Customer Reviews

The Mind Of Your Story: Discover What Drives Your Fiction

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like so many writer/ editors I have a shelf full of writing how-to's--two shelves, actually. But The Mind of Your Story is the one that I would take to a desert island with me. First, perhaps, because it is a truly engaging and lively read, cover to cover: Full of little mysteries to be solved as the author re-creates short passages from her own novels, and the books of other writers, and asks the reader to find the problem. She then presents the solution. What fun, and so much to learn in so few words!

Second, because the author does summarize in a really useful way the basic "rules" of writing fiction: Plot, pace, locale, dialogue, voice. Honed and polished no doubt by her experience as a teacher of creative writing, including her tenure as an instructor at the Santa Barbara Writers' Institute. Short and sweet. Right to the point. A reminder list for the experienced writer; a succinct overview for the aspiring writer of what he or she needs to know--"rules" not withstanding--about the writer's craft.

Third, because in Part II of The Mind of Your Story the author presents what to me was an altogether new and original concept of how a narrative does have a "mind"--the author's words--of its own, a mental organization, as one's own brain works, that drives, or should drive, the presentation of the story. The author writes "Like a good jockey, you can speed your fiction up or slow it down, all the while maintaining a pace that beats as regularly as your fiction's heart. That's because a fiction's pace is tied to its sense of time, what I like to call the mind of the story."

She speaks of "the movement of time within a fiction"--a concept that deals with potentially problematic dilemmas for a writer, such as the use of flashbacks (seldom and only when these relate directly to the reader's experience in the moment). The concept of a story having an intelligence of its own has been expressed in other ways, but in the explanation, and illustrations, presented in this book, the concept becomes not random but explicit, an idea that may be employed intuitively, as great writers surely do, but truly understood in the explication in this book.

Finally, when I return from that desert island, I need to say that Section III, the final section of the book, "Start All Over Again," deals with what I have found in my experience as an editor one of the more difficult matters to impress on aspiring writers: That is revision and re-writing. The author presents revision as an essential part of the creation on a novel, no matter how long one may need to lay the work aside to "cool" after the final ("whew"!) "The End" is typed. And does so in a way that I believe should impress on the writer the excitement, satisfaction, and importance of re-writing once the initial creative effort is spent.

I have been looking for a flaw in this book. Can't find one.

I have purchased several copies of The Mind of Your Story (as Amazon would know and does remind me each time I re-order). One I sent to a new author whose fine manuscript I was so happy to read, to let her know, in better words than I could express, what she has done right--and how she might revise. Another for a new graduate headed for a liberal arts college major, whose understanding of the principles of fiction writing, will, I am certain, be helpful to her in her own classes. Two more, one for me to underline and refer to often (as I have--the index is excellent), and one to loan out. A five-star recommendation for writers (and readers) at any level.

Grace Ring, the designer of this book, has stolen the show. It's visually captivating. Unfortunately, the text by Lisa Lenard-Cook is not as original.

If you are one of Ms Lenard-Cook's students, or a member of her community at the Writer's Digest site, you will certainly want to own this summary of her teachings. If, however, you have taken classes elsewhere, attended conferences, or have read other books about writing, you will find nothing new here. It isn't that her advice isn't sound, because it is. It's just that it's overly familiar.

Some may say that so much has been written and said about the subject that nothing more can be added, but this is not true. Story theorists, discouraged by the inability of so many contemporary stories to engage readers, have investigated epics and other classic tales to unravel their secrets.

If you are a beginning female writer, "The Mind of Your Story" might be a good place to start (though, be warned, the author's self-consciously literary style and transparent promotion of her own work can be a bit off-putting). If you have had any experience at all, you would be better off with one of the following books:

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
Stealing Fire from the Gods: The Complete Guide to Story for Writers and Filmmakers (2nd Edition)
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition
The Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis In The Creative Interpretation Of Human Motives
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
The Writing Life
On Writing
For a top-notch, practical guide to creativity, try
The Complete Artist's Way: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

To begin with, I have just about every "recent" writing book there is. Yes, I admit it. I'm a Book junkie. But I still make time to write every day. Nonetheless, I bought this book reluctantly because I needed to make a $25 purchase in order to receive free shipping. At the same time, I was also hoping to find "something" helpful or learn of a few writing tips to justify my purchase. Sadly, I was disappointed.

