MARSHALL PLAN A HOW-TO FOR WOULD-BE NOVELISTS

Most people who want to become writers have romantic ideas about how a novel is written, says Connie Bennett, a Dexter resident who has written 20 of them.

"It is hard, grueling work," the Dexter romance novelist observes.

Nonetheless, New York literary agent Evan Marshall is coming to town next month to show anyone with $55 how to do it.

Bennett, the chairman of the Heartland Writers Guild workshop, says Marshall will provide a structure for the beginner to create a plot, one of the most difficult aspects of novel writing.

"Knowing how to write a book is not a question of just sitting down and doing it," she says. "Unless you are a born storyteller, of which there are very few, it requires knowing how to write a novel.

"Even a born storyteller has to learn the rules."

Marshall is the author of "The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing," a book which last year became the second-best-selling title ever released by Writer's Digest Books.

"The Marshall Plan" will be the blueprint for the all-day seminar Marshall will lead Aug. 28 at Southeast Missouri State University. The book lays out Marshall's step-by-step approach to plotting, editing and pitching the manuscript to editors and agents.

Marshall is a former book editor turned literary agent and writer whose first book was "Eye Language." The novel "Missing Marlene" debuted his new mystery series this summer. He wrote the book using "The Marshall Plan" principles.

Bennett broke into writing in 1983 with the romance novel "The Pirate's Vixen," a title her publisher insisted was better than her suggested "Caitlin."

She had some of those romantic notions about the writing life. "I had the idea that after two or three books I would be rich or famous," she said, "and I'm neither."

Enormous discipline is required, she says. "Most people are not able to make a full-time living at it."

Bennett writes two books every year and a half. The writing itself requires only three or four months. "The rest is research, getting it mentally in my head and convincing myself that I actually have to sit down at a computer," she says.

The seminar will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the University Center. An informal evening session of questions and answers will begin at 7:30 p.m. Bennett said Marshall will read some first pages of manuscripts during the evening session if time allows.

The registration fee is $50 for Heartland Writers Guild members until Aug. 18 and $55 for non-members. Registration is $60 for anyone after Aug. 18.

To obtain a registration, write: HWG Summer Writers Workshop '99, P.O. Box 652, Kennett, Mo. 63857 or phone (573) 243-3325. Workshop information and online registration by credit card are available at the organization's website, www.heartlandwriters.org