Customer Reviews

Dare to Be a Great Writer: 329 Keys to Powerful Fiction

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I'm not sure if I'm alone in this pursuit, but as a writer and ever-hopeful, future novelist, I have amassed my own library of "How-to" books on the subject of writing. As it must be with surfers who are ever in search of the perfect wave, I am always in search of the perfect book of writing advice.

What I've always wanted is a book that is flexible enough to meet my own writing needs while inspiring me to "push the envelope," so to speak. Some books cater to science fiction writing, while others target the would-be romance novelist. One book will tell you that writing is an art, while another will tell you that a writer who doesn't write with an audience in mind will achieve the standard definition of the "starving writer.

As my library grew, my knowledge increased, but the desire to learn more about my craft has not been satisfied. I hope it never is.

The book "Dare to Be a Great Writer" is, in my opinion, the author's personal challenge to you, the writer, to never settle with mediocre writing. It is broken down into easily digestible segments with each topic containing clear and concise tips and advice on many different subjects.

"Openings," "Plot," "Character, "Forshadowing," and "Genre" are just some of the many topics in the book. None of these detailed segments are featured together, which I believe is the author daring you to be serious about your writing enough to absorb it all without needing to refer to it constantly. There is an index in the back, just in case you want to figure out how to solve a specific problem, but I've found that I rarely need it.

This book gives me many pieces of clear-cut advice and inspiration that I can safely say that this book has done more for me in honing my writing than any other single book in my writing library. I cannot say that the same will happen for you, but I think it can be an essential part of any serious writer's reference list.

This book is wonderful. Mr. Bishop gives excellent advice and samples on every point of fiction. He is both funny and serious. His story of how he began writing is a riot. I use this book constantly when I get depressed over my writing. The best book on writing fiction I have ever read.

I haven't read through Leonard Bishop's book entirely, mostly because it functions more as a key reference book than any treatise on great writing. As instructed by Bishop in his introduction, you can feel free to open to any page and take in great rules and tools of the trade explained and advanced with perfect and often whimsical examples, or seek out your weak points using the index. Before you make the mistake of considering yourself a fiction writer, you need to learn the rules of the road. Bishop has written down the rules and carved out the map as well.

DARE TO BE A GREAT WRITER, by Leonard Bishop, was one of the first "how-to" books I read when I first started writing novels, and it's still one of my favorites. Much like Robert Masello's Robert's Rules of Writing, this is a collection of writing tips presented in no particular order. Because of the format, I wouldn't recommend either as the first "how-to" book for a novice. But the scrambled format works well for me when I'm looking for a "writing tip of the day" or a quick read during TV commercials. Many of the ideas offer practical help; others provide thought-provoking insight. You don't have to agree with every "key" to enjoy this one.

I read in Mr. Bishop's book for 30 minutes the day I bought it and was inspired to put the book down, run to my computer and write a wonderful scene in my WIP. I plan to read it like a writer's "devotional"--a little at a time when I need a shot of inspiration.

I loved Leonard Bishop's book Dare to Be a Great Writer! I think the thing that I appreciated most about the man is that he used to be a "hobo," as he put it, and could barely read, let alone write, when he got into college. Yet, you would never have guessed that unless you read his forward for the book. He overcame many obstacles, and his book is wonderfully written, concise, encouraging, inspiring. He tells all writers and would-be authors to keep the pencil moving, believe in yourself and never give up your dreams

I'm a professional writer and have read my share of books on writing. Every book seems to have at least a few assorted points that I can carry away with me. But you find an awful lot of the same material, just repeated in different words. Many have helped improve my writing a bit, and I struggled on, still full of questions about why some writers sell a few hundred copies while others sell many thousands. Bishop expends the time and effort to explain and give examples for hundreds of techniques the best seasoned writers use to grab readers and give them a very satisfying reading experience. Out of all the books on writing I've read, this is the most helpful and informative, and this is the one I would want right next to me as I write my next manuscript. An excellent book.

Hands-down, the best manual on the craft. Without it, my own books would never be published. A must read for novelists everywhere.

This book has thousands of great tips for all levels of writers. The unique difference with book is that it is not meant to be read from front to back. It's designed to give you tips no matter what page you open up to. There is also a great index in the back for any more advice on any particular subject. I bought this book twenty years ago when I was writing my first book in highschool, and the advice is still fresh and relevant as it was twenty years ago.

This book does stand out from the many other writing books on the market. I would invest in this one if you must choose between two books.

I read this book when I first started writing, and it gave me many DO and DON'T suggestions. The author gives the reader short sections on each subject he thinks is important. I like that, but I wish the book had a better organization, so when I go back to read a certain passage, I'd know where to find it.
BUT, it is STILL one of my favorite books.