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No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days Paperback – September 16, 2004

by Chris Baty (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 351 ratings
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Chris Baty, motivator extraordinaire and instigator of a wildly successful writing revolution, spells out the secrets of writingand finishinga novel. Every fall, thousands of people sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which Baty founded, determined to (a) write that novel or (b) finish that novel inkid you not30 days. Now Baty puts pen to paper himself to share the secrets of success. With week-specific overviews, pep "talks," and essential survival tips for today's word warriors, this results-oriented, quick-fix strategy is perfect for people who want to nurture their inner artist and then hit print! Anecdotes and success stories from NaNoWriMo winners will inspire writers from the heralding you-can-do-it trumpet blasts of day one to the champagne toasts of day thirty. Whether it's a resource for those taking part in the official NaNo WriMo event, or a stand-alone handbook for writing to come, No Plot? No Problem! is the ultimate guide for would-be writers (or those with writer's block) to cultivate their creative selves.
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Chronicle Books
  4. Publication date
    September 16, 2004
  5. Grade level
    8 and up
  6. Reading age
    13 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0811845052
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0811845052
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Every November, tens of thousands of people sign up for National Novel Writing Month and attempt to write a 50,000-word novel. Baty, the brains behind this competition, has produced an uproariously funny motivational manifesto so readers can get a leg-up in his race or in the larger publishing game. The key is to lower your expectations "from 'best-seller' to 'would not make someone vomit,' " says Baty, who maintains that stress and a deadline are important parts of writing. Aimed at the nonserious, with an emphasis on summoning creativity and having a life-changing experience, this original approach will appeal to anyone up for a challenge. -Library Journal

About the Author

Chris Baty is a freelance writer and writing coach whose work has appeared in such publications as the Washington Post, the SF Weekly, and Lonely Planet guidebooks. He lives in Oakland, California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2004
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811845052
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811845052
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 and up
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
351 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book motivational and helpful for first-time NaNoWriMo participants, appreciating its entertaining and informative content. Moreover, the book is praised for being a superb 30-day writing process guide, with exercises that are easy to follow and complete. Additionally, they value its wit and design, with one customer noting its logical layout. However, opinions on functionality are mixed, with some saying it works perfectly while others find it not entirely useful.

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88 customers mention "Motivational"81 positive7 negative

Customers find the book motivational and inspiring, with many noting it provides great advice and helps them get writing done.

"...this kit offers, the products are quality and fun and it inspires in a playful way. It does what it advertises it will do...." Read more

"...But Baty is a very good, funny writer, and his enthusiasm for this insane project is infectious...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it informative, but it was a fun read. Baty has a great writing style and totally entertained me...." Read more

"...Then it gives you a few good pointers and helpful ideas...." Read more

68 customers mention "Readability"64 positive4 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and informative, describing it as a breezy read that serves as a must-read for first-time NaNoWriMo participants.

"...In terms of what this kit offers, the products are quality and fun and it inspires in a playful way. It does what it advertises it will do...." Read more

"...But Baty is a very good, funny writer, and his enthusiasm for this insane project is infectious...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it informative, but it was a fun read. Baty has a great writing style and totally entertained me...." Read more

"...The author's writing style is pleasant and fun. He carries you along through an entire book even when there isn't much to say...." Read more

19 customers mention "Writing speed"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's approach to writing, particularly its suitability for a 30-day process and its quick pace, with one customer noting it's great for starting or restarting writing projects.

"...right notebooks, selecting the right locations to write, selecting the right time to write, plot, characters, and basically how to survive during..." Read more

"...It tells you that you CAN write a book in 30 days. Then it gives you a few good pointers and helpful ideas...." Read more

"...is full of helpful hints on DIY that you can do any time -- no waiting for the contest, and no one to see your end product if you don't want them to...." Read more

"I enjoyed reading through this and it did sort of help me get motivated to start writing for fun again, but I honestly felt like the suggestions and..." Read more

12 customers mention "Wit"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's wit, with one noting its fun tone and another highlighting its playful advice.

