What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Anne Bernays (Author), Pamela Painter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0205616887 | ISBN-13: 978-0205616886 | Edition: 3

Organized by the elements of fiction and comprised primarily of writing exercises, this text helps students hone and refine their craft with a practical, hands-on approach to writing fiction.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

An essential to any writer's library, What If? is comprised entirely of specific exercises intended to help the reader master the art of writing fiction. The exercises isolate the various elements of fiction - dialogue, plot, characterization, point- of-view, etc. - and present specific problems to solve through writing. Directed toward both beginners and professional writers, this book addresses topics such as discovering where to start and end a story; learning when to use dialogue and when to use indirect discourse; transforming real events into fiction; and finding language that both sings and communicates precisely. For those interested in writing fiction. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Anne Bernays, a novelist and writing teacher, is the author of eight novels, including Professor Romeo and Growing Up Rich, as well as two works of nonfiction, including The Language of Names written with Justin Kaplan and What If? written with Pamela Painter. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous major publications, among them The Nation, the New York Times, Town & Country, and Sports Illustrated. She lives in Cambridge and Truro, Massachusetts with her husband, Justin Kaplan. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 3 edition (August 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205616887
• ISBN-13: 978-0205616886
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 92 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exercises Galore January 9, 2002

By Russell Diederich VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

If you did one exercise a day from Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter's "What If?" you would be writing for more than a third of a year. The book is packed with 115 exercises. The goal of a writer is to write, preferably every day. This book not only provides exercises, it also includes discussions of writing before each exercise to teach the skills necessary to become a good writer. Bernays and Painter finish off their book with 24 short stories, from a variety of authors, to provide the reader with examples of the lessons.

The book is split up into fifteen different sections (two of these are devoted to the short stories and short-shorts), each with several exercises. Each section discusses a particular part of story writing including, beginnings, plot, POV, characterization, dialogue, styles and rewrites. I found the majority of the exercises useful, and nearly all of the lessons and discussions worthwhile. There where even a few "Ah-ha!" exercises that instantly solved, or gave me ideas on how to tackle, a problem that I'd been dealing with.

This book can be used in two ways. The first is to use it to strengthen your weaknesses. If you feel that your writing is lacking in a certain area, you can focus entirely on the lessons and exercises to improve that area. The second way to use this book is to read it straight through for the lessons and advise while using the exercises to further your writing. Either way, I believe that any writer will find "What If?" a useful tool.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Journalist trying his hand at fiction April 22, 2000

By Timothy Daiss, M.A.

Format:Paperback

Last year I had the priviledge of having a non-fiction book published and I continue to work as a journalist. Obviously, these skills haven't prepared me for writing my first novel. But not to worry. At my side (actually on my writing desk) is a copy of What if? and it has taught, inspired and encouraged me in my quest for the great American novel. Not only that, its just plain fun to read and work the exercises. The chapters on characterization, point of view, dialogue and plot are excellent. I recommend this to any writer that needs to hone his fiction writing skills or learn them for the first time. Hats off to the authors -- Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Fiction Exercises I've Found! March 5, 2003

By S. Mellott

Format:Paperback

I was priveleged to be one of Pamela Painter's graduate students in the MFA Creative Writing Program at Emerson College back in the mid-1990's. What a class! What an instructor! She invoked fear in most of us... but only because of her awesome talent and knowledge. My copy of this book has been through a lot since then. I have gone on to teach Creative Writing and Advanced Screenwriting at the university level and also at the extended education level with senior citizens. I have found these exercises to be versatile enough to inspire the creative minds of both 20-year olds and 80-year olds. My students have always raved about the wonderful merits of this book. At the present time, I teach Creative Writing as a volunteer in my son's first grade class and have adapted several of the exercises for his age group. While the exercises are not easy for them, I am consistently amazed at how they raise the bar and do their best to finish the writing asked of them... and with wonderful results! The creativity that I have witnessed as a result of these writing exercises, from the youngest writers to the most-seasoned, has absolutely overwhelmed me. When the mind is challenged, great things emerge. Needless to say, I am impressed with the versatility of this book... a book that can span generations and age gaps... a book that doesn't go out of style... a book that every fiction writer should have! I can't recommend it highly enough. Thank you, Pam Painter and Anne Bernays for putting together such a valuable writing tool!