A fiction writer has to shape the natural storytelling impulse into a printed book that readers will enjoy. Hodgins, an accomplished novelist himself, offers ideas and specific exercises for fiction writers in A Passion for Narrative.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Described as "a book of inspiration and practical exercises for fiction writers," this work examines all the aspects of writing, from getting started through setting, character, plot, structure, revision, and a final section entitled "And now what?" Novelist Hodgins identifies the range of options available at each stage; quoting other writers, many of whom are little known in this country, he makes this book a voyage of discovery. Grammar is not discussed, nor is motivation; Hodgins presumes both. He does not presume knowledge of the terminology of writing, though, and is careful to explain terms before discussing each concept. In each chapter, exercises and a reading list further illuminate the points discussed. Divided into discrete sections, this book can be used as a reference tool, but it should be read through once first. It's fair to say that while the text does lag at times, it never lags for long, and struggling novelists out there should find most of their conundrums addressed. Recommended. -Robert C. Moore, DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Co. Information Svces., Wilmington, Del.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Inside Flap
This book is not intended to persuade you to take up writing novels or short stories ? ?It?s going to be a lot of work,? Jack Hodgins warns. Nor will it tell you how to market your stories. But it will take you through the problems facing any fiction writer and show you how some of the best writers in English have solved them.
The chapters are clear and comprehensive: Finding Your Own Stories; One Good Sentence After Another ? on the skills of writing well; Setting; Character ? how to make your characters come alive; Plot; Structure ? ?The Architecture of Story?; Point of View and Voice; Metaphors, Symbols and Allusions; Revising ? an all-important chapter that also deals with the impact of writing on a computer; The Story of a Story ? where Jack Hodgins talks of his own experience with one of his most famous stories; and the final chapter, And Now What? ? Creating Your Own Workshop, which builds on the fact that every chapter in the book contains writing exercises to help you work away at home at ?the mysterious business of writing fiction.?
As an award-winning novelist and short-story writer Jack Hodgins is uniquely qualified to preach what he practises. As a trained teacher, he has been giving creative lessons for thirty years, at high schools and universities and to writers? summer schools. In recent years his creative writing courses at the University of Victoria have become discreetly famous. Now, anyone who buys this book can share in the experience of learning fiction-writing from a master.
With its scores of examples of first-class writing this lively, truly fascinating book will almost certainly make you be atter writer; it is guaranteed to make you a better reader. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The chapters are clear and comprehensive: Finding Your Own Stories; One Good Sentence After Another ? on the skills of writing well; Setting; Character ? how to make your characters come alive; Plot; Structure ? ?The Architecture of Story?; Point of View and Voice; Metaphors, Symbols and Allusions; Revising ? an all-important chapter that also deals with the impact of writing on a computer; The Story of a Story ? where Jack Hodgins talks of his own experience with one of his most famous stories; and the final chapter, And Now What? ? Creating Your Own Workshop, which builds on the fact that every chapter in the book contains writing exercises to help you work away at home at ?the mysterious business of writing fiction.?
As an award-winning novelist and short-story writer Jack Hodgins is uniquely qualified to preach what he practises. As a trained teacher, he has been giving creative lessons for thirty years, at high schools and universities and to writers? summer schools. In recent years his creative writing courses at the University of Victoria have become discreetly famous. Now, anyone who buys this book can share in the experience of learning fiction-writing from a master.
With its scores of examples of first-class writing this lively, truly fascinating book will almost certainly make you be atter writer; it is guaranteed to make you a better reader. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best,
By Edie "Edie" (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Passion for Narrative: A Guide to Writing Fiction - Revised Edition (Paperback)
This is a wonderfully detailed and accessible book that tackles that most under-examined aspect of the craft of writing: structure. That chapter alone is worth the price of the cover.
I recommend this book to all my writing students and have referred to it regularly over the years.
2 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
helpful for my writers craft class,,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Passion for Narrative: A Guide to Writing Fiction (Paperback)
There were too many jumps and blotches between Jack Hodgins' wrtten words and the paraphrases. Very useful for the short story segment in OAC Writers Craft with Mr. Gorman. Many thanks for a much used book.
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Spit Delaney, Miss Brill, The Drover's Wife, Canadian Novelists, Margaret Laurence, Old George, David Malouf, New York, Vancouver Island, Frank O'Connor, The Writer's Time, Janet Frame, Alice Munro, Henry Lawson, Wright Morris, The Writer's Chapbook Browse Sample Pages:
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Spit Delaney, Miss Brill, The Drover's Wife, Canadian Novelists, Margaret Laurence, Old George, David Malouf, New York, Vancouver Island, Frank O'Connor, The Writer's Time, Janet Frame, Alice Munro, Henry Lawson, Wright Morris, The Writer's Chapbook Browse Sample Pages:
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Citations (learn more)
4
books
cite this book:
- Restorying Our Lives: Personal Growth Through Autobiographical Reflection by Gary Kenyon in Back Matter
- Massively Multiplayer Game Development 2 (Charles River Media Game Development) (v. 2) by Thor Alexander on page 164
- Creating Fiction by Julie Checkoway on page 97
- The Voice is the Story: Conversations with Canadian Writers of Short Fiction by Laurie Kruk in Back Matter
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