"This item is a bit of a joke item, meant to inspire some laughs or to give to a writer participating in NaNoWriMo to show your support...." Read more

"...In the first part of his book Baty offers readers mostly playful advice...." Read more

"This book isn't a great book, but it isn't bad. The author's writing style is pleasant and fun...." Read more

"...have for any writer because it reminds us that, above all else, writing is fun and that's the most important reason why we do it." Read more

10 customers mention "Design"10 positive0 negative

Customers like the design of the book, with one noting its logical layout and another mentioning its subtle texture.

"...The goal sheet is also nice, as even before I got the kit, I was in the habit of tracking the number of words and hours I'd spent on my manuscript..." Read more

"...I love the book's subtly-textured, colorful cover, but the dark gray background of the book's inset notes make for difficult reading...." Read more

"This little kit has transformed my artistic creativity forever...." Read more

"This kit is a whole lotta look, but not much else...." Read more

9 customers mention "Ease of writing"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing exercises easy to follow and complete, and appreciate its tips on rewrites. One customer notes that it includes a chapter on editing and revising.

"...These four week-specific chapters are followed by a helpful section on the rewrite, the more exacting business of turning one's raw, hastily-..." Read more

"...section deals with what to do when the process is over and gives tips on rewrites, possibilities of publishing, etc...." Read more

"...wishing for something a little more profound, but what is here is very accessible...." Read more

"...The book concludes with a chapter on editing and revising, and I have to say, it's the only chapter that really offers anything besides cheerleading..." Read more

7 customers mention "Motivation for nanowrimo"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book motivating for NaNoWriMo, with one customer noting how it aligns with the spirit of the event.

"...Baty's main point here is that anyone can do NaNoWriMo and anyone can write a book. It just takes determination...." Read more

"...No Problem! has a fun tone to it. But it is also holds true to the spirit of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)...." Read more

"This book is a good compliment to participating in NaNoWriMo for the month of November..." Read more

"I liked this kit because it's comprehensive and tailored to those about to conquer NaNoWriMo. Or any self-set, month-long writing goal...." Read more

22 customers mention "Functionality"14 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed experiences with the book's functionality, with some saying it worked perfectly for them while others found it not entirely useful.

"This book isn't a great book, but it isn't bad. The author's writing style is pleasant and fun...." Read more

"...The stuff is good, funny, appropriate, and the enthusiasm is catching...." Read more

"...There are parts of these sections that really are kinda cheesy, such as the author talking about how to talk about your novel at parties, telling..." Read more

"...This system works, at least for me. I started writing with only a character in mind and a journey...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super cute gift item
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This item is a bit of a joke item, meant to inspire some laughs or to give to a writer participating in NaNoWriMo to show your support. I would have been touched to receive it as a gift, though I bought my copy for myself.

    It's not so much that anything in the package would make or break your ability to complete the contest, or even give you epiphanies needed to become a successful writer. It's just a bit of a 'toy' to augment your experience doing something you'd be doing anyway in a way that brings some fun to it-- provided you're the sort of person who responds to the kind of humor it's peddling.

    For me, reading the daily advice card gets me in the mood to start each writing session. I also type it up and send it to my friend who's doing NaNo with me, which keeps us in contact and supporting each other. When the advice cards give just the right advice or validate your frustrations in a humorous way, it can help me to let go of stressing about things so I can just get back to writing. The goal sheet is also nice, as even before I got the kit, I was in the habit of tracking the number of words and hours I'd spent on my manuscript and posting them somewhere my family could see them. It helps me feel proud of what I've accomplished and also helps me impart the validity of my effort to friends or family that sometimes don't quite 'get' what I'm doing. The chart included in the kit is very sleek and sort of retro. It reminds me of something you'd see produced by Knock-Knock with a place for every little detail. It feels SUPER satisfying to see your hard work mapped out into a physical item that you can hold. I've never been published so I've never been able to hold a physical book as the product of all of my labor. Progress posters are that thing to me that I can hold in my hands and see that it's something I accomplished. Of course, one day I hope it'll be a physical book, but... you know <3

