Customer Reviews

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For my money, this is the best book available about creative narrative writing. Burroway's book is used as a text for short story and novel writing. The chapter "Showing and Telling" alone is worth the price of the book.

Other areas covered by chapters in the book are as follows:

Story form and structure

Characterization: Two chapters that cover every thing from dialogue to detailing the five ways to develop a character: authorial interpretation, appearance, action, speech, and thought

Setting and atmosphere

Point of View

Literary devices such as symbol, metaphor, etc.

Theme

Revision: This chapter is the weakest because it discusses revision in general, not giving specific problems that plague manuscripts. The most prevalent flaws are discussed in the book, but I think it would be helpful to list them in this chapter and give page numbers where the technique is discussed.

I have read over twenty books pertaining to creative writing, but this one is better than all the rest. What I like best are the numerous stories that are at the end of each chapter illustrating the points discussed in that section. Each chapter concludes with questions to guide one's study.

In my reading of books about fiction writing, I have found numerous references to this book which indicates to me the quality of this book to other writers.

If you can only afford one book, get this one. I don't think you will be disappointed if you are serious about your fiction.

I teach writing in the UCLA Writer's Program (online) and always recommend this and "What If" by Ann Bernays and Pam Painter. Burroway's book is absolutely the best book on the craft of writing I've ever found. Anybody who aims to write well would do him- or herself a huge favor by buying this book. I've been drawn to it over and over when writing my own books, "The Death of Tarpons" (novel), "Monday's Meal" (Collection of short stories; and my forthcoming "Over Easy" from Random House and Ballantine Books (1999). I'm now involved in writing screenplays and the techniques Ms. Burroway covers in her book cover that form as well. I think giving it 5 stars is not enough and if it were possible to award ten stars, I would, enthusiastically. If you only buy one book on writing in your lifetime, make it this one!

Main Topics:
A. The writing process - What it takes to get started.
B. Story form and structure - The basics in a nutshell
.....Conflict, Crisis & Resolution, Plot
C. The importance of details, voice, rhythm
D. Characterization
.....Individual, Typical and Universal
.....Well rounded characters (vs flat)
.....Direct representation
.......speech, action, thought and conflict
E. Creating atmosphere - scene and summary
F. Point of View issues, first, second and third person.
G. Metaphors, Similies, Symbols and Allegories
H. Theme - Ideas, morality and more on details
I. Revisions

Of Special Interest: Not only does Burroway cover all the major important topics clearly, she has extensive examples from a wide variety of high quality short story writers to illustrate her points. Undoubtedly one of the best books to use when getting started.

Significant quotes:

On Crisis and resolution:
Fortunately, The necessary features of the story form are fewer than those of a face. They are conflict, crisis and resolution.
Conflict is the fist encountered and the fundamental element of fiction, necessary because in literature, only trouble is interesting.

On the distinction between story and plot:
A story is a series of events recorded in their chronological order. A plot is a series of events deliberatly arranged so as to reveal their dramatic, thematic and emotional significance.

On details:
A detail is definite and concrete when it appeals to the senses. It should be seen, heard, smelled, tasted and touched...particular details--these are the life of fiction.

Janet Burroway is the ideal writing teacher. She encourages, cajoles, instructs and gives excellent examples from the best writers in contemporary fiction. This book is an indispensible tool for beginning writers as well as old pros. It covers everything from characterization to setting and plot in a logical, step by step fashion. Each chapter devoted to a topic is illustrated not only with Burroway's own writing, but with examples from the works of contemporary writers. It is the type of book one reads, underlines, and returns to again and again. A "must have" for aspiring ficition writers.