A practical and overall hopeful book for struggling authors who want to get their book from outline to final draft.

Definitely helfpul as inspiration, but less helpful when it comes to actual practical stragtegies for getting the work done. I did get the audio book and intend to try it again that way. Recommended

Matt Bell has written a down-to-earth, useable, and wholly original craft book. This book has helped get through every stage of the writing process, getting me unstuck quickly with its concrete prompts and activities. I've adapted many of his strategies for use in my own classroom, and will certainly recommend this book to both students and colleagues alike.

REFUSE TO BE DONE: HOW TO WRITE AND REWRITE A NOVEL IN THREE DRAFTS by Matt Bell (Appleseed) is a superb source of encouragement for would be writers of longer works. Bell structures his text in three chapters, each dealing with a draft version of the novel. He focuses on experimenting with a very rough, fluid first draft. Later, he looks at rewriting and then polishing through cutting and conciseness. Along the way, he almost continuously offers practical ideas to apply: for example, he says to "always go where your energy is the highest;" to let the material you've created grow itself by being a great improve partner for the technique of "Yes, and;" and to read predictably. I especially liked his initial advice to just set a goal of trying to write 500 words a day (roughly two pages) – that quickly turns into 130,000 words after five days a week for a year, providing, as he notes, plenty "of raw material, easily enough for a novel or two." Bell boosts readers' confidence further by describing his own writing process and skillfully referencing over a dozen interviews with other writers, including George Saunders and Amy Tan. Bell also refers to a varied array of literary works and the list of sixty titles and authors he cites would be a marvelous starting point to implement his suggestion about feeding your imagination by building conversation with other works. An award winning author himself, Bell now teaches creative writing at Arizona State University. REFUSE TO BE DONE is a valuable guide that merits repeated consultation.

Matt Bell's "Refuse to Be Done" isn't a write-by-numbers guide -- it's a companion as you make your way through the drafting (and redrafting) process of a novel. His tone is knowledgeable but never imperious or authoritarian. His exercises are practical and actionable.

The best way to show what an incredibly helpful and encouraging book this was is to say that since I first read it, I have gone back to read sections a couple more times as I'm working through my draft. Matt Bell's style is direct, engaging, and encouraging, and more than anything, his experience and the experience of the many authors he quotes in the book help provide gentle reassurance while giving the novel aspirant real tangible tips on outlining, plotting, and editing. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Refuse to Be Done is a fantastic book for writers. Matt Bell's suggestions for success are both inspiring and relatable. He gives practical tips and advice without being overly wordy.

Smart, simple, clear advice on how to dive in and finally start (and finish) a novel. I've given this book to several friends and all found it helpful.

Matt Bell delivers solid, helpful, specific, and encouraging advice on how to get through the very difficult process of drafting and editing a novel. His exercises are so specific that they're helpful on a very practical level, but all told in a very encouraging voice that makes it feel possible to actually power through.

I've been a Matt Bell fan for a couple of years now and a subscriber to his newsletter. At the end of April 2022, Writing Workshops Dallas (where I teach) is hosting a webinar by Matt Bell. This book is one I have begun recommending to all my workshop students. It should be on every serious writer's shelves because it's practical and filled with specific advice. As with his newsletters, he opens up his own writing process with a rarely-found transparency in other craft books. We're looking forward to sharing Matt's book with our workshop participants.

I'll definitely use this book to revise essays and shorter pieces. I appreciated the exercises and instructions that were given in the third section, and can see myself pulling the book ou and looking for just the right exercise to really make a draft sing.

In general though I did find this less helpful than other craft books I've read when it comes to novel revision.

My main disappointment here was with this book's structure. Bell covers a lot of ground on writing that first draft largely using a "pantser" approach with suggested exercises to gt deeper with character, etc. in the first draft. Then we basically zoom forward in time to a polished draft he's getting ready to send to an agent and we get a grab bag of tricks from other authors on how to edit polished prose.

For the developing writer (and me, too), the middle ground between draft. 1 and polish deserved more coverage than what was given here.

I worry that writers will try to apply the techniques in part 3 to a novel that isn't really working well (because it was panted and not plotted, and the steps after draft 1 were brushed over here), waste a lot of time and wind up with something not publishable.

