Simon Haynes was born in England and grew up in Spain. His family moved to Australia when he was 16.

In addition to novels, Simon writes computer software. In fact, he writes computer software to help him write novels faster, which leaves him more time to improve his writing software. And write novels faster.

Between 2005 and 2012, Simon completed NaNoWriMo six times. He's still recovering.

Simon's goal is to write fifteen novels (quickly) before someone takes his keyboard away.

Update 2018: goal achieved and I still have my keyboard!

New goal: write thirty novels.

How to Write a Novel by Simon Haynes

Do any of these sound familiar?

You want to write your first novel, but you don't know how to begin.

You've started writing several novels, but you never finish them.

You've written a novel or two, but you want to increase your output and publish more often.

If you answered yes to any of the above, this book might just be what you're looking for!

I'm Simon Haynes, and I've been writing and publishing novels and short fiction for almost twenty years. This guide contains everything I've learned about writing a novel, both as an indie and as a trade-published author.

Maybe you want to write a novel which has been on your mind for years. You don't care how long it takes, you just want to see it through to the end.

Or maybe you see yourself as a career novelist - there's a real challenge - and you want to write books quickly and efficiently.

I've done both, and I cover both approaches in How to Write a Novel.

 

REVIEWS

  • "If you need a book with easy to follow instructions, from a professional, prolific writer of over 20 years experience, Simon Haynes's book on How to Write a Novel is the book you should start with."

    – Amazon Review
  • "A fluff free, no-nonsense guide to writing your first novel. Highly recommended!"

    – Amazon Review
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

I've been writing novels for over twenty years, but until recently I was never particularly speedy. My first novel took forevah. (Forevah is a technical term we authors use. I employ a lot of those.) Slowly, bit by bit, I learned about the craft, and each subsequent novel took me a little less time.

(I'll share my tips on writing novels quickly in a later chapter. That's not important right now.)

How fast you write a novel isn't the issue. What stops most people is finishing a novel. You get these terrific ideas, start writing, and then get bogged down after a few chapters. Maybe your characters are misbehaving, or your setting is kind of bland, or you've written yourself into a dead end and have no idea how to proceed.

Well, I'm here to help. Will my method work for everyone? That I cannot say. All I know is that several people begged me to write this guide, and it contains all my hard-won knowledge, along with many hints and tips.

I hope it's everything they asked for, and I hope it helps you too.

Regards

Simon Haynes

Perth, Western Australia