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Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School
Gotham Writers' Workshop has mastered the art of teaching the craft of writing in a way that is practical, accessible, and entertaining. Now the techniques of this renowned school are available in this book.
Here you'll find:
- The fundamental elements of fiction craft-character, plot, point of view, etc.-explained clearly and completely
- Key concepts illustrated with pas...more
Here you'll find:
- The fundamental elements of fiction craft-character, plot, point of view, etc.-explained clearly and completely
- Key concepts illustrated with pas...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
August 1st 2003
by Bloomsbury USA
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If you want to be a writer, you need to realize that there is a certain degree of having the gift of writing and a certain amount of knowledge that needs to be learned. The part you learn helps you fine tune the gift and improve what you are already good at. Gotham Writer’s Workshop: Writing Fiction is a book to do just that.
This is a non-fiction book that is designed to help you as a writer improve on your art. Chapters cover characters, plots, descriptions, dialogue, setting, voice, pace, them...more
This is a non-fiction book that is designed to help you as a writer improve on your art. Chapters cover characters, plots, descriptions, dialogue, setting, voice, pace, them...more
Sep 28, 2011
Joshua Novalis
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
English Students, Writers
Recommended to Joshua by:
Dr. Jody Nusholtz
An excellent primer to the world of Creative Writing! Each chapter is written by a different GWW teacher, and covers a different element of fiction(Character, Plot, Description, Theme, Voice, etc.). These chapters are informative, entertaining, and from the perspective of actual writers, giving it life. The book does a fantastic job of demonstrating what makes fiction good, and the key concepts that an aspiring writer should adhere to as they dive into the rabbit hole of fiction.
The first half o...more
The first half o...more
A nice, easy to read instructional book for writers. Each chapter is a different lesson taught by a different author. I felt that it got my gears moving and provided clear insights into such topics as character, plot, dialogue, theme, and point of view. The book provides plenty of easy to follow examples from many well known classics as well as a short story found in the appendix. There are plenty of writing exercises along the way, but found it just as effective on the days where I only felt l...more
After publishing my first novel, I wanted to achieve a deeper understanding of writing fiction. You never stop learning, no matter your stature as a writer. This book is very informative and has helped to make the outline and first draft of my second novel much stronger. There are wonderful exercises and great explanations and examples for such topics as character, dialogue, POV, plot, story and the sometime nebulous theme. I would recommend this book as invaluable asset to all those looking to...more
When I expected a book for writing, I expected a long list of tedious grammar rules and endless lectures about good versus bad, great versus crap, good versus evil - the writing guide cliches. Instead, this writer's guide touches on anything and anything there really is about writing, from characters to story to plot development to publishing. Even formatting a manuscript can be found hidden in these pages.
This writer's guide takes the reader from the normal typed nonsense of a guide with no bre...more
This writer's guide takes the reader from the normal typed nonsense of a guide with no bre...more
This is a very helpful book. It breaks it all down into bite-sized pieces, letting you see what all the tools available for a writer are. There's so much material, though. Much of it isn't complicated, but there is a good amount that is. Point of view, for instance. Many different possibilities. Overall a good and helpful read. Some of the things I learned I already knew but wasn't putting into practice.
I think out of all of my self-help books on writing, this has to be the most treasured. This book just works for me. I love the simple approach, explanations, examples, and advice. It all makes sense to me when I read this book - so, as you can guess, I read it often. I've only had it about three months, but it already looks like it's at least two years old and used regularly. You can't go wrong here.
So in short, Gotham's Writing Fiction is really excellent.
Seriously.
What I think excels in this book above other standards (though Writing Fiction for Dummies is actually really great, too) is its explanations of the examples it provides. They break down everything from similes to the necessity of plot points and give examples of good similes and similes that you wish you could burn.
I definitely suggest this book just as the added bonus on how to fiction and how to fiction well without purpling...more
Seriously.
What I think excels in this book above other standards (though Writing Fiction for Dummies is actually really great, too) is its explanations of the examples it provides. They break down everything from similes to the necessity of plot points and give examples of good similes and similes that you wish you could burn.
I definitely suggest this book just as the added bonus on how to fiction and how to fiction well without purpling...more
Most of this was the same material everyone else says, which makes sense; it's all the same advice. I found teh chapters on theme and revision particularly useful and will go through some of my short stories with those ideas in mind.
This book is ok for anyone who likes writing. It gives a lot of samples from other writers with their styles and whatnot. But I'm sure it will fill a person's head with a whole lot of shit to the point of them not doing what they want.
It's ok to write junk. I'm still writing junk. If I write this shit forever, I'm good. Books like this get people scared and then bend them over and teach them to write like Papa. This book is like a story of a person who is on a ship with a violent bully who take...more
It's ok to write junk. I'm still writing junk. If I write this shit forever, I'm good. Books like this get people scared and then bend them over and teach them to write like Papa. This book is like a story of a person who is on a ship with a violent bully who take...more
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Great exercises and practical advice. A "must have" resource for writers of any level.
Great book to read if you are interested in becoming a fiction writer.
a decent book on writing from New York's famous workshop...
Great book for those who love to write.
May 23, 2012
Scott
added it
Another writing book.
Very helpful.
If you can't affoard creative writing classes, pick this book up. Its worth a skim.
Having shopped and sampled dozens of books on the craft this one stands out. I also liked a similar book by Josip Novakovich, but here each chapter has a different author, and here there is only one short story whereas for Novakovich stories are half the book, so there seems to be less content. The writing exercises are good. Not that I do them per se, but they do ruminate in my consciousness. And another thing: There's a $40 coupon for writing classes at GWW.
It took me awhile to actually sit down and read this book from beginning to end. Oh, I started it a few times, but I think I was overwhelmed by the wealth of advice it gives and at the time I was procrastinating on some of the stuff I'd been writing.
Nevertheless, I was very pleased with this book. I think it's an excellent guide to the nuts and bolts of writing fiction. It's definitely a book I'll be returning to again and again. I highly recommend it.
Nevertheless, I was very pleased with this book. I think it's an excellent guide to the nuts and bolts of writing fiction. It's definitely a book I'll be returning to again and again. I highly recommend it.
P90x for fiction writers.
Every once in a while, I'll pull this out and reread all or part of it. It gets me into a writing mode, and it broadens my creative thinking. I really like the non-stuffy tone it's written in, and it's one of those books I can pick up, turn to a random page and find a little gem of information or an exercise that I need at the moment.
This is sort of like a class, where you read a little, then do some homework before reading and writing some more. I think I would do better in a class, where you have to write something, and you can all talk about it. I just don't seem to enjoy it very much.
This IS a practical guide. The exercises in this book are really helpful. There are exercises I could do over and over again and learn endlessly about how to write better.
I think I must be experiencing a steep learning curve again, things seem difficult. I like the 'your turn' exercises. I do wish there was a simple answer for voice and point of view though.
I like this book cause it works as a class would. You learn about some things and then they give you a specific task to complete to help you understand what you are learning even further.
I hated this book. We used it as a textbook for a writing class. I would have rather had a real textbook. I think I used some of the pages as toilet paper when I ran out one time.
This book is very helpful in getting me started on my stories. If only I could stick to my writing schedule; everything would be perfect.
Very down-to-earth advice on fiction-writing for beginners. It's technical but all the same, an entertaining and encouraging read.
Each chapter is written by a different contributor, so the quality is uneven, but I picked up a few tips here.
I love this book. Its helpful and the activities really give me ideas on new material to write about.
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