This book offers a very down to earth and personable read about the heart of fiction, which the author illuminates by talking about a few facets of fiction like pacing, plot, pov, and the such (look at the free preview for a detailed listing of the table of contents). Cook delves into each area with heart but fails to give any in depth treatment of the subject that you can utilize in helping you to write. Her book feels more like a collection of essays / vignettes on the "beauty" &/or generalizations of writing.

At 270 pages, I expected a much more detailed treatment of writing such as Premise, Theme, and characterization. Also, this book has an aurora of a new age feel because of the many needless pictures within this book that have nothing to do with writing. In fact, these clip art take up about 20 full pages within the book.

However, as engaging as I found Cook's writing to be, I felt by the end of the book I was left with nothing except for inspiration and perhaps a refresher on the extreme basics of writing and a pretty book to look at.

This book might serve a purpose for the beginner as a companion text, if only to elucidate on some of the generalities of writing fiction, for anything else, look elsewhere.

Some better books to consider in comparison to what this book is trying to achieve are: Elizabeth Lyon's "A Writer's Guide to Fiction", Dara Mark's "Inside Story", and Stanley Williams' "Moral Premise".

I own many books on writing, but this one blows them all away. It's as simple as that. It isn't your standard "how to write" text. Rather, it's the sort of book that makes you think. Other books go into the basics of writing, and while this one does touch upon each subject, it serves more as inspiration and nourishment for your muse. It shows you how to take your writing to the next level--to make an ordinary, dull story into something unique, with layers and nuances. As you read it, your mind makes connections, and new ideas spark into life, so that you're constantly tempted to stop reading and go write.

As one reviewer pointed out, there are a lot of illustrations. However, I don't see them as needless. In fact, I feel that they brought the book to a much higher level. A few of the illustrations are essential, as they demonstrate certain points the author is trying to make. The rest are simply there to engage your creative muse. That is what the book is really about, after all: using your creative side to write, the right brain, instead of the practical left brain that's better used during the editing stage, not the writing stage.

All the traditional writing books are aimed at the technical aspects of writing. And that's good. It's important to learn how to write properly. But once you know the basics, then what? When you know *how* to write, but you're still hesitating or unsure, this book will help. It's the kind of book that is a pleasure to read, because it engages the senses. It's beautifully bound, with thick pages and an artistic design that makes it more than just a book. You'll want to read it slowly, a few chapters at a time, so that you can absorb what you're being taught.

(Edited to Add: I thought of the perfect example to describe the difference between this book and your standard "how to write" book. A regular writing book is necessary, but basic--like a utilitarian stand-up shower. Gets the job done, but doesn't do much for your imagination or creativity. On the other hand, "The Mind of Your Story" is essential yet luxurious--like a deep, soothing bubble bath in a cozy bathroom lit by candlelight. Likewise gets you clean, but more elegant than strictly necessary, and goes a long way toward rejuvenating your mind.)

This book would make a fantastic gift for someone who writes, or as an indulgence for yourself. Final word? Best purchase I've made in a long time. Worth every penny, and then some! It will have a place of honor at the top of my stack of writing books, where I can easily grab it whenever I need a bit of encouragement.

I have to agree with reviewer Livvy -- this is a lovely book (aesthetically), but once I delved into it, there seems to be little actual substance to improve one's writing. I kept expecting some advice or tips on how to push through into new ground, but most of the information was generalized description, no real "meat."

For example, one suggestion it to take a book by a favorite author and copy a section of text in order to learn how the author thinks. Hmm...haven't I heard that somewhere before? Oh yes---in numerous other writing how-to's.

As pointed out elsewhere, there are indeed quite a few illustrations that don't have anything to do with writing, which wouldn't be so bad *if* there were juicy tidbits that did. However, since there aren't, there isn't really much here unless you're a rank beginner who has never read any of the other, more substantial, books on writing.

