The first two chapters of this slim volume were most helpful to me. “What is science-fiction?” is not an easy question, especially in distinguishing it from fantasy and the broader category of speculative fiction. Basically, Card says sci-fi concerns experience … Continue reading
This booklet offers advice to writers about point of view. It defines POV as a “position” from which something is considered or evaluated (p.6). The author eventually explains that this “position” is not a spatial location (e.g., a camera placement … Continue reading
Instruction With a Light Tone Dufresne, John. (2003). The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction. New York: W.W. Norton. I met the author at a writing conference and decided to buy his book. It covers the … Continue reading
Advice for the Experienced Writer Long, Priscilla (2010). The Writer’s Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life. Seattle, WA: Wallingford Press, 349 pp. My shelves are heavy with how-to-write books, some helpