Writing Fiction (6th Edition) (Paperback)

by Janet Burroway (Author), Susan Weinberg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

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: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,768 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book--learned on it, taught on it, May 17, 2000

By	Dave Cullen (Denver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (5th Edition) (Paperback)

This is THE book on fiction writing, and I've read plenty. I used it in the first fiction course I took, and used it on my own students, when I taught undergrads at U of Colorado. And I had them rate the various readings I assigned, and these came out on top.

It takes one key issue (character, plot, POV ...) at a time, spends a chapter on it, in very concrete terms, with lots of examples from classic and contemporary great works. It really unveils the magic behind great writing.

For inspiration and left-brain exercises, get Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones." That's the best book for what it is. But that book is all about getting the writing going, making it happen; this is the book for UNDERSTANDING what's behind it, decoding why some characters are so fascinating, how the author made them so multi-faceted. It's the book that helps you understand how it works. It's the classic for that.

137 of 143 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 (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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!

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best nuts-and-bolts book on creative writing, September 6, 1998

By	Bil Brahe ([e-mail]) (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (Paperback)

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.