Book Description
The Only Book on the Market Expressly for Fiction Writers Looking to Publish Their Work *Features 1350 market listings exclusively for fiction writers *Includes a new section on Graphic Novel and Comic markets *Highlights genre opportunities for writers
For twenty-six years, 2007 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market has been the only resource of its kind for fiction writers. Perfect for anyone writing novels and stories--whether romance or literary, horror or graphic novels--this packed resource also features how-to articles on the craft of fiction and the business of getting published, as well as new interviews with Bret Lott, Judy Budnitz, Aimee Bender, Mark Childress, Sonny Brewer, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Just Google.......2007-10-01
This book takes people's money and uses up trees. Just use the Internet and you'll get a lot more information, and for free. People in the publishing industry--editors and agents--move around like gophers, popping up here and there on a regular basis. No book is going to be reliable, and a book made up of sloppily acquired information is going to be worse than no book at all, because you'll think it's right. Even the Internet sources can steer a writer to obsolete information, but at least you have numerous sources to draw from.
Good reference for fiction writers.......2007-08-19
If you're a fiction writer, you'll find all sorts of useful information in this book. Especially if you're relatively new to the scene and not an experienced insider. The first 150 pages consist of interviews and articles about writing, some of which were not of interest to me. But these pieces covered many topics and included materials for literary writers and genre writers too.
The Resources section at the back of the book included a highly useful glossary of genres, in case you're one of the many confused by the proliferation of sub-categories and markets in this area. Also, on page 544, there was a listing of corporate behemoths and the presses they own. (OK, this info changes frequently, but this will give you a place to start tracing who's really in charge.)
The listings of agents, lit magazines, genre markets, mass market magazines, workshops, prizes was comprehensive enough. (Of course, you'll want to go to their individual websites to check for recent staffing changes and detailed submission guidelines.) I was happy to see a section of online magazines too.
There are lots of lists and indexes sorted so that you can find information quickly. This book is well organized and easy to use.
If you ARE an insider with a long history and lots of literary contacts, you may not find this book as helpful; save your money and go to the websites. But for the rest, I'd recommend this book.
More Helpful Information.......2007-08-08
I checked this book out of my local library -- I've not used this particular edtion of these books put out by Writer's Digest. They aren't repetitive though. Each has a specific focus. I'm beginning to think I like these annuals as much for the insightful, encouraging and informative articles that they always contain, as for the listing information! I don't have a writer's group that I belong to, so reading these articles is uplifting. I enjoy reading the thoughts and insights of people for whom the writing life is of utmost importance. So these books are are a learning experience in many ways.
2007 Novel & Short Story Writers' Market.......2007-05-20
This book is just what the doctor ordered for this aspiring beginning writer. Having no idea where to submit, nor the in and outs of submission, this is proving to be an invaluable resource. I am grateful it exists!
Novel and Short Story Writing Markets.......2007-05-19
This book provides an invaluable service to writers in the fiction genre. It contains markets for those interested in writing a full length novel, as well as those who pen short stories. I find that it extremely helpful to narrow down markets to help the writer sort out which publisher is best suited for the manuscript at hand.
You will enjoy reading this book, and learning about the markets that are contained within it.
Woman Reclining
Book Description
Key Benefit: A Short Guide to Writing About Art, Eighth Edition, the best-selling book of its kind, equips students to analyze pictures (drawings, paintings, photographs), sculptures and architecture, and prepares them with the tools they need to present their ideas in effective writing.
Key Topics:This concise yet thorough guide to “seeing and saying” addresses a wealth of fundamental matters, such as distinguishing between description and analysis, writing a comparison, using peer review, documenting sources, and editing the final essay.
Market: This book is a perfect complement to any art course where writing is involved
Customer Reviews:
art book.......2007-10-23
The book came on time and as described. It has been helpful in learning to critique art.
Good reference.......2007-01-26
This is a great book to refer to when writing an art history paper. I was an art history major in college, and this was the book that was recommended by the majority of my professors. I definitely recommend buying yourself a copy, because the copies at my art library were always checked out!
How to read a potato in a painting as a potato and not a solar symbol?.......2006-09-05
This book is about writing on art.It has sections to equip you with what to keep in mind while writing an essay, research paper or review of an exhibit.