    There are definitely people who think little gold stars are a waste of time and that's perfectly fine. There are those of us to whom a gold star might actually motivate to finish those extra few hundred words and that's fine too. Everyone has their own things that inspire or motivate them. In terms of what this kit offers, the products are quality and fun and it inspires in a playful way. It does what it advertises it will do. Whether or not you're the sort of writer (or shopping for a writer) who enjoys that sort of thing though should probably be the consideration you make before purchasing or gifting.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Debra Hamel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Infectious!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    Chris Baty, the author of No Plot? No Problem, is the founder of National Novel Writing Month, a bizarre, web-based movement, now in its sixth year, in which would-be novelists are invited to unleash their inner muses, register (for free) at the NaNoWriMo website (NaNoWriMo.org), and crank out the rough draft of a novel during the month of November. Incredibly, more than 25,000 people attempted to do just that in November of 2003, with some 3500 of them crossing the finishing line. (Anyone who writes 50,000 words in the allotted time is declared a winner.) No Plot? No Problem is Baty's brief (about 50,000 words) and breezy companion volume to the literary marathon.

    In the first part of his book Baty offers readers mostly playful advice. Those undertaking the month-long novel-writing challenge are advised to turn their loved ones into effective agents of guilt, for example. Writers, too, are urged to procure a "wearable, writing-enhancing object" such as a baseball cap, the better both to put themselves in the mood to write and to signal to family members "that you've slipped away into the shadowy Realm of the Novel, and that you are not to be disturbed unless they--or one of the more likable of the family pets--are on fire." Baty also provides practical advice about carving out time in one's schedule for writing. (One past NaNoWriMo winner, a woman from Indiana, reports escaping from her children to find writing time on the toilet. This may be the way things are done in the Midwest, but I'm afraid a bathroom door is insufficient to stop the determined young of New England.)

    In the second, more meaty part of his book Baty provides a week-by-week guide (intended to be read at the appropriate points in the novel-writing month) to the writing process, with week-appropriate pep talks, exercises, and tips. (For example, the tips provided for week one "center on leveraging the adrenaline rush of the first few days, avoiding the pernicious desire to self-edit as you write, creating a convenient home for your castaway thoughts, and maintaining the momentum by keeping your story a mystery to those around you.") These four week-specific chapters are followed by a helpful section on the rewrite, the more exacting business of turning one's raw, hastily-scribbled prose into a passable novel once your novel-writing month is over.

    No Plot? No Problem probably does not provide any advice about writing that readers would not be able to find elsewhere. But Baty is a very good, funny writer, and his enthusiasm for this insane project is infectious. Having begun his fetching* little book a skeptic, you'll finish thinking that writing a novel in a month is not so daft an enterprise after all. It may be that Baty's argument for casting aside one's inhibitions and striving for quantity of words over quality will be just the inspiration you need to sit down and produce a viable first draft.

    * I love the book's subtly-textured, colorful cover, but the dark gray background of the book's inset notes make for difficult reading.

    Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece
    265 people found this helpful
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  • Shanodyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars À lire absolument
    Reviewed in France on July 27, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Une mine de conseils et d'idées, à appliquer pour le nanowrimo comme en dehors. Et en plus c'est drôle, ça se lit vite. Merci Chris Baty.
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  • Parsec
    5.0 out of 5 stars Phantastisch für Einsteiger, motivierend und lustig!
    Reviewed in Germany on June 4, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Mir hat NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM extrem gut gefallen. Der Autor versteht es nicht nur, sehr witzig und pointiert zu schreiben, sondern macht dem Leser auch richtig Lust, mit der Arbeit an seinem eigenen Roman loszulegen.

    Die Methode ist dabei definitiv reinster "literarischer Punk Rock": einfach drauflos schreiben und sich von sämtlichen Einwänden (inklusive, das man nicht die geringste Idee hat, worum der Roman gehen soll) absolut nicht beeindrucken lassen. Hauptsache, der Roman ist in 30 Tagen fertig... immer nach vorne, egal wie!

    Ich gebe allerdings einem Mitrezensenten recht: das Buch enthält trotz des Titels praktisch keine Anleitung, wie man einen Plot aufbaut, auch über diverse Schreibtechniken findet sich hier nichts. Wer also so etwas sucht wird mit NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM definitiv nicht glücklich.

    In meinen Augen ist NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM in erster Linie ein Motivationsbuch für angehende Autoren, die sich bislang noch nicht sicher sind, ob sie einen Roman schreiben können und was dazu gehört - sie werden in diesem Buch extrem motiviert und mit dem Gefühl beseelt, das ihr Ziel durchaus machbar ist, und zwar in gerade mal in 30 Tagen! Für "Fortgeschrittene", die wissen, dass sie mit einem Roman fertig werden können, würde ich vermutlich auch eher andere Bücher empfehlen, welche sich mehr den Details widmen.

