The Book You Need to Read to Write the Book You Want to Write : A Handbook for Fiction Writers

Have you ever wanted to write a novel or short story but didn't know where to start? If so, this is the book for you. It's the book for anyone, in fact, who wants to write to their full potential. Practical and jargon-free, rejecting prescriptive templates and formulae, it's a storehouse of ideas and advice on a range of relevant subjects, from boosting self-motivation and confidence to approaching agents and publishers. Drawing on the authors' extensive experience as successful writers and inspiring teachers, it will guide you through such essentials as the interplay of memory and imagination; plotting your story; the creation of convincing characters; the uses of description; the pleasures and pitfalls of research; and the editing process. The book's primary aim is simple: to help its readers to become better writers. "This is an indispensable handbook for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the process of writing a novel or short story. Rather than prescribing restrictive templates or formulae, Sarah Burton and Jem Poster draw on their extensive experience as both successful writers and expert teachers to open up exciting possibilities. Intelligent and jargon-free, their guide thoughtfully navigates some of the most important and challenging aspects of creating fiction, such as the interplay of memory and imagination, the plotting of stories, the creation of convincing characters, the uses of description, and the pleasures and pitfalls of research. A storehouse of ideas and practical advice, from boosting self- motivation, to editing, to ultimately approaching agents and publishers, it will inspire confidence in developing authors. The book's primary aim is simple: to help its readers to become better writers"-- Provided by publisher 00. 9781316513446 01.0_pp_i_ii_Reviews 02.0_pp_iii_iv_The_Book_You_Need_to_Read_to_Write_the_Book_You_Want_to_Write 03.0_pp_v_v_The_Book_You_Need_to_Read_to_Write_the_Book_You_Want_to_Write 04.0_pp_vi_vi_Copyright_page 05.0_pp_vii_viii_Dedication 06.0_pp_ix_xii_Contents 07.0_pp_xiii_xiii_Preface 08.0_pp_xiv_xiv_Acknowledgements 09.0_pp_1_6_Getting_started 10.0_pp_7_16_Memory_and_imagination 11.0_pp_17_34_Character 12.0_pp_35_54_Plot_and_structure_I 13.0_pp_55_69_Plot_and_structure_II 14.0_pp_70_82_Form_and_length 15.0_pp_83_118_Dialogue 16.0_pp_119_160_Narrative_viewpoint_and_narrative_voice 17.0_pp_161_183_Beginnings_and_endings_tension_and_pace 18.0_pp_184_207_Description 19.0_pp_208_219_Research 20.0_pp_220_239_Drawing_it_all_together 21.0_pp_240_259_Publication_and_the_writing_life 22.0_pp_260_270_Notes 23.0_pp_271_275_Select_bibliography 24.0_pp_276_288_Index An indispensable handbook for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of writing a novel or short story, this jargon-free guide is full of practical tips and helpful discussion. The authors draw on their extensive experience as expert teachers to enable all budding authors of fiction to gain in self-confidence.