The book has sample examples for comparitive essays and reviews with a good analysis on the organization of the material, its purpose and aptness for the reader.
The checklist on writing on art can be extended to writing on books too. The many references to artists of all times with your interest will give you a walk through the whole of history of art.
The sections on what is art, interpretation, the importance of seeing for creating art and quotes by many writers and artists are interesting to read.
Useful in some ways, not in others........2003-07-05
I recently read the 6th edition of this book in hopes that it would help me to improve my ability to understand and write about art. I found that the book is a direct, well-written primer for someone finishing high school or beginning their undergraduate degree, but for someone with a bit more experience, it turns out to be a mixed bag.
I know next to nothing about visual art. I'm the quintessential "knows what I likes, and likes what I knows" type of guy. On the other hand, I'm a graduate student in English, so I'm well-practiced in writing essays and in applying various theoretical and critical methods. I read this book in the hopes that it would help me to better understand art. That is, I wanted to learn, as Sylvia Barnet puts it, "How does art mean?" The beginning of the text does introduce some basic questions and ways to think about different kinds of art, ranging from painting, to sculpture, to architecture, to photography, to video art, etc. However, this is not meant to be an instructional book to teach someone about art. It is more like an assistant text for a freshman-level art history course. A great deal of the book is spent discussing how to organize essays, sentence structure, revising, formatting, and some instruction on critical methods. But, again, this book is not a book on writing. It's not about art, it's not about writing, so what is it? Well, like it says, it's about writing about art. A good deal of this book was useless to me, but some of it was enlightening. If you've already got some experience studying the visual arts, or some experience writing, or you just want a really indepth study on either, pick out something else. If, however, you just want an easily understood, basic primer on writing and art, this isn't a bad choice at all.
points out the obvious.......2001-11-22
A professor highly recommended this book to my art history class. I was disappointed in it. I had hoped it would offer some useful advice but instead it merely outlines the things anyone writing on a college level (and the book seems to be aimed at college students) should already know. Perhaps it would be better suited to high schoolers.
Average customer rating:
- An Excellent Intro to Film Study
- I've looked at clouds from both sides now
- TWO THUMBS DOWN
- fine, blessedly concise guide
- Intelligence and accessibility
|
A Short Guide to Writing about Film (Short Guides Series)
Timothy Corrigan
Manufacturer: Longman
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| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
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Similar Items:
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Understanding Movies
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American Cinema/American Culture
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Film Art: An Introduction
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A History of Film (History of Film)
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Anatomy of Film
ASIN: 0321412281 |
Book Description
Doubling an introduction to film study and a practical writing guide, this brief text introduces students to film terms and the major film theories, enabling them to write more critically.
Examples from newer movies provide a fresh list of references for students introduced to film study and writing films. The author presents several approaches to film analysis and writing about film–auteurs, genres, ideology, kinds of formalism, and national cinemas, and introduces students to a range of film terms and film theories.
Recent movies are used to fresh examples. Multiple approaches to writing about film as well as theories about film are given.
Please enter here.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Intro to Film Study.......2007-09-10
Timothy Corrigan, in the preface to "A Short Guide to Writing About Films, sixth edition," says, "Writing essays about films is, in short, one of the most sophisticated ways to respond to them." In this concise book, he lucidly explains how to write screen reports, movie reviews, as well as theoretical and critical essays on films.
Here's a sample of his lucid writing. Defining terms often used in film study: mise-en-scene -- "the arrangement of the so-called theatrical elements before they are actually filmed; these include sets, lighting, costumes, and props"; shot/reverse shot -- "an editing pattern that cuts between individuals according to the logic of their conversation"; jump cut -- "a cut within the continuous action of a shot, creating a spatial or temporal jump or discontinuity within the action."
Moreover, this updated edition explains the supplementary features often included in DVDs such as story boards, behind-the-scene documentaries, and interviews with the cast and crews.
Even if you don't intend to write about films, reading this blessedly brief book will enhance your enjoyment of watching films. Five shining stars.
-- C J Singh
I've looked at clouds from both sides now.......2003-08-08
One thing I can say is I enjoy a good film. O.K. if it moves I'll watch it. But until I read this book I really was just looking with out seeing.
It is nice to have this guide confirm what one knows as common sense. Probably because the guide is designed to take you from ground zero to a level of appreciation and allow you to convey your opinion intelligently.
If you have an earlier edition you will still get the essence of the book. Newer editions add different resources and research information.
Some of the highlights are:
* A shot-by shot analysis of a sequence from the film "Potemkin"
* Suggestions on using the Internet
* Sample student writing
Some contents:
Writing about the Movies
Preparing to Watch and Preparing to Write
Film Terms and Topics
Six Approaches to writing about Film
Style and Structure in Writing
Researching the Movies
Manuscript Form
This guide is an eye opener.
TWO THUMBS DOWN.......2001-01-28
I am currently a film major who is being forced to read this book. Let me say that so far I am only to chapter three and have suffered through every page of it. It is filled with basic, common sense, (i.e., the best way to write about film is to take notes during the screening. and if you can, it's good to see the movie more than once), which is explained in several pages. Give me a break. Not only does he present basic knowlnedge but he repeats himself in so many words. The truth is, the only way to successfully analize film is to develop an eye for symbolism. No book, I don't care who writes it, can teach you that. It is something that must be personally developed. Why someone would waste their time writing a book trying to teach people how to do that blows my mind. I give it one star, cause after all, everyone deserves a little comething for at least trying.
fine, blessedly concise guide.......2001-01-07
I'm writing to second mitry's opinion of the book and to add to mitry's comment about kenosha's complaint of textual errors. I have the second edition of the book, and Corrigan speaks of Captain Willard and refers to Marlowe as "the other Captain Willard" (p. 43). It's clear from the context that he is comparing the film character with Conrad's protagonist. I doubt Corrigan would have revised the 2nd edition text here to make an error in the 3rd edition. Don't get turned off by an erroneous review!
Intelligence and accessibility.......2000-08-02
This a marvelous book, packed with information and much more accessible than far more expensive books. It's the perfect companion for almost any film course since it not only introduces students to the language and methods of film analysis (including how to take notes) but does so while guiding students through the work of writing a good essay (with great suggestions for doing research). The writing is clear and accurate (with none of the errors referred to by the Kenosha reviewer). I recommend it without hesitation to all students of film.
Customer Reviews:
Echoing first reviewer.......2005-12-02
For starters, it's a mix of "very short stories" and "very short excerpts" from longer works (such as "Winesburg, Ohio"). Personally I find that when you get samplings of long works served to you in this way, you lose the larger context that surrounds the piece.
The exercises are disappointing - it's just a list of single sentences prompts for writing about common life events. "Write about an argument," "write about going to college, either deciding to go or not go."
Most of the stories feature commentary at the end of each one, but it's not doled out evenly for each story. It's a mixed bag of literary cricism and/or author insight that may be a little or a lot, depending on the story.
The stories themselves are laid out alphabetically by author with a second table of contents where they're grouped by things like voice, point of view, etc.
I was looking for very short stories with more discussion on techniques and concepts specific to short-shorts. It's more like a literary sampler with a side of literary criticism and a dash of instruction.
A pleasant surprise........2005-07-24
This was a required text for a college course. It has been like visiting old friends. The "classic" authors and others I'd never heard of provide a very good read, and the insights into writing by some of the authors is helpful.
More than Expected.......2004-11-11
While looking for an anthology of short stories, I came across this "textbook" and the most diverse assortment of short story writers I have ever seen. For those who appreciate the poetry of judicious prose this is a find.
Also liked the sections categorizing voice, point-of-view, and setting. Great technical examples that show rather than tell you the differences. Bought it, kept it, still using it, and now even recommending it. Respectful creative writing that will help keep the genre thriving.
Save your money.......2004-10-17
If you are looking for tips to improve your writing, look elsewhere.
The 'instructions' could all fit on one page and consist of such helpful hints as "choose your voice, point of view, and setting...the choice is entirely up to you". "Write a rough draft..." "Edit your draft for logic, clarity, and plausibility." "Continually read excellent fiction."
The section of exercises is simply a list of 20 topics with this instruction: "Write a very short story about one of the following:"
The glossary is less than two pages long and has no examples.
I was expecting each story to have an introduction that told me why it is a masterpiece and what to look for. There is an index of stories by voice, point of view and setting. Those are fairly obvious.
Another sad lesson in not judging a book by its cover.
Customer Reviews:
lots of models from "adequate" to "very good".......2006-12-04
I am a teacher of writing at middle school. I use this text book myself to pull-out parts of the included essays as models for my students. The organization and information about how writers think and go through the writing proccess is very helpful to students who think they cannot write ot hate writing. (There is not ONE WAY to go through the writing process, despite what most of our teacher trainings will tell us.) The many quotes about the writing process spark good discussions and free up students to realize that even published authors re-work and revise constantly. This is not a technical book, but is recommended for a more holistic approach to thinking about how to write and how to improve your written communication. Also this book helps teachers who have read and use the methods of "In The Middle" with many authentic pieces of writing, beyond what is in that book.
Good Book.......2006-11-06
My teacher didnot really use it, but it did help me a lot on the essays i had to do. I would recommed this book especially to students wanting to get that A.
Fast shipment!.......2005-10-05
This book came to me in pretty good shape. I was impressed with how quickly it arrived to my house. The book was slightly used but it was at a good price and it served it's purpose.
St. Martins Guide to Reviews.......2005-09-26
This book is incredible, not only is it necessary for english 3a but I would never have been able to write this review. Not only that but it teaches you how to write good reviews, not bad ones. This book is great!
Much better than other texts.......2005-08-11
I have used this text in my College Writing class for roughly 4 years, and I continue to like the text overall. I disagree with some other views about the quality of the essays in the texts. The readings on argument are quite good, and they evoke discussion in my classes without prompting. I also like the fact that the text does not have a decidedly liberal bias. IE. They have one essay in favor of same sex marriage and one against it. The end of chapter prewriting activities are also good as are the peer review activities.
What the text lacks is a section on annotated bibliographies, which my students have to write as part of their research assignment. It also lacks a good section on comparison and contrast; some sample essays would be essential in this area.
Overall, this is a good text. It is much better than the dreadful Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, which is written in a language that most college students do not understand.
Customer Reviews:
Useful for Non-Majors.......2007-01-23
I teach literature to undergraduate students majoring in interdisciplinary arts and sciences, business, computer science, and nursing. Since I can't count on them having had training in writing about literature, I often assign specific sections of this text, or make it recommended reading for students with less confidence in writing about literature.
My students almost universally praise this text, and I think *their* opinions, rather than those of us teachers, are the ones that really count. They find the specific, nuts-and-bolts suggestions useful, and the explanations clear and helpful.
I recommend this text to any student (high school or college) who wants a concise guide to writing about literature, and any teacher or professor whose students usually lack a solid background in literary study.
A Necessary Evil.......2000-06-11
Written for the Intro to Lit university course market, this type of guide is a necessary evil. Barnet works: students can usually find what they need in the index or contents (How to write a good sentence, what makes a good paragraph, etc.). If you have to have one, you could do worse than to choose Barnett
Book Description
Provides students with the tools needed to be successful writers in college and their profession, while emphasizing writing as a way of examining, evaluating, and sharing ideas. Students are taught how to read critically, study, evaluate and report data, and how to communicate information clearly and logically.
Teaches students to think as biologists and to express ideas clearly and concisely through their writing.
Courses preparing students for a profession in the field of biology.
Customer Reviews:
The best book for writing lab reports in college........2007-03-06
Every time I have to do a lab report, I use this book. No exceptions. Although I cannot comment on the other aspects of the book in (check out the "Look Inside!" Table of Contents), its guidance for writing lab reports is helpful to the utmost. Before this book, I made in the high 80s on my lab reports; now it is rare that I go below a 95. The book is full of what to do and, more importantly, what not to do. For example, never give purpose to evolution (I am paraphrasing, of course). Birds did not evolve flight to escape predators or to travel long distance; they evolved flight because a series of random DNA mutations turned forelimbs into wings, and that increased their survival rate. That is just one of numerous examples, and, best of all, all of the examples given are extremely relevant to college students because the material comes from college-level lab reports. Still, all of my biology professors have this book, in one edition or anther, on their shelves. This review refers to the 5th edition.
The only writing manual you'll ever need.......2007-01-26
I've used this book since I was a freshman biology major. I'm now a Ph.D. student and I still reference this book. I've read other writing manuals designed for students in the sciences, but I've found that nothing is as clear and useful to students in the life sciences as this book.
