Customer Reviews

Writing Fiction (6th Edition)

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

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I'm a student at the same university this author is affiliated with, and I was lucky enough to have a teacher require this book. The short stories were great, but I must say that I enjoyed the chapters the most. There is so much information within confines of those two paperback covers. There's so much to learn from the little subsections. I learned quite a bit about writing.

The most helpful chapter, I think, was Chapter 1 Whatever Works: The Writing Process. It gives a bunch of hints about how to get the creative juices flowing and other random advice that no one thinks to give aspiring writers. There's a chapter that covers just about everything. Another great topic was actually broken into two chapters. The sections on characterization (Chapters 4 and 5) were also extremely helpful.

I am 102 pages into this book and ready to pick up something else (interesting to note, in the middle of one of the touted chapters according to reviews).
I picked this copy up at a thrift store for a couple dollars, thank goodness I didn't pay full price, I would have been really disappointed.
Here's my issue-
Yes, I have gleaned things from this book. Completely original? No, many other writing books contain them. A few gems not found elsewhere? Yes.
The thing is, I have to force myself to open it and keep reading. I've read 3 writing books in the last few months and yet this one remains unfinished because it reads so dry. The exercises are only somewhat helpful to someone working alone since they merely present a story and ask questions about it. There's no one to look at what you've written and tell you if you "get it". Which means it amounts to little more than food for thought. It may get you thinking, but it won't instruct you or tell you if you've arrived. This is a textbook for a class, with a teacher, you must know that. But then, if it's for a class, you don't really have a choice in reading it, do you?
Bottom line, if you're learning on your own, choose a different book, for sure.

If you can only buy one writing book ever, make it this one. My honor's creative writing mentor loaned me his copy, and I fell in love with it.

Excellent and varied compilation of short stories. Clear explanations, great examples, fun-and helpful-quotes, and fresh instruction of both classic and original methods of writing. Full of challenging exercises.

Great text for the aspiring fiction writer! Burroway does not stint on the pieces of wisdom she shares; she even borrows from other writers who have written the how-tos of writing.

A must-have for an ambitious fiction writer hopeful. Read on and glean the best advice you could possibly get on becoming a good fiction writer.

I am taking a class in Fiction Writing and this was one of the texts for the class. This book was touted as the be all and end all in assistance in the writing process. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I found it used in the bookstore for $40 (remember, starving college student). I got it home and was astounded by what I read in the second paragraph. We were to read chapter 2 first. Well, let me tell you. I have never been so insulted in my entire life. "...it's probable that your impulse to write has little to do with the desire or the skill to work out a plot." (p27) EXCUSE ME?!?!?! It only goes down hill from there. This author is arrogant and leads one to believe that she is the only one capable of writing a story. I've attempted to read chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 as they have been assigned in the class. It's complete torture to get through them.

I will be selling my copy as soon as I possibly can.

I have found this volume to be incredibly helpful for the novice writer of fiction. The writing it's self is an example of great penmanship and is easy to read and understand. The short story examples are a terrific read, even without the illuminating questions, that help you to enjoy them even more. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that would leave no reserve if in the future I came across something better, even though I doubt this as a possibility presently.