Customer Reviews

The Elements of Storytelling: How to Write Compelling Fiction

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
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Rubie gives the reader many tidbits to consider and even a few morsels of meat, but not much in the way of consistent clarity. He concludes that good writing cannot be taught and that one should bury their heads in bestsellers and classics to glean the elements of style (good advice, of course). If this is the case though, then why bother writing a book on storytelling? Nonetheless, Rubie does provide good advice on how to dramatize sequences and on using descriptors sparingly, pointing to both classic and contemporary novels as examples. He points frequently to a book called "The Elements of Style" (a classic and "must have" in the writing world) and suggests that a copy be kept on every writer's desk. Perhaps his strongest advice on writing is that one should not be deceived about the strength of their own writing or the possibility of writing a blockbuster hit.

Some of Rubie's advice becomes a tad contradictory, as he seems to eschew certain types of creativity in favor of plain, bare bones prose while still encouraging writers to hold true to their own writing style. According to the author, writing is just plain hard, and in some cases, darn near a feat of miraculous and other-worldly genius. I suppose this is meant to underline the fact that good writer's are born and nutured, not bred. In short, the author leaves the reader with the understanding that there is no formula or magic for producing good writing, all that can be done is to grasp on to an understanding of the rules of writing (which, under certain circumstances, can be broken) and hope for the best.

Rubie's book does provide grounded, practical advice and excellent examples but it certainly falls short of inspiration or motivation; two things most writer's desperately seek. If you are looking for a book that will *both* inspire and inform, I do not recommend this one. For that, look to "How to Write & Sell Your First Novel" by Oscar Collier. At the very least, read Collier's book first. Rubie's book *does* provide excellent excercises for honing your craft; that alone makes the book an acceptable read.

When I read this book I thought it was one of the best writing books. Now I've read a few more, but I still rank this one very high. Peter Rubie's writing is clear and straightforward. It goes to the point. He explains the basics (and not so basics) of all the building blocks of a story. From the synopsis to plot to description and setting, to dialogue, it covers a lot of stuff and I found it very useful.

If you've immersed yourself (or plan to) in writing fiction, then reading this book is a great example of a resource you should definitely read along the way. It's extremely helpful and will probably act mainly as a confirmation of many things you've already known or believed. The title is a daring reference to the classic 'Elements of Style' but Rubie appears to pull it off. It's well worth the money you'll spend.

I agree with other reviewers who say this book is primarily for a beginner, but I find that it's the book to which I refer most frequently. When writing (or crafting a story for any medium), it's very easy for the author to become bogged down in details - this book reminds you to never forget your reader and what they expect (or sometimes how to give them what they DON'T expect). Furthermore, it's actually interesting to read.... not painfully dull like pretty much every other writing book out there. This is one of the most worn books on my shelf, and I'm sure it will be on yours as well. Highly Recommended!

The title is a little misleading-- the end result of reading this book won't be compelling fiction, it'll be better than winging it though. His ideas don't drill home unless your desperate for advise on writing. There's nothing in this book that can't be taught in another, except maybe for his reccommended reading list in the back. I don't want to sound like I'm insulting the book, however, because it does provide useful information on writing and publishing, but I've read better.

But, don't expect to be made an apprentice to the writer. He will tell you to go from point A to point B. He'll even tell you why that is important and how avoiding this trip from A to B will be detrimental with a reason why. But, don't expect the author to actually guide you there with real life examples that lead you how to do it.

If you know nothing about writing, this book will give you the basics. Only expect to get something of substance from a book like "Characters & Viewpoint" by Orson Scott Card. Now, THAT is a book worthy of anyone's attention, pro or beginner.

I've read dozens of books on writing fiction and this is one of the best. It's not only informative, but interesting to read. Peter Rubie, himself, is a very good writer.

This is a great book for both beginners and experts. Better than his book with Gary! Every tip and the reading list helps. Buy this gem, this toy for mature writers, this tool for mature writers! Take care!