Very Helpful........2006-02-26
My daugther is the one that uses this and she finds it very helpful to understanding the lessons.
An essential for all students........1999-02-04
As a university professor teaching budding biologists, I've found this book to be excellent. As the other reviewer said, I wished I had this book when I was a student. I, too, had to learn things the long and hard way. Pechinik has done a great service to science students. Let's hope we see more good writing out of this next generation of young scientists.
Absolutely Essential.......1998-03-27
Every biology undergraduate should read this book. I wish I'd known about it when I was an undergraduate; it contains most of the information I had to learn the hard way.
Book Description
An ideal accessory in any history course that requires writing, A Short Guide to Writing About History stresses thinking and writing like a historian.
This engaging and practical little text helps the readers get beyond merely compiling dates and facts; it teaches them how to incorporate their own ideas into their papers and to tell a story about history that interests them and their peers. Covering both brief essays and the documented resource paper, this book explores the writing and researching processes, different modes of historical writing including argument and concludes with guidelines for improving style.
For any one who will need to write about history.
Customer Reviews:
Dr. Page rules!.......2006-03-30
This is a great book and I was able to get even more out it since I am one of Dr. Page's students at East Tennessee State.
Extremely helpful book.......2002-08-23
Marius has written an extremely readable and informative book on the writing of history. He proceeds from showing readers what questions to ask in doing historical research into types of historical writing can be done, from discriptive to argumentitive.
However, the most useful part of the book is the chapter on sources and writing. He skillfully shows readers how to choose a topic and narrow their focus into a managable paper. He also discusses the use of CD-Rom and Internet sources, a necessity for any good book on the writing of history in the early 21st century, particularly due to the increase in the reliance on Internet research by college undergraduates and HS students that are comfortable with this technology. The book also makes actually doing research seem like not such a daunting scary task, which at first thought it seems like for many undergraduates. The one problem with this section is that Marius advocates the use of paper notes. As has been seen with many professional academic historians lately, the use of paper notes can end up costing the writer dearly, particularly with the use of a large amount of sources. Marius should have included a section on how to use a data base or other computerized note taking system.
Marius also uses many examples to back up his points throughout the book, even publishing one complete paper and then commenting on its strengths and weaknesses in order to give the reader a better understanding. The remainder of the book is an extremely useful three chapters on writing mechanics as well as quoting and citing a variety of sources. I found the section on footnotes quite good and useful. This section will be especially useful for the undergraduate who arrives on campus without ever having to use footnotes while in high school.
Overall, this is an outstanding book. The only real drawback is that since its publication (3rd edition) the sections on the Internet are in many ways obsolete. But with the ever changing technology and things available on the Internet, both good and bad, no book can keep up.
Helpful Resource on Historography.......2001-11-21
History prof recommended this for help in writing research papers in history department.
Compact and inspirational, the author makes his points by way of examples and citations from historians. Passionate about his subject area, he communicates this well and infuses it into his observations and recommendations for writing about historical topics.
While the jury is still out on my first paper to utilize this resource, I already know I am a better writer of history for having utilized this fine resource. Just the idea of grabbing your reader and making him want to read the rest was useful.
A Superb Guide.......2000-08-14
Richard Marius gives us in this short book an enthusiasm for the pursuit of the past that is simply infectious. Although the work is not an in-depth study of Historiography, it is a great introduction to the would be Historian on the very basic rules of researching and composing a paper on any historical subject.
concise and informative.......2000-03-15
This book is very useful not only for the preparation of historical papers but for any research paper. Especially useful are the sections devoted to conventions about mechanics and grammar and suggestions about style. Also included are outlines for the proper construction of arguments and details addressing the modes of expression used in writing. I bought this book for a history seminar in as an undergrad and have found it helpful to me ever since as a technical guide to the proper way of writing. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Distilled from decades of teaching and practice, this book offers clear and direct advice on structure, pacing, dialogue, getting ideas, working with the unconscious, and more. Newly revised and expanded for this Third Edition, Creating Short Fiction is a popular and widely trusted guide to writing short stories of originality, durability, and quality. Celebrated short-story author and writing instructor Knight also includes many examples and exercises that have been effective in classrooms and workshops everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Best guide yet.......2005-12-31
First off, I've never taken a writing course in my life, so even though I feel I have some great ideas I have struggled with how to put them together. This book has really helped start to change that. I've gone through over half of Damon Knight's exercises and already I start to feel some of the barriers in my mind start to give. I don't know if I'll ever become a writer of fiction, however, this book certainly opens you up to the right path.
