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Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide
 
 
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Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide (Paperback)

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4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Finally, a writing guide for the African-American writer that's as inspiring as it is instructive.

In this one-of-a-kind guide, Angela Benson offers step-by-step guidance for black writers--from getting started to revising complete drafts--for anyone who has a tale to tell. Featuring tools, techniques, and illustrative examples from the best black writers of our day, this book will help writers learn to:

find their own style
create characters readers will care about
capture voices from their community
write natural-sounding dialogue
mine personal experience for detail
weave a compelling story
Includes exercises, worksheets, examples, and step-by-step instructions, as well as inspiring advice
and more...

Telling the Tale also includes helpful exercises, worksheets, and tips to show African-American writers how to perfect their craft.


About the Author

Angela Benson has written seven books and a novella, and has given numerous workshops and presentations on writing.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 212 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Trade (May 1, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425170543
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425170540
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #731,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #64 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > United States > African American

More About the Author

Angela Benson
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Angela Benson Page

Look Inside This Book

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide
85% buy the item featured on this page:
Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide 4.7 out of 5 stars (6)
Free Within Ourselves: Fiction Lessons for Black Authors
15% buy
Free Within Ourselves: Fiction Lessons for Black Authors 4.5 out of 5 stars (8)
$19.00

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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 (4)
4 star:
 (2)
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Angela tells it like it is about the craft of writing, April 13, 2001
By Dera R Williams (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
Angela Benson, romance and inspirational author, gives here a blueprint for African Americans who want to be successful in writing. Why a fiction writing guide for African Americans? Ms. Benson says "As minorities in American culture, blacks are in a postiton to provide social commentary on the system, the way things are". That said, she strongly stresses how important it is as a minority to understand how the majority operates.

To that end she offers section on plot, character development, POV, revisions, dialogue, and a host of exercises to hone your craft. With this guide anyone, no matter what color, gets an excellent view of the ins and out of writing fiction that is believable and marketable. Don't Guess, Research- this chapter is invaluable in that she makes the point that one should make the library a place with which to be familiar and to make the librarian a close friend. Think you can get everything from the Internet? Think again. Minute details such as dates and particular events can give your story authencity or show you up as being careless.

This is a good resource for any fiction writer, black or white. Thank you, Angela, for this gift.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, August 23, 2000
Angela Benson is a talented writer. Her books speak for them selves. It is any wonder that she would write an excellent guide for new and experienced writers? Absolutely not! Please take time to check out her work if you are interested in some day building your own writing career. Her ideas will give a large step up that long and difficult climb to becoming a published author. I believe Telling The Tale is worth your time and investment.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing guide, January 26, 2005
By Fiction Writer "Author of Missed Opportunities" (Florida- www.latonyawilliams.com) - See all my reviews
This was a great book to use as a writing guide for aspiring writers. It was an easy read with simple steps to accomplish the major goal of writing a novel. I am a true testament that completing the exercises are helpful. After following the guidelines in the book, I completed my first novel. I'm now a published author, and I credit my success to this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Tools for AA writers!
As a budding African American writer myself, this book was like a breath of fresh air!!! Ms. Benson outlines everything so simplistically and leaves nothing to the imagination... Read more
Published on October 6, 2007 by Writer4u

5.0 out of 5 stars Great source for upcoming novelist.
I thought this book was very helpful. She gave some useful tips on keeping your characters in order by charting their names and relationships with others. Read more
Published on February 7, 2005 by Shay-Shay

5.0 out of 5 stars Review - Telling the Tale
I think Ms. Benson did a fantastic job of outlining an approach and a structure to writing. She didn't tout this as "the way to do it," but simply as a way that has... Read more
Published on March 6, 2002 by Kenneth Cotton

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