A deft analysis and appreciation of fiction--what makes it work and what can make it fail. Here is a book about the craft of writing fiction that is thoroughly useful from the first to the last page--whether the reader is a beginner, a seasoned writer, or a teacher of writing. Jerome Stern maintains that learning to write spontaneously is the first step to writing well. You will see how a work takes form and shape once you grasp the principles of momentum, tension, and immediacy. "Tension," Stern says, "is the mother of fiction. When tension and immediacy combine, the story begins." Dialogue and action, beginnings and endings, the true meaning of "write what you know," and a memorable listing of don'ts for fiction writers are all covered. A special section features an Alphabet for Writers: entries range from Accuracy to Zigzag, with enlightening comments about such matters as Cliffhangers, Point of View, Irony, and Transitions.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
A good book for working out the kinks:
I first used this book in a creative writing class in college. At the time, I thought,"Yeah, well and good, but what has it got to do with real writing?" It has a lot to do with it, actually. I've used favorite techniques that I learned in this book in several published pieces, as well as in the book that I'm currently marketing. The sections are short, the exercises relevant, and the layout is graduated from simple to complex. I turn to this book when I'm stuck about how to present a given scene with... more info
Wish I had read this book before I wrote mine, it would have been so much easier.:
As both a author and reader of fiction I was impressed with Making Shapely Fiction. I guess that I just like books that can hold my interest and make me think at the same time. I recommend this book. Time keeps me from writing a longer review but I wanted to get something posted.
Tommy Taylor
Best Creative Writing Text I've Used:
In my experience most creative writing texts are incredibly "fluffY" - very little real information and more concerned with the volume of prompts than with the value of the prompts. This book is quite the opposite; it contains 16 prompts (called "shapes"), a brief section on writing no-nos, an excellent list of other publications useful to the writer of fiction, and a wonderful, selective glossary of fiction writing terminology. The "shapes" are really explanations of storytelling archetypes of form.... more info
A Must Have for All Fiction Writers:
I usually don't like reading books of explanation, but was forced to buy this one for my creative writing class. I was shocked and amazed that it kept me interested. I love the fact that Jerome Stern utilizes comedy, so that I'm laughing while I'm learning. The lessons in this book are vital for fiction writers of any level. The information is clearly explained, and at the end of each section the names of other related sections within the book are given. This book is a Must Have, and I would reccomend it to... more info
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