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The Fiction Writer's Handbook

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 21 ratings · 13 reviews

The Fiction Writer’s Handbook is the definitive volume to explain the words and phrases that writers and editors use when they talk about a work. In a highly competitive publishing world, today’s writers need to stay ahead of the competition and make every sentence count. This book will help new writers who need an understanding of the writing process and it's also for sea...more

Paperback, First, 336 pages

Published November 10th 2012 by White Whisker Books

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Mar 08, 2013 Janet Gardner rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-as-ebook, reference, writing

In spite of initially being put off by Christopher Moore’s rather snarky forward attacking traditional literary scholarship, I was excited to read what promised to be a really different sort of writing book. Rather than a series of chapters covering familiar concepts in fiction writing—character, setting, dialog, and so forth—the book is structured as an alphabetical series of mini-essays on terms ranging from Conflict to Authorial Intervention to Chick Lit. Each of these entries or articles the...more In spite of initially being put off by Christopher Moore’s rather snarky forward attacking traditional literary scholarship, I was excited to read what promised to be a really different sort of writing book. Rather than a series of chapters covering familiar concepts in fiction writing—character, setting, dialog, and so forth—the book is structured as an alphabetical series of mini-essays on terms ranging from Conflict to Authorial Intervention to Chick Lit. Each of these entries or articles then contains several cross-references to related entries, allowing a reader to discover and follow links between the many aspects of writing. The idea is to dip in, either at random or in search of a particular concept, and then let the book take you somewhere else, perhaps somewhere unexpected. Of course, many such handbooks already exist for students of literature, but I believe this is the first of its type geared specifically towards students of fiction writing.

Lowenkopf has clearly thought through his craft and has a wealth of insight to share with his students. He gives lots of examples, drawn from a wide range of literary (and non-literary) models, and he takes seriously both literary and genre fiction. In spite of its promise, though, the book just didn’t pay off for me. The author’s strong opinions give his writing verve, but they can also obfuscate and confuse. The specific terms Lowenkopf chooses to define—and not to define—seem idiosyncratic to the point that could leave a beginning student in the dark and a more advanced writer puzzled. Many terms commonly-used in craft texts and fiction workshops are here (Epiphany, Hubris, Deus Ex Machina, Information Dump, and the like). But there are, for instance, no definitions of “Motive” or “Setting,” terms which a student of fiction is far more likely to encounter (and therefore need defined) than Lowenkopf’s preferred substitutes: “Agenda” and “Arena.” There's nothing on rising and falling action, but several pages on alternate universes. There are longish entries on Captain Ahab, Lionel Essrog, and Sherlock Holmes. Certainly these characters are worth studying, but are they more essential than hundreds of others?

As much as the content, though, the structure of the book--the very thing that separates it from so many other volumes on the craft of fiction--will be a hindrance to at least some writers seeking help or advice. If you ignore the cross-references, many of the entries resemble definitions you could find in any book or website on the craft, though often more eccentric, and consequently less immediately clear. If you follow the linkages frequently, however, you’re down the rabbit hole, lost in an endlessly self-referential maze. No doubt some readers will find this fun and fascinating, but others, including me, will find it mostly frustrating.

I read this as an e-book, and my final observations apply only to this version. Hypertext seems an ideal medium for a project in which a reader is encouraged to move from entry to entry, following the logic of linkages as well as his or her own curiosity. But there were some problems. Lowenkopf’s preface explains that when you “see a WORD rendered in CAPS or a hyperlink, you’ll find an article of definition for that word or phrase.” I could discover no logic, however, for which words are linked and which merely capitalized. Why, for instance, in the sentence, “Whether the story is genre or LITERARY, agenda is an essential presence,” is “genre” given as a link while “LITERARY” is not? Does the author assume that a reader of this particular article may have an urgent need for a definition of genre but doesn’t need to know right away what a literary story is? Also, a number of terms appear in capitals, when, in fact, there is no article on that term. (“MOTIVE” is one of these.) Finally, several of the links in the e-book are non-functional, including nearly every link to the crucial term “reader.”

Bottom line: while this might be a useful tool for a student newly enrolled in a creative writing program or for a very particular type of reader and writer, it is of rather limited value to someone looking for straightforward help with the craft of writing. There are many gems buried in here, certainly, but they are just too hard to find among the glass.(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Julie Goucher rated it 5 of 5 stars

The concept of this book is rather interesting and is laid out in dictonary format, and as such would not be read cover to cover, yet this is exactly what I recommend you do.

This is a collection of literary terms and articles and the e-book version which is the one I had access to is full of links which you can read and follow. This in turns leads you on a literary voyage of discovery.

From the Preface, the author recommends that you

" Open the book anywhere, read an article, then follow the trail...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Cayt Landis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

I was interested in this book initially because I am in the process of writing my first novel. I am an amateur writer who has always wanted to write this one particular story but who hasn't quite gotten it all down yet. I had hoped that this handbook would help me through the process and it definitely has.

The Fiction Writer's Handbook is not the type of book that you read cover to cover. Rather, it is a reference book, more like an encyclopedia or dictionary. The way to get the most out of it is...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Shelves: non-fiction, reference, writing

The first sentence tells us the book "is a tool for writers of fiction and for readers who love story." Lowenkopf writes that he was "bored with books on how to write and how to read that begin with explanations" so "instead of a table of contents, you'll find a list of entries." In other words, this is structured as a dictionary of 366 terms which one might find in a writing workshop or creative writing course. Lowenkopf has taught such courses for years. (Christopher Moore, a bestselling autho...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All writers

Shelves: sent-by-publisher-to-review

I gave this book five stars for the simple reason that if you are a writer, publisher, editor, or anyone else in the publishing industry, this is your dictionary. This isn't the kind of book to be read cover to cover, it is a reference book.

