The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Although the venerable Santa Barbara Writers' Conference, held in June, covers almost all aspects of words colliding together--from travel writing to poetry to film scripting--this volume focuses solely on the fiction aspects of the confab. Addresses given by various keynoters over the years, from Eudora Welty to Harlan Ellison, Tom McGuane to James Michener, cover all aspects of modern tale-spinning. Lively reading, all pointing to the advice given by Ellison: "The trick is not becoming a writer folks, the trick is staying a writer." Perhaps this volume will make that stay a little easier.

Product Description

A complete and concise guide to writing and selling long and short fiction, including outlining, narrative writing, details, description, pacing, and action.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (June 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898793955
• ISBN-13: 978-0898793956
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #719,945 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - very readable, August 14, 1998

By	Antony Guntrip "Tony Guntrip" (Oxford, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A very good, very enlightening piece of work. Much easier to read and get along with than similar volumes. This is primarily because the book is a collation of many authors' viewpoints, each offering a different slant on the topic at hand, enabling the reader to plot their course with the combined advice of legions of famous and not-so-famous writers available at their fingertips.

Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all, October 3, 2000

By A Customer

I found this book to be very through when it comes to giving advice on a wide range of topics regarding fiction writing. I loved hearing the different points of view from both well-known and little known authors. It kept me interested from beginning to end, and I was actually a little sad when it ended (That has never happened to me when it comes to a writing book!) I'd recommend it to any aspiring author.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent advice for both aspiring and multi-published authors, February 25, 2007

By	Kelly Wallace -- Romance Author "Contemporary... (Tucson, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

My copy has highlighting on just about every page. I found the advice to be pracitical and even inspiring in some cases. There are 30 chapters in the book covering everything from rejection, plot, endings, mystery writing, selecting detail, getting an agent, and much more. It's like having a group of some of the most popular authors guiding you.

I read it cover-to-cover, which is a rarity for me unless the book is really enjoyable or useful. The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction is both!