Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies (0312254210) - Reviews and Prices
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Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies (0312254210) - Customer Reviews, Information, Ratings, and Prices
Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies (0312254210) - Reviews and Prices
Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether they are newcomers or old hands, students or instructors, amateurs or professionals. As the always clear and direct Stein explains here, "This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutionsÂ--how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place." With examples from bestsellers as well as from students' drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called "triage" method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.
"The best reading experiences," says Sol Stein, "defy interruption." With Stein's assistance, you can grab your reader on page 1 and not let go until "The End." Stein--author of nine novels (including the bestselling The Magician) and editor to James Baldwin, W.H. Auden, and Lionel Trilling--offers "usable solutions" for any writing problem you may encounter. He is authoritative and commanding--neither cheerleader nor naysayer. Instead, he rails against mediocrity and demands that you expunge it from your work. Perhaps the concept of scrutinizing every modifier, every metaphor, every character trait sounds like drudgery. But with Stein's lively guidance, it is a pleasure. Stein recommends that you brew conflict in your prose by giving your characters different "scripts." He challenges you, in an exercise concerning voice, to write the sentence you want the world to remember you by. He uses an excerpt from E.L. Doctorow to demonstrate poorly written monologue and a series of Taster's Choice commercials as an example of dialogue that works. Stein's bottom line is that good writing must be suspenseful. Your job, says Stein, "is to give readers stress, strain, and pressure. The fact is that readers who hate those things in life love them in fiction." --Jane Steinberg
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Pretty Good, with a few gems:
It hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. But, of the 30 or more how-to-write books I've read, this one included a few unique ideas. So for the unique advice, I went with 4 stars. It's not as well organized as some other books, or as consistent. It seems more like a collection of writing-related thoughts that were compiled into a book. Some of the topics are well communicated and thoroughly analyzed, while others seem smashed in as afterthoughts. The first half (or so) was engaging and useful.... more info
You NEED this book!:
If you have ever received a rejection notice, this book is for you!!! It will help you fix the problems that are keeping your manuscript from being published. Stein gives easy to understand suggestions, that if followed, will make your next draft better, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE A BETTER WRITER. In the real world, it is not an editor's job to tell you EXACTLY what is wrong with your story (unless you already have a publishing relationship)--that is left for you to figure out. Fixing something is not so easy,... more info
Stein on Writing:
If you're a writer this book is a must in your reference library. Drink it in, it's gold.
Worth Every Penny:
As with all of Sol Stein's books, you get more than you pay for. It's a valuable resource for novelists. Keep your highlighter nearby.
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