This practical, detailed, yet compact book on writing helpfully serves those writers just starting out, as well as intermediate writers eager but unsure of how to start a novel.

The book’s accessible step-by-step, example-driven chapters follow the classic writer’s dictum “show don’t tell” while focusing on structure and building a novel from the ground up. Despite its weeklong format, it also works as a general reference for writers to understand key concepts of story, setting, and character. Although its exercises are divided into “Warmup,” “Core Activity,” and “Stretch” (optional additional activities) categories, these can work as individual prompts from which experienced writers can pick and choose.

Adams writes in a friendly voice, encouraging even anxious writers. Her “Part I: Icebreakers”¬— writing exercises and warm-ups—may seem overly simplistic with the typical “let’s start writing” pep talk. But in Part II, the workshop portion, she gets into substantive discussions. “Day One: Ideas” lays the foundation of effective writing by emphasizing sensory details, vivid descriptions and character details. Intermediate writers can start at “Day Two: Character,” where the character-first approach—creating an engaging, fully-realized protagonist before writing the story—is explained.

“Day Three: Setting” covers how giving careful thought to a novel’s locations will deepen and enhance the story. “Day Four: Plot and Planning” introduces the storyboard, which helps structure specific story sections, capture ideas, and work out character goals/problems.

“Day Five: Drafting” launches the actual writing process; Adams stresses, “you don’t have to start at the beginning” to get your writing flowing. She encourages a rest on Day Six, then launches into “Revision” on Day Seven, an essential chapter in which Adams shows—with marked-up text—how she edits herself.

Story structure is critical to the success of any book, yet few introductory-level books cover this topic. The author’s concept of basic story structure has an appealing simplicity sure to serve newbie writers along with more experienced readers attempting their first novel.

Highly recommended for fans of Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey.

Also available as an ebook.