Creating Characters: How to Build Story People [Hardcover]

Dwight V. Swain (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 089879417X | ISBN-13: 978-0898794175 | Publication Date: March 28, 1991 | Edition: 1st

Vibrant, believable characters help drive a fictional story. Along with a clever plot, well-drawn characters make us want to continue reading a novel or finish watching a movie. In Creating Characters, Dwight V. Swain shows how writers can invent interesting characters and improve them so that they move a story along.

'The core of character,' he says in chapter 1, 'lies in each individual story person s ability to care about something; to feel implicitly or explicitly, that something is important.' Building on that foundation the capacity to care Swain takes the would-be writer step-by-step through the fundamentals of finding and developing 'characters who turn you on.' This basic but thought-provoking how-to is a valuable tool for both the novice and the seasoned writer.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- Young people seriously interested in creative writing will find this manual for developing fictional characters a rich source of detailed information. Students can browse through the 17 chapters, each titled and annotated, without reading the book from cover to cover. Swain talks to his readers in a conversational tone, suggesting techniques, giving examples to illuminate his points, and offering activities for sharpening character development skills. This is a book for those already committed to writing fiction and who want to think about the craft of writing.

Joyce H. Jones, Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria, VA

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dwight V. Swain spent a lifetime writing newspaper and magazine articles, pulp fiction, and screenplays. For more than twenty years he taught in the Professional Writing Program at the University of Oklahoma. His popular book Techniques of the Selling Writer is also published by the University of Oklahoma Press. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1st edition (March 28, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089879417X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898794175
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dwight V. Swain - Thank You For This Wonderful Book, June 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating Characters: How to Build Story People (Paperback)

I purchased the first edition of Creating Characters: How to Build Story People in September 1990 and have had endless hours of inspiration and continuous hours of story people development fun. The examples given in this book open the gate of your creativity, along with opening your mind to wonderful ideas of building story people.

From this book you'll learn barn-brush characterization. All you need to start. It focuses you on the basics and it`s easy for both reader and writer to understand.

If you are a writer and find yourself bored to tears, purchase Dwight V. Swain's Creating Characters: How to Build Story People and summarize for yourself (better yet, create two characters and let their dialogue tell you what a bargain this book is for $11.99). I read this book over and over to become reinspired.

If you are not interested in story people development and are a reader of fiction, purchase this book, if only to experience the magic touch a writer uses to create story people you will call your friends the rest of your life.

Thank You: Dwight V. Swain For Writing This Wonderful Book

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book You'll Really Use, January 14, 2000

By 

"kingsransom" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Characters: How to Build Story People (Paperback)

There are some books you read and then put away and there are books you'll use. This is one you'll use. Swain tells us how to create all types of story characters, how to make them credible, how to describe them, how to motivate them and much more. The book's easy, fun-to-read style makes it ideal for beginners, though more experienced writers can profit as well. Every page offers something worthwhile!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!, November 27, 1999

By 

An L.A. Reader (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Characters: How to Build Story People (Paperback)

Over the years I've bought a lot of books on writing, and I can honestly say that the insights presented here are among the practical and useful.

Swain understands that characters are NOT folks but instead are constructs, partially based on folks and partially based on the author's needs.

I can highly recommend this book.