This book is one of the best on the market for advice to aspiring writers. Packed with information and clever advice this book is my writing bible. I refer to it again and again when editing and as a result I have have chopped out thousands of unnecessary, and frankly boring, parts of the novel I am writing.
The author, Ray, writes about staying in the NOW of the story and it is good advice. Like many writers I am tempted to flash back and forth between the present and the past to give context but Ray points out clever ways to do this without bogging readers down in page after page of backstory.
From ways to create tension to tips on how to keep the story moving, Mastering the Craft of Compelling Storytelling is a must read for writers. I purchased the Kindle copy and after reading through a few times, I went back and highlighted notes (more than 200) as reminders. Towards the end of the book are Workouts where you can practice the skills you have learned while reading the book and I was amazed at how much more critical I'd become as a result of taking those lessons on board. I then applied those new skills to my own first page and ended up with a far tighter and more compelling opening.
I'd also highly recommend the author's website Flogging the Quill in which he provides free feedback on first pages and whether or not they have 'compelling openings'. It makes for fascinating reading, you can post your own 'turn the page' vote, and it clearly demonstrates Ray's skill at editing.
If you are interested in honing your skills as a writer this book is a must read.
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