This book is full of terms used by people in the publishing world and a definition of exactly what that term means in reference to books and writing. Each term then goes on to give writings that are good examples of these terms. Looking for an example of "th...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Teena in Toronto rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is laid out like a dictionary, with everything and anything to do with writing listed from A to Z ("act" is the first one and "zeitgeist" is the last one).

There are explanations for things that are well-known like "attitude", "pace", "subplot" and "writer's block". But there are also some terms that I'd never heard of before like "bildungsroman", "the choking Doberman", "fish in a barrel" and "verisimilitude".

If there is a word in small caps in an explanation, it means it has its own...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Beatnik Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

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The Fiction Writer's Handbook is probably not what you would expect from the title. It is not arranged into chapters with titles like "How to Begin" or "How to Get Published." In fact it's not arranged into chapters at all, but rather an alphabetical "list of entries" with terms like "antagonist," "flash fiction" and "verb tenses." Some entries, like "first-draft strategy" (where the author suggests you start) and "revision" (where the author suggests you...more http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
The Fiction Writer's Handbook is probably not what you would expect from the title. It is not arranged into chapters with titles like "How to Begin" or "How to Get Published." In fact it's not arranged into chapters at all, but rather an alphabetical "list of entries" with terms like "antagonist," "flash fiction" and "verb tenses." Some entries, like "first-draft strategy" (where the author suggests you start) and "revision" (where the author suggests you go next) are longer articles filled with ideas to improve your writing, while others are merely brief definitions of literary terms. Every entry contains words in SMALL CAPS indicating terms that can be found elsewhere in the book (in the e-book edition these are hyperlinks that allow the reader to go directly to the entry locations).

If this format seems like it would be difficult to read cover-to-cover, that's because it is. It's not meant to be read cover-to-cover, nor is it meant to be read in one sitting. The idea is to skip around, read the entries that interest you, and use them to improve your writing or at least your editing. I almost think of it as a book of editing prompts.

Shelly Lowenkopf also includes a bibliography of suggested reading that includes not only other non-fiction titles about the writing process, but many fiction titles as well, because as he sees it, every serious writer must also be a serious reader. Amen to that.

Personally, I do a lot more reading than I do writing these days (you can tell by the awkwardness of this very sentence) so I found the book interesting for other reasons. I enjoyed reading about the techniques fiction writers employ and the common mistakes they make. It was nice to find the words to describe things I notice in books all the time, like the "information dump": (when the writer can't help throwing in ALL the things they learned in their research, whether the story needs it or not), "talking heads" (having characters engage in long passages of dialogue with little reaction, gestures, inflection or subtext) and "purple prose" (when the author's obvious "love of words" completely overtakes the story with excessive metaphor, romantic language and flowery description).

In other words, if I become a more astute critic of writers' foibles in my upcoming reviews, y'all have Shelly Lowenkopf to blame! In fact, forget about writers and readers; this book should be required reading for reviewers.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review, though the review did not necessarily need to be favourable, just honest. I frequently read and review books for this reason, but I am always very truthful (and, I hope, fair) in my reviews. Therefore any opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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Mar 07, 2013 Rebecca Graf rated it 5 of 5 stars

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I have to admit that I was very excited to get The Fiction Writer's Handbook by Shelly Lowenkopf. I'm a writer who is growing all the time. I love to get resources to help me.

Well, when I opened it up, it wasn't what I expected. Then again, I'm not sure what I had expected. Even describing is not easy. It is a cross between an encyclopedia for writers and a how-to book for writers. I think I was looking for a book that you read from beginning to end. No. With this book, you can open it up...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, received

This book is more like a dictionary explaining all the concepts of fiction writing. I assumed this book would be a how-to book, but it was better than that! This handbook will be one that new fiction writers will turn to again and again. At the beginning of the book you can find a list of all words and phrases discussed in the book. Most entries in this handbook offer tips, techniques and hint for a fiction writer. While this book will be a great resource for new fiction writers and editors, it...more

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May 11, 2013 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: digital

It's been a few years since I've written anything fictional but when I do (if I ever get around to a plot outline) I'm sure I'll be going back to this a book a few times.
It doesn't hurt that the foreword is written by my favorite author Christopher Moore (nice selling point for me).

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Feb 15, 2013 Lili rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, paperback, reference, a

This is an astute book, one for all aspiring writers and bibliophiles; not a book you read in one sitting, nor is it a book you ever finish totally. It is a book you delve into, a book you explore time and time again. A must for beginners and a must for those who wish to improve their craft.
Pleased to receive this as a Goodreads Firstread.

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Oct 19, 2012 Julie Reyes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although I have gone through this once already I think this is going to be a book for me to keep going back to as I dive into writing. It has great information for a new writer. I don't think this is a book I will ever truly finish. I will need to keep going back to it again and again.

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Aug 27, 2012 Ashlee marked it as to-read

my dream is to write a book

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Dec 24, 2012 Lysa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book on goodreads giveaway. It's a great book. I passed it on to my mom because she's always writing!

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