There is nothing about this book that was not planned to encourage and delight the creative child within us. The cover art and the illustrations included are rich in color and playful in concept. The size of the book fits perfectly in one hand while the other turns thick, luxurious pages, without a hint of distracting bleed-through. The varying fonts and type sizes are like unexpected tempo changes in a symphony, meant to engage the imagination as well as entertain. And the text therein is no less absorbing. It addresses the creative processes involved with the technical production of a story in a clear and concise manner and with liberal examples. It also gives authors and those of would-be status the license and tools to connect to the independent mind of that story and allow it to unfold on its own...with careful supervision, of course. That is sometimes a difficult feat when one is too focused on getting it done, getting it right, and getting it published.

I suspect that others who found this book less "helpful", "instructive" or "substantial" had expected to discover some new essential how-to step, some ultimate epiphany that wasn't revealed in other books. Words such as "tips" and "advice" seem to proliferate those reviews, indicating they were looking for concrete left-brain direction from a book of more right-brain esoteric perspective. When one desires the exact mileage and travel time between point A and B, and detailed information on all the venues in between, one will likely find more benefit in a travel log rather than a road map. The destination may be the same, but the later encourages, or rather forces, one to turn the trip into a creative journey of self-discovery, instead of a point-by-point checklist.

Perhaps more than anything, what this book is able to impart to anyone willing and ready to be immersed into the soul of storytelling is that the REAL MAGIC to make you the best writer you can be is not just by applying the steps of style, but by experiencing the heart of each step. If you are expecting a quick and easy slight-of-hand guide to make pennies disappear and entertain with simple card tricks, this is not the book of writing magic for you.

This book has something for writers at any skill level. In an engaging, often humorous style, Lisa Lenard-Cook offers a holistic approach to the craft of writing. She supplies details and examples from her own work but emphasizes the need to figure out what works best for you. As a first-time novelist, I found the chapters on revision and pacing particularly helpful. This book would be a valuable asset to any writer's collection.

Lisa Lenard-Cook not only writes in an engaging style, but also clarifies all the concepts of literary fiction, such as character, plot, setting, POV, narrative distance, dialogue, language, style, pacing, and tense, plus includes a third section covering the importance of the revision process. More than a writer's manual, this book offers the reader a firm foundation from which he or she can begin to build stories that draw upon the power of "right brain" thinking, to get at the core of our creative processes.

Each of the above topics is devoted to a chapter, if not more. Therefore, I believe the treatment to be thorough enough to help develop those skills. The author devotes an entire section to the concept of time in a piece of fiction, which I found extremely helpful.

Bottom line: I have read several fiction writing books, and "The Mind of Your Story" is by far the best. It will serve as my writer's bible for years to come. Books and their authors are no more than guides, and Lenard-Cook happens to be an excellent, empathetic guide. It is up to us to make the journey in our fiction.

Award winning author Lisa Lenard-Cook's book "The Mind of Your Story: Discover What Drives Your Fiction" is a valuable resource for any potential or seasoned creative writer.

Lisa provides the reader with instruction on how to nurture your ideas, develop characters, plot, and voice. Stimulating exercises, practical tips, and informative narrative all add to the value of the book.

From the seeds of idea stage, through the editing stage, right through to the appendix with an illustrative "Manuscript Page in Process" Lenard-Cook takes the reader through finding a balance in allowing "The Mind of Your Story" freedom of expression.

I appreciated the comprehensive index, thought provoking color illustrations, and a reader friendly format that calls for repeated previews, reviews, and stimulating motivation.

Lisa Lenard-Cook delivers in "The Mind of Your Story: Discover What Drives Your Fiction." Highly recommended.

Some books on the art & craft of writing do not prompt me to read them once again--but that is exactly what I did upon finishing The Mind of Your Story. I have barely started the first few chapters of my first novel, but I found many helpful suggestions for bringing the story to life and involving (hopefully) future readers (first of all an agent and an editor, I hope).
I would remind the critics of this volume that we do not all respond equally to any given teacher. So almost every book on writing fiction has its detractors as well as appreciative readers/students. (High school students who were bored to death in my classroom were often turned on by a teacher with a different style--and vice versa.) When it comes to reading books about our craft, we cannot expect them all to be the approach we need.