The process helps develop a whole different way of observing what you experience and how to go about communicate it to others in a way more interesting than a police line up.
Very solid fundamental group of lessons on how persuade your mind to put it all together into a form that makes sense before you learn how to find your own style.
Highly recommended.
Almost Typical. .......2005-11-14
First let me say the author has some excellent advice about using and staying out of the way of your unconscious thought processes. Amen! Brother Knight. Here's a useful analogy: Let's say your brain is your FM radio. The conscious part can deal with one station at a time. The unconscious part deals with all the stations simultaneously. So get-over the idea that you know what's happening. You dont. Otherwise the book is the same stuff contained in every other how-to-write book, and it's written better than many of the others. Something none of the how-to-write books address is taste. Editors and publishers buy what they like, readers buy what they like, and critics give a hooray! to books they like. One man's treasure is another man's trash.
Useful and inspiring.......2005-02-09
I'll say right off that I don't agree with everything proposed in this book, but even when I disagree, at least I was thinking about something that I had overlooked in my writing. That said, I didn't disagree with much. I didn't do any of the exercises - yet, but I will.
The book is a great read and has helped me realize why my previous stories had not been getting published. It gives a great outline to go back over 'finished' work and improve it exponentially. As a discouraged writer, I'm beginning to see the glimmers of inspiration again.
Practical advice from a talented writer.......2005-01-30
Knight's, Creating Short Fiction is, perhaps ironically, a short book but he manages to cover the craft of writing from nurturing talent to getting the story completed to what its like being a writer. A lecturer at the Clarion Workshop and author of many short stories and novels he knows how to write. But he doesn't give the reader a step-by-step guide to story writing. Such a recipe, in my limited experience, doesn't exist and Knight does well to avoid trying to give one. What the reader will find are discussions about the elements every story must have and how to use them. He also discusses what a story is and is not, how to generate ideas, and even a few work habits the reader might find effective.
The elements of stories and story writing can be found in many other books. Rather than simply parrot them, Knight is candid about which techniques he doesn't like and why; but that isn't to say the would-be author is allowed to break every rule. He give examples of stories and authors that show the successful use of a particular element or technique e.g. first person subjective point-of-view. And Knight includes diagrams that make the concept of story structure and viewpoint easier to understand. All of this advice is given in a conversational style that is never condescending.
Creating Short Fiction helped me to understand that, like painting or drawing, writing is highly individualized. Every art form has its accepted rules and techniques. And each artist must learn to build upon that foundation, combining the fundamental elements into unique patterns.
There are a few editorial errors, mainly of omission, that make the book feel as if it were the choicest bits from a much longer work. Overall this is an excellent book for the beginning writer, and perhaps the experienced one.
Short fiction writers.......2004-07-23
If you want to write short fiction, read this. It is clear. It is well written. It has what you need to know. It provides a few exercises, just the right number for practice but not so many as to aid procrastination. Yes, D. Knight wrote genre; he wrote it well. But don't be deceived, the insight and knowledge in this book is not limited to genre writing. This is not a formula book. This is not about paint-by-numbers writing. D. Knight thought about his craft and practiced it. If you want to write short fiction, read this.
Book Description
Shaping the Story
teaches beginning fiction writers to hone their craft with a unique step-by-step approach to writing a short story. Stepping writers through an interlocking set of twelve easy-to-follow exercises Shaping the Story helps the beginning fiction writer understand the ways a short story changes and grows as it moves from its often-vague beginnings through a satisfying ending. As writers step through the process, they learn about development of theme, point of view, voice, setting, character, dialogue, scene, plot, the treatment of time, and the crafting of satisfying endings. Those interested in learning to write short stories.
Customer Reviews:
Solid scene based book to get your story written.......2007-06-01
This book is solid and the most practical writing book for novice writers I've come across. It's better than most others because the excercises are not piecemeal units, but aim to build a story up. The theory is direct and to the point, and you'll want to combine with Burroways book and some editing book.
