Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School

This workbook-style guide to writing fiction is put out by the well-known New York City creative writing school. With 11 chapters, it delivers lessons on all the elements of fiction including: character development, plotting, establishing point of view, honing description, building realistic dialogue, varying pacing, establishing voice, determining a work’s theme, and carrying out revisions. It also has a chapter that goes into the business of writing (as opposed to the craft of writing which is the bailiwick of the first ten chapters.)There are a couple of features of this book that set it apart from the vast canon of writers’ guides. First, this isn’t a single author work, which means the reader has access to a much broader pool of experience than one would in a single author text. It also means that an author can be assigned a topic according to his or her strengths as a writer.Second, across the chapters, they use Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” as an example work, and they provide that story in an appendix for those who haven’t read it. It’s not that the authors exclusively use this short story for examples. But it’s useful to have a common story and to include it because there are so many great stories and novels available that no matter how well-read one’s readership, there will be works that some haven’t read. (e.g. Much as I should’ve, I haven’t yet read nor seen the movie “Gone with the Wind”--a common exemplary work because it’s a beloved book, a movie, and because pop culture references [e.g. “The Simpsons”] have made the gist of it available to even those slackers who’ve neither read the book nor seen the movie.) There’s a reason why writers’ book authors often use movies to describe story elements, because there are many fewer movies than books and vastly fewer good movies—thus a higher likelihood of a common experience. Yes, there are a few works common across most school curricula, but there’s no better way to ensure that a book doesn’t get read thoroughly than to assign it as required reading.A third useful feature of this book--but not one that is in any way unique to it--is that it offers writing exercises throughout to help build one’s skills through practice. This is where the value of such a book truly lies. The advice such books offer are almost always the same—sometimes hackneyed but almost always valuable. (A lot of tired advice is tired because it bears repeating owing to the constant infusion of new writers who repeat the same errors.) A final useful element of the book—but also one that features in many similar guides—is a checklist in the appendices that allows one to rapidly consider the book’s key questions as they apply to one’s own writing project. I’d recommend this book as one of the most useful writers’ guides that I’ve read.

As stated at the beginning of the book, “You shouldn’t just read your way through this book, but write your way through it as well.” There are plenty of exercises offered inside this book that you can apply to your current projects, or if you try them on their own, they might inspire something new.

I’ve only read chapter nine: theme and I can tell you for me this pays for the whole book itself. As a writer who usually word vomits whole worlds of seemingly unstructured creative fiction, this has just changed the game. Let me explain: you’d think as an aspiring writer I would have a firm understanding of theme, but that’s not true. I kept confusing theme with purpose or big Philosophical messages. I’d get so stuck on this huge lurking problem I never finished a work of fiction. Thinking nothing I wrote was worth reading because it didn’t “teach,” writers don’t need to teach or give solutions to world hunger, they just need to show it. Your theme is how you do that, that’s what chapter nine taught me. Changed the whole game for me and I’m sure there are many more chapters that will do the same.The writing prompts do as a $1,500 writing workshop might: they make you write and help you learn how to analyze on your own. Don’t worry about answers or right or wrong, just realize you’re improving your understanding of your craft.

I have what could be called a passing interest in fiction writing. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I know I'll do it someday but I can't say it's a serious pursuit. I bought this book to skim around and see what I could glean from it. I ended up reading it all the way through, and let me say this:If I were seriously pursuing writing fiction this book would set me up very, very well.It's structured well and gets you thinking about the right things when it comes to writing, (and even reading) a novel. The very first thing it does is explain the types of literature, examples of them and immediately starts priming you to start practicing the craft.I had so many "a ha!" moments when reading this. I began to think back and start to understand why certain authors did what they did. It's like being put behind the scenes while a movie is filmed, you start to discover the craft, as well as how and why certain things are done.It takes a close look at Cathedral and several other works and uses a lot of examples to explain theory.I feel like this single book could improve someone's work dramatically, especially if they start at a ground level like me. I'm sure even experienced authors could benefit from this book as well though.The bottom line: read this book before thinking about writing fiction.

I am not finished with reading this book, however I read at least two pages of it a night and plan to read it again once I am done. The author pursued a career in writing and mentions the reasons behind why various writing techniques are more appealing than other attempts. You may already know a few things about what the book is about, however it mentions many great perspectives on plenty of ideas and also gives good examples to explain what it is talking about. It is well written and still down to Earth. If you are working on a novel or planning to increase your talent as a short story writer, consider reading this book at least once.The book also has a ton of writing exercises in it. I may do them, eventually, and still recomend them though I have not written my own ideas from the exercises out as of yet. The exercises give readers good ideas to attempt to utilize the techniques being explained. This book is from a wellknown writing course out of New York. I have yet to take the course but still think highly of the book.

Amazing book. So easy to read and follow. The language is delightful. Learning how to write has never been so engaging and easy.A must without a doubt.

I'll keep this short: this book is excellent. Each chapter focuses on a different topic, and is written by a different writer, which keeps things fresh, and vibrant. The tips and exercises are also very well done. The best book on creative writing i've come across so far!

What I have read of this book so far has been extremely helpful, both in my personal and academic writing. It keeps things interesting by having a different author for each section. I definitely recommend it for writers at all levels, but especially beginners who are serious about improving their skills.

A step by step and thorough guide to writing just like Gotham's writing classes. Essential and useful tips and analysis of fiction

great book, good for inspiration.