The book you need to read to write the book you want to write : a handbook for fiction writers / Sarah Burton and Jem Poster.

By:

Burton, Sarah, 1963-

Contributor(s):

Poster, Jem, 1949-

Material type: Text

TextLanguage: English Publisher: Cambridge, United Kingdom : Cambridge University Press, 2022Description: xiv, 283 pages ; 24 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

9781009073738
1009073737

Subject(s):

Genre/Form:

Handbooks and manuals.

Additional physical formats: Online version:: Book you need to read to write the book you want to writeDDC classification:

808.3

LOC classification:

PN 3355 B974b 2022

Contents:

1. Getting started 2. Memory and imagination 3. Character Introducing characters Character and plot Characters are individuals Character and narrative voice How many characters? Minor characters Character isn't fixed Planning characters 4. Plot and structure I Getting to grips with plot Telling it slant 5. Plot and structure II The patterns of plot Hiding plot: putting doors in alleyways Narrative time 6. Form and length Definitions Novels Short stories Flash fiction 7. Dialogue Dialogue matters Carrying information in dialogue Capturing character in dialogue Writing between the lines Attributing dialogue Punctuating dialogue conventionally Alternative ways of punctuating dialogue Accent and dialect Other worlds, other times How do we show a character's thoughts? 8. Narrative viewpoint and narrative voice Where do we stand? Author and narrator: knowing and telling First- and third-person narratives: the basics How perspective changes the story Multiple-viewpoint narratives The range of perspectives Centres of consciousness in the third-person narrative Character and state of mind as revealed in first-person voices The unreliable narrator First-person plural narration Second-person address Other-world narrative voices 9. Beginnings and endings: tension and pace A good enough beginning Exposition and starting in medias res A sense of an ending Tension and pace 10. Description The purpose of description Preconceptions about style - Clichés Metaphors and similes Modifiers Describing place How much detail? Showing through description 11. Research Keeping research unobtrusive Subjects Sources Serving your story 12. Drawing it all together An approach to editing Editing techniques Getting value from a critical reader Editing in response to notes Accepting imperfection 13. Publication and the writing life Publishing short stories Agents and editors Targeting and pitching Understanding rejection Interpreting rejection It's just an opinion Hold your nerve The writing life Writer's block Set achievable goals Stick at it Feed the compost heap The pleasures of writing

Summary: "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.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Home library	Collection	Shelving location	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Libro	Biblioteca Juan Bosch	Biblioteca Juan Bosch	Humanidades	Humanidades (4to. Piso)	PN 3355 B974b 2022 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		00000178420

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Getting started
2. Memory and imagination
3. Character
Introducing characters
Character and plot
Characters are individuals
Character and narrative voice
How many characters?
Minor characters
Character isn't fixed
Planning characters
4. Plot and structure I
Getting to grips with plot
Telling it slant
5. Plot and structure II
The patterns of plot
Hiding plot: putting doors in alleyways
Narrative time
6. Form and length
Definitions
Novels
Short stories
Flash fiction
7. Dialogue
Dialogue matters
Carrying information in dialogue
Capturing character in dialogue
Writing between the lines
Attributing dialogue
Punctuating dialogue conventionally
Alternative ways of punctuating dialogue
Accent and dialect
Other worlds, other times
How do we show a character's thoughts?
8. Narrative viewpoint and narrative voice
Where do we stand?
Author and narrator: knowing and telling
First- and third-person narratives: the basics
How perspective changes the story
Multiple-viewpoint narratives
The range of perspectives
Centres of consciousness in the third-person narrative
Character and state of mind as revealed in first-person voices
The unreliable narrator
First-person plural narration
Second-person address
Other-world narrative voices
9. Beginnings and endings: tension and pace
A good enough beginning
Exposition and starting in medias res
A sense of an ending
Tension and pace
10. Description
The purpose of description
Preconceptions about style - Clichés
Metaphors and similes
Modifiers
Describing place
How much detail?
Showing through description
11. Research
Keeping research unobtrusive
Subjects
Sources
Serving your story
12. Drawing it all together
An approach to editing
Editing techniques
Getting value from a critical reader
Editing in response to notes
Accepting imperfection
13. Publication and the writing life
Publishing short stories
Agents and editors
Targeting and pitching
Understanding rejection
Interpreting rejection
It's just an opinion
Hold your nerve
The writing life
Writer's block
Set achievable goals
Stick at it
Feed the compost heap
The pleasures of writing

"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.

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