    Alles in allem: für Einsteiger und Interessierte uneingeschränkt zu empfehlen - und für alle Fortgeschrittenen als extrem unterhaltsame Lektüre ebenfalls ein guter Tipp!
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  • tiggrie AKA Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not a writing handbook, but an effective kick in the backside.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not 100% convinced that I should be giving this book five stars, as it has the potential to be misleading as to what you can expect from it; but given the number of times I've read it in the past year, the number of times it has made me laugh out loud, and so on, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt. (And maybe it'll balance out a certain gent who gave it one star when he'd not even read it ;))

    This book is emphatically NOT a writing manual, style guide, whatever. It does exactly what it says on the tin: gets you trying (and in many cases succeeding) to write a shortish novel in 30 days. The quality of said novel might be a little ropey, depending on talent, time, etc, but quite literally thousands of people have found to their surprise and delight that it works.

    This isn't a book about how to write the perfect, finished novel; it's about getting a rough draft down on paper so you have something to work with, - and many, many people continue to prove that, yes, you can do that in the space of a month.

    It's also not really about producing something that can necessarily be edited into a publishable script. This is sometimes a happy side effect, but it isn't the main point of the book: this book approaches writing the same way most non-professionals approach golf, dancing, music - novel writing as recreation, rather than potential job.

    This book is about getting people writing fiction and getting them over the first hurdle, NOT about producing finished, publisher-worthy books in a month. A small but significant number of nanowrimo participants go on to get their polished up book-in-a-month efforts published - a couple of such success stories are mentioned in the book whose books are widely available - so it undoubtedly can be done, but it isn't really the intended end result for all nanowrimo books.

    This book won't suit everyone's needs, but it's a great, entertaining little bundle of encouragement, amusement, and blackmail designed to stop you saying "one day I'll write a novel" and say instead "I'm going to write a novel and I'm going to do it now".

    If you're looking for detailed ways to plan your novel, grammar guides, style, exercises, etc, this book is not for you (or certainly not on its own). If you're an accomplished writer who has no problems with motivation, similarly, this book may not be what you're looking for (though some established writers have successfully used NaNo as a springboard to reinvigorate their writing or get them over writer's block). If what you need is a kick up the backside to get you writing and get your novel off your chest, then it's certainly worth your while, because that is exactly what this book plans to deliver, and it does it exceedingly well and in an entertaining fashion.

    I'm currently mid-wrimo, after starting late and continuing my story post wrimo '07. I've written more in the last year than I ever have in my life on any one project (indeed, possibly just more than I've ever written: 55K and counting) and more in the last 10 days (nearly 20K) than I have ever written in a time frame less than months... largely due to the inspiration, encouragement, and sheer blackmail tactics of nanowrimo and this book. If your creative side needs kicking into gear, then I personally cannot recommend this highly enough.

    update: I won NaNo on the 28th, and boy did it feel good.

    For anyone wondering if something worthwhile can come out of a rough draft put together in one short month... I have recently found out that Water For Elephants, Sara Gruen's New York Times bestseller, currently in production as a Hollywood movie, started out life as a nano novel. Need I say more?
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  • Venasa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for pantsing the first draft of a novel.
    Reviewed in Canada on June 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is perfect for anyone who wants to drive right into writing a first draft without a solid outline. I feel more confident about taking the leap and writing my first novel. This book is still useful even with a well planned solid outline, it helps every writer prepare for the inevitable, characters changing as the story develops, plot lines moving in totally different directions, allowing the freedom to accept what is happening on the page and continue the story. I highly recommend this book and know it will be useful to anyone who is interested in writing a novel.
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  • Katerina
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great little book to give you an electrical (and fun
    Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great little book to give you an electrical (and fun, and funny) boost to get you writing and to make you keep writing. I'm a 'professional literary writer' (whatever the hell that means!) and this book is well-written and edited, funny, and smart with its advice.

    In fact, I think I should go reread it. Maybe I'll (re)learn something . . .

    kaz
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