Its method is good, and scene by scene. For the beginner who, like me had read tons of theory but needed to get that story out it has helped.
The only problem with the method is that it seems to advise polishing your scenes rather than using them to explore your story. Especially when your unsure of the story it makes more scene to scratch up throw away scenes and use them to think and feel your way through the story. The same with the story cloud device, it was ok to imagine but it does tend to trap the imagination too early.
On the whole though I linked the linked concept very much. To really earn 5 stairs the revision chapter should be stronger and placed near the beginning. Writing is revision. Revisioning. And some more stuff on process added: as Burroway does in the first chapter.
Too many books on writing shove revision on the end. Whereas a book like Kaplans Revision make the point that writing starts with revision. The process of seeing and sketching before the first draft is even attempted.
Combine Burroways chapter on process and Kaplans first chapter on revision
and stick it on the first chapter, would make this book exceptional. And it should emphasis the use of throaway scenes in finding the story then you'd have a perfect text book.
An interesting technique Ive seen is Olen Butlers Dream Space. Though I've seen he has a sight its only vaguely described in his book. This would be a nice addition to the story cloud used here.
Having said that all, this helped me get a story out and I use a modified version of it to actually write stories.
I'd like to see two other things:
1) A cheat sheet one pager at the back, like the Gotham workshop book so I can refer to it quickly.
2) Get rid of the stories. How to's should reference a story or anthology. It just takes up space. I like a thin book I can use and hate having to borrow through stories to get what I want. Even with a table of contents. Thats a problem for example with Burroways fine book "writing fiction" has 30 stories you can get from an anthology. Just dead space. The gotham writers writers workshop book takes the right approach- it has a seperate fiction gallery for those who want to buy it. Though its disadvantage is that it has too many authors.
Then it would be really perfect. But I suppose were still waiting for a perfect fiction book.
Anyway, a thoroughly good book. Worth buying.
An Integrated Guide to Creating Short Stories.......2006-04-17
When I first saw this book in a Berkeley bookstore, I almost didn't pick it up because of its subtitle: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Short Fiction. Sounded too formulaic. In retrospect, I'm glad I stood there to read the author's preface and introduction.
"What This Book Is ... and What It's Not: Memorable short stories aren't written by the numbers. That might seem a strange thing to say in the introduction to a book that lays out a step-by-stop plan for the writing of a short story. But it's important to say at the outset that the interlocking series of exercises Shaping the Story contains isn't meant to provide a guaranteed formula for use in writing fiction. That would be a foolish, as well as an impossible thing to try: stories are endlessly various in the ways they emerge, develop structurally and find their way to an ending. That's part of the joy of writing them, and of reading them."
Why interlinking exercises? The author notes the limitation of exercise-based books and classes: they lead to "disarticulated stack of sketches and little notion of how to employ newfound skills in writing a complete story." The limitation of workshop-based classes: they "too often seem to teach story writing in much the same way an autopsy teaches the investigator the cause of death--the procedure may be instructive, but the subject lies dismembered on the table, never to be resurrected."
SHAPING THE STORY overcomes these limitations with his innovative approach of "linked, progressive exercises that help students to conceive, develop, and revise a complete short story."
Moreover, in each chapter, the author shows the reader his comments on two students' responses to the progressive, interlinked exercises. In the final chapter, on revision, he comments on the revised draft of the two completed stories. Highly instructive comments.
The book includes a brief anthology of 13 short stories from writers such as Jorge Luis Borges, Wallace Stegner, Flannery O' Connor, Tobias Wolff, Louise Erdrich, and Sandra Cisneros. Each story is followed by six questions that focus on the techniques deployed by the writer.
It's an excellent book for beginning fiction writers. Minor suggestion: A more accurate subtitle would be: An Integrated Guide to Creating Short Stories.
Solid and engrossing.......2004-02-10
Face it - there are hundreds of how-to-write-anything books. So why read Shaping The Story? Because it's the equivalent of a seasoned pro walking you through the genesis and development of a single story - Baechtel leads you by the hand (unobtrusively), leavening the instruction with student examples, and well-known and lesser-know stories by wonderful short story writers. I particularly liked the interplay between the author's comments and the students. You can tell that these techniques have been 'road tested' in the classroom. Excellent for the serious beginning writer, with plenty for more experienced writers.
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