The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing - Volume 2 - [Paperback]

Jean M. Fredette (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1991

Volume II brings fresh insight from a variety of established writers on everything from creating powerful plots to finding the best markets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898794633
• ISBN-13: 978-0898794632
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,359,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, an easy-to-follow, practical guide for writers!, October 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing - Volume 2 - (Paperback)

I am an amateur writer, but have no formal training in writing. I've only written a few short stories so far and also like to write poetry. However, I haven't submitted any of my writings to a publisher yet because I felt I needed more instruction or a guideline to use to help me construct a good short story. These days, I don't I have the time or patience to read large volumes, so I am really into finding and reading great short stories and also books on writing them so I can become a better writer.

I thank my lucky stars that I found the Handbook of Short Story Writing! This handy paperback helps the reader/writer get started with a pep talk, then gives ideas on how to stay creative, and goes on from there. For instance, I'm learning how to come up with interesting story ideas, bring characters to life, master the use of dialogue, and write better descriptions, etc. I've studied one-third of the book so far, but will soon learn more about making a scene, plotting, dramatizing conflict in the short story, choosing the right viewpoint, and so on. However, I can already see how this book is giving me the basic tools and insight I have needed in order to produce an interesting and well-written short story. I highly recommend it!

Silvergal (Diane Wood)

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok for true beginners to the craft..., January 8, 2003

By 

Paladin08 (Folsom, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing (Vol 1) (Paperback)

If you are totally new to writing and have never read more than 10 articles on the craft of writing before...then this is for you.

For someone more read on the subject I only found 7 of the 42 articles worthy to keep as references/checklists to use as I'm actually doing my writing.

Try and get this book at the library or a used bookstore or ebay. Don't pay full price. Everyone will get something different from it, maybe you will get more out of it than I did.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars empathy and advice, January 30, 2003

By 

Mousinator "~Mousinator~" (none) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing (Vol 1) (Paperback)

I was seventeen.
I found the book on my grandmother's shelf. And I couldn't put it down.
In retrospect, it was probably no better than other books on writing, but it dealt with things I was interested in -- are writers born or made, transitions, revisions, the importance of reading (actually, everybody's got their own opinion on that), characterization and viewpoint. Now, it's not that I hadn't already heard or known some of this stuff, but it was just what I needed. Authors opinions and struggles, sympathy and even occasional rants. The thing was, although I was less experienced, I knew a lot of the same things in my bones, and it was good to have them confirmed.
Another thing was that sometimes the authors disagreed! This is good to know, because when you read a book by one author, if he says something that just doesn't work for you, you think there's something wrong with you. But when you see equally sucessful authors disagreeing over things (outlines, no outlines), it can be rather freeing. Keep in mind that it was written in the 80s so it isn't going to be market help to you. But the advice is still pretty fresh, for the most part.
In short, I recommend this as a good read, interesting, informative, and fun (if you're seventeen, and you find it at your grandmother's, and you can't put it down...)
She gave me that book, before I left. I still have it.
Trust me, it's worth a lot more than 48 cents.