Maybelle Wallis is a renowned historical fiction author. Poolbeg published her debut novel, Heart of Cruelty, in 2020 to widespread critical acclaim. Maybelle recently read Phil’s procedural:
The first question the sceptics ask is why? Why apply a technical approach to a creative art? Read on MacDuff.
Phil is the author and publisher of more than thirty novels. In his previous life, he was an author and editor in the technical space. During that time, he received many plaudits and awards for the procedures he developed, to the extent he was described as the best in the business on more than one occasion.
When asked why he wrote the book, Phil said, “Writing is about communicating an idea. Whether that communication is creative or technical, the fundamentals remain the same: getting a message across and quality. Many years ago, Stephen King said that quality doesn’t matter; only story matters. Things have changed. Professional writers are under siege from wannabe fast buck generators and AI. In this era, when The Machine and cowboys threaten our livelihood, the only defence is quality, which doesn’t come naturally, but through process.”
“…in 2006 [Phil] quickly put into place new technical writing processes and really transformed the quality of our product documentation.” Paul Cotter – IT industry leader
“I am really looking forward to reading more books by this very talented author.” Book Bandits Library – Professional book critic
After reading A Technical Approach to Novel Writing, this is what Maybelle thought about it:
“A Technical Approach to Novel Writing” by Phil Hughes provides a clear system for writers, aiding them in maintaining a daily writing routine and offering concise advice on researching, plotting, drafting, and editing to create novels that captivate readers.
For novice writers brimming with ideas who need the motivation to commit to a full-length work, this book instils discipline and structure. It may also benefit experienced writers who have inspirations and ambitions but find life’s demands interfere, by helping them focus their limited writing time to maximise productivity. While emphasising quality and the accuracy of research, it will steer the writer away from both rabbit-holes and plot-holes, back to pursuing the goal of the successful novel.
Excerpts from Phil’s own novels demonstrate how fiction can instantly transport readers to new worlds, evoking setting, conflict, character, and creating immediate suspense.
Soon, Phil will be presenting a course that outlines in more detail the procedures he documents in the work.
If you would like to participate, send an email to info@philhughespublishing.com to receive information and pricing.