction" is a must-read for anyone about to embark on fiction writing or anyone enjoying a writing career. As agents, we are recommending all our clients read it either as an inspiration or as a valuable refresher course. Lyon never talks down to the writer but simply puts up clean, clear signposts to follow the fiction rules of the road. Highly recommended.
―Anna Cottle and Mary Alice Kier, Cine/Lit Representation

A superb introduction to the basics. Don't start your novel without it.
―Donald Maass, literary agent and author of Writing the Breakout Novel

 

 

Nonfiction book proposals anybody can writeNonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write: How to Get a Contract and Advance Before Writing Your Book

Elizabeth Lyon
Perigee Books

Available through:
Amazon
Powell's
Chapters/Indigo
Barnes and Noble

In this comprehensive yet accessible guide, you will learn exactly what a proposal is, what it must contain, and how to pull yours together into an informative, persuasive selling package. Already a favorite for thousands of aspiring writers, this book features nearly two dozen actual proposals, plus:

• Choosing a topic based on current trends and competing titles
• Drafting the perfect concept statement
• Preparing a table of contents and chapter summaries
• Submitting intriguing and well-written sample chapters
• Writing query letters
• Devising a marketing plan that will excite agents and publishers
• Examples of publication consent agreement and an author/agent agreement
• Resource information on market guides, literary agents, writers and editors' reference books and more

Your advice was most helpful and led to my gaining first an agent, then a book contract, and finally a request to submit a proposal for another related bookie am confident that the professional proposal I submitted based on your own book was the key to this book standing out in a crowded field.
―J. Stephen Jones, MD, FACS

Last year, my husband bought it for me after I met with an book publisher and she told me to submit a formal book proposal. I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it. Your book became our constant companion....It took three months to put the entire package together, and when it was completed, I must say, it was fabulous....A few weeks later, I received one of the most exciting phone calls in my life. Adams Media had accepted my proposal!... When I visited Adam's office to meet the staff, every one of them made a positive reference to my book proposal. They said it was the best they ever saw, they were overwhelmed by it, and the compliments are still verbalized when ever the subject is brought up. Adams has been a pleasure to work with.
―Catherine Galasso-Vigorito, Branford, Connecticut

 

bookjA Writer's Guide to Nonfiction

Elizabeth Lyon
Perigee Books

Available through:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's
Chapters/Indigo

 

"A Writer's Guide to Nonfiction" helped me understand not only the craft of writing (opening my eyes to pre-thinking, the synthesis of heart, mind, and ideas)--to create a cogent and meaningful work! But even more, it helped me understand and experience the artist in me. On a personal level, it is helping me find my voice to make a difference.
―Debbie Caldwell, reader, Portland, OR

Your book, "A Writer's Guide to Nonfiction," has inspired me over all the books I have read about publishing and believe me, I have read too many to count.
―B.W.B. e-mail to author

 

bookNational Directory of Editors & Writers

Elizabeth Lyon
rights back to author

Available through:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's
Chapters/Indigo


This first-of-its-kind directory features the profiles of 530 editors and writers located in 48 states. This 330-page book serves the needs of individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Nominated for an indexing award, the directory includes indexes by geography, specialty, genre, and company name. When searching for an editor, writer, or literary consultant, the reader can compare by education, preferences, fees, years in business, accomplishments, specialties, and other categories.

 

Back to top