Writing Fiction (6th Edition) [Paperback]

Janet Burroway (Author), Susan Weinberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321117956 | ISBN-13: 978-0321117953 | Publication Date: July 10, 2002 | Edition: 6th

The most widely used and respected book on writing fiction, Writing Fiction guides the writer from first inspiration to final revision. Supported by an abundance exercises, this guide/anthology explores and integrates the elements of fiction while offering practical techniques and concrete examples. A focus on the writing process in its entirety provides a comprehensive guide to writing fiction, approaching distinct elements in separate chapters while building on what has been covered earlier. Topics include free-writing to revision, plot, style, characterization, dialogue, atmosphere, imagery, and point of view. An anthology of diverse and contemporary short stories followed by suggestions for discussion and writing exercises, illustrates concepts while offering variety in pacing and exposure to this increasingly popular form. The book also discusses key issues including writing workshops, using autobiography as a basis for fiction, using action in stories, using dialogue, and maintaining point of view. The sixth edition also features more short short stories than any previous edition and includes quotation boxes that offer advice and inspirational words from established writers on a wide range of topics--such as writing from experience, story structure, openings and endings, and revision. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The most widely used and respected book on writing fiction, Writing Fiction guides the writer from first inspiration to final revision. Supported by an abundance exercises, this guide/anthology explores and integrates the elements of fiction while offering practical techniques and concrete examples. A focus on the writing process in its entirety provides a comprehensive guide to writing fiction, approaching distinct elements in separate chapters while building on what has been covered earlier. Topics include free-writing to revision, plot, style, characterization, dialogue, atmosphere, imagery, and point of view. An anthology of diverse and contemporary short stories followed by suggestions for discussion and writing exercises, illustrates concepts while offering variety in pacing and exposure to this increasingly popular form. The book also discusses key issues including writing workshops, using autobiography as a basis for fiction, using action in stories, using dialogue, and maintaining point of view. The sixth edition also features more short short stories than any previous edition and includes quotation boxes that offer advice and inspirational words from established writers on a wide range of topics--such as writing from experience, story structure, openings and endings, and revision. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 6th edition (July 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321117956
• ISBN-13: 978-0321117953
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

177 of 185 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop Studying, Start Writing, March 16, 2004

By 

Kevin L. Nenstiel "omnivore" (Kearney, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing Fiction (6th Edition) (Paperback)

The steep price of this book gives away that it's a college textbook, not a book for the general reader. There are books for the novice out there that answer the same questions this book but cost you a lot less. But this really is better than most books.

Rather than trying to address itself to writing globally or simply act as boosterism to get you busy, this book actually gets into the nuts and bolts of the writing craft. It answers questions about constructing narrative fiction that even experienced writers have from time to time. There's no fiddling business about comma use--there are other books for that--but for narrative structure, beginnings and ends, building tension, and more, this is your book.

Many books of this type are laden with platitudes and aphorisms about writing. They're pretty, but they don't really help you get going. What really sets this book apart is that, after it gives you your standards and rules, it gives you excerpts from other writers' fiction to demonstrate how it works in the real world of published fiction. Now that's truly useful.

All that said, it suffers from the same problem that afflicts all fiction-writing books: it can't really teach you how to write. It's okay to have this book at hand to answer your questions, give you tutorials, and work on fine-tuning, but the only way you'll really get good at writing is to stop studying books and start writing like you mean it.

This book is good within the limitations that surround all fiction-writing books. To really succeed, you need to just knuckle down and write, but as you're doing that, this is the book to have within reach. Now stop reading my stupid review and start writing your fiction!

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For academic-literary writers only, August 29, 2004

By 

bookloversfriend (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Fiction (6th Edition) (Paperback)

For would-be writers looking for a first book on fiction writing, this book is as good as any, provided and only provided that you are interested in writing what might be termed the academic-literary short story. For those interested in writing for readers (termed by academics the "popular" novel), this book could well be highly misleading. The fact that Burroway and others such as Macauley & Lanning think that the same basic principles apply but that "literary" fiction goes beyond--this fact shows that they understand neither popular fiction nor yet "literary" fiction. In fact, the two are based on diametrically opposed principles and have largely opposite criteria of quality.
Also, bear in mind that you are getting only the ABCs in this book. This is a first book, not a last book.
That said, the exposition is clear and there are numerous examples (all from academic-literary fiction). Whether it is worth the price--ah, that is another question.

38 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too expensive and too general, December 30, 2005

By 

M. McKenna "ChickieSidhe" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing Fiction (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I used this book twice in two different classes, and it simply repeats everything one can find in a $20 creative writing book. The readings selected are lackluster or horribly common in creative writing books already.

If this book were even $30, the content would not be so reprehensible. However, with the hefty price tag, the pages should be littered with helpful tips that are new and exclusive to this book. Burroway's "Imaginative Writing" is just as boring and hollow, but it at least does not gouge the pocket.

I would reccomend not buying this book if one is looking for a creative writing book. Instead, check out "The First Five Pages" or "30 most common mistakes of Fiction Writers," both of which rest comfortably under the $20 marker. For those who are required to use this book for a class, either don't buy it or purchase an earlier edition.