Is Life Like This?

A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months

Overview | Formats | Inside the Book

"Belongs on the shelf alongside John Gardner's The Art of Fiction and E. M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel."—Steve Yarbrough

John Dufresne's smart, practical, hard-nosed guide is for the person who has always wanted to write a novel but has been daunted by the sometimes chaotic, always challenging writing process. A patient teacher and an experienced writer, Dufresne focuses his expertise and good humor on helping aspiring novelists take their first tentative steps.

Book Details

Paperback
February 2011
ISBN 978-0-393-33883-6
5.6 × 8.3 in / 314 pages
Sales Territory: Worldwide including Canada, but excluding the British Commonwealth.

Other Formats

Is Life Like This?: A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months

Hardcover

Endorsements & Reviews

“Dufresne's guide to fiction is filled with a can do spirit that's sure to infect would-be novelists who read it.” — The Writer

“John Dufresne is a canny and sage adviser. . . . The book is a rich companion even for those just thinking about their ambitions for fiction.” — Ron Carlson, author of Ron Carlson Writes a Story

“Dufresne's generous, wise, cajoling, stern, and compassionate voice will get you working right away.” — Brad Watson, author of Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives