The Muse on Writing (Paperback)

~ Lea Schizas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What elements are essential when building a fictional world? Do your characters need more dimension? Is your plot going nowhere? Do you want to write like a pro even though you are just beginning? Are you a published writer looking for dynamic insights into the art and craft of writing? You will find these answers and much more in The Muse on Writing, a book geared for all genres and writers at every stage in their career. The Muse on Writing, available through Double Dragon Publishing, will inspire you, motivate you, amuse you and inform you. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554043174
• ISBN-13: 978-1554043170
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #802,224 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Has Truly Something For Everyone!, February 24, 2006

By	Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Muse on Writing was published, as Editor Lea Schizas declares in the introduction, "to unravel some writing aspects in a way not presented in other writing books." To accomplish this feat she has amassed nineteen excellent writers and authors, each of whom have combined their knowledge pertaining to important topics as the writer's voice, conflict, plotting, dialogue, characterization, inspirational writing, writer's block, and editing. In addition, there are chapters covering topics that are generally not found in books of a similar nature, such as psychological diagnoses that writers may find useful, helping kids to become writers, screenwriting, writing for digital games, and flash fiction.

You are probably wondering, as I did, what is flash fiction? Mike Kechula, who has written twenty-nine nonfiction books, recently switched to this genre and he has won first prize in four flash fiction contests. His contribution pertaining to this new literary form is an eye-opener, and if you are interested in trying your hand at flash fiction, this chapter will be of immense help. The chapter divides itself into six sections: discovering flash fiction, getting started, meeting reader expectations, hitting the mark, finding story ideas, twelve tips for developing genre flash fiction. The result is an extraordinary collection of useful tips providing newcomers as well as seasoned writers with a veritable goldmine pertaining to flash fiction.

Another excellent chapter and one that is not very often included in books on the craft of writing is Robert A. Redmond's contribution that offers insights into teaching students how to write. Redmond has conducted workshops for teachers, and he passes along his knowledge pertaining to such topics as developing a community of writers, workshops, lessons, ways to gather ideas, giving feedback to writers, and other vital elements of writing.

Conveniently divided, the diversity of topics covered in The Muse On Writing is written in a highly readable style that presents tours of specific areas of the writing process. Moreover, the book is admirable in its scope as it manages to pack in a wealth of information in a stimulating and focused manner that will aid you in honing your skills. This book has truly something for everyone-even a chapter with author interviews conducted by Lea Schizas that are quite fascinating to read!

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is packed! Lots of great ideas!, February 24, 2006

By	Mark Reston "Mark the Spark" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

I am not quite finished with this read, but I am loving this. I can see how this book will make a great desk reference. There is a lot of variety, which really makes it interesting. Not your usual run-of-the-mill book on writing. Even the chapters that address the usual topics, such as writers voice, dialog, or characterization, are done with a difference. There's plenty of unusual topics, too, such as creating a different world for your story, screenwriting or writing for digital games. Quite a collection!