Bell's newsletter in my opinion takes it slower and goes more in depth with techniques. Having been exposed to the newsletter before this, I expected more from the craft book.

As someone attempting to write a novel, I was eager to read this book and hopefully take away some relevant advice about the process. There's lots of practical advice here for how to start the process and keep momentum as it gets harder. I really appreciated Bell's flexibility in his plan, and all the tips and relatable pieces of wisdom for writers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I'm so thankful to have read this book! I'm such a fan of Matt Bell and this is warm and generous guide on how to get a novel written. I'll be using it in my classes to come.

Matt Bell's REFUSE TO BE DONE: HOW TO WRITE AND REWRITE A NOVEL IN THREE DRAFTS is going to revolutionize how I teach novel (and even novella) writing. His approach of drafting that first draft to push through to the end and then creating the reverse outline is genius. Many of my students have leaned into screenwriting techniques to get those tightly outlined first drafts that tend to throttle creativity or feel too much like a chore. This opens up creativity -- and shows you how to build a plan as part two. I can't wait to implement this book in my writing classrooms and use it in my own book-length writing!

As a writer and writing instructor I was thrilled to read Bell’s methods for moving through three drafts of a novel. To be honest, I highlighted so much of this advanced review copy that I’m going to have to go out and purchase a hard copy. If you’re a writer looking to maximize and economize you’re writing time; this is a book you are going to want to own. I won’t get into the specifics of Bell’s approach to his three drafts, (no spoilers here!) but I will say, they felt simultaneously radical and obvious. I love how Bell uses so many outside literary sources and advice from writers and I will definitely be visiting all of the works cited as a means to further my knowledge of creative writing. The name of the game is to lee[ moving forward and Bell has successfully motivated me to keep doing so. Thank you so Soho Press and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

What an excellent book for writers (like me) who are drafting book-length work! I loved Bell's easy conversational voice and his tips and exercises for pushing a draft to be its very best. I love the three-draft idea, and will definitely be utilizing so many of these ideas in my own work, as well as whole-heartedly recommending this book to my clients and friends.

These days, it seems like every patron wants to write a novel and I definitely will be directing them to this along with Bird by Bird and King's On Writing!

This is an excellent introduction to both novel-writing and editing. The strategies are beautiful, and I adore that Bell centres the importance of doing the work as best you can, and in a way that harnesses both pleasure and integrity. A must in any creative writing classroom.

A wonderfully warm and accessible book on writing a novel. I can’t wait to press it into the hands of my students, and I’ve found it immensely helpful as I wade through my own second novel. All the key insights I would wish to impart to beginner writers are here, as well as genuinely new and helpful advice that I’m sure I will be using in my writing for years to come. Congratulations to Bell for a text that’s equal parts insightful and approachable.

I’ve already pre-ordered my physical copy here in Australia, as this has well and truly earned its spot in my craft and process library!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Soho Press for an advanced copy of this book on the writing craft.

In Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts, Matt Bell an author whose works crosses over many different genres and writing styles, and who also teaches creative writing at the university level has written probably one of the most helpful and more importantly encouraging writing books that has come in quite a while. Mr. Bell breaks the writing process in his book into three steps. First get your ideas down, don't worry about the style the narrator even the plot, this as you go will all change. Second, go back and revise what you have, by outlining or listing what you have, and deciding if what you have is right. Change the order, maybe change the point of view, add or delete characters. Finally, polishing what you have, and revising where needed and even more where you don't think it is needed.

The writing for the book, is loose, conversational and never drags. Not really a class, nor a TED speech, more like a mentor sitting back and going, ok show me what you have. Mr. Bell uses many examples from his own writing, and shares his and other authors anecdotes in a way that shows a lesson, rather than beating the reader on the head with it. Mr. Bell is very encouraging, and wants to make the reader not just a good writer, but happy with their work. Mr. Bell stresses the work involved, has many good suggestions, promises that it won't be east, but the reward is really worth it.

This is a very easy book to recommend. For a slim title, there are many good suggestions and ideas, and practical honest advice. Positive advice for that matter. A nice gift for the friend you know has always wanted to try to write not the great American novel, but something for themselves, that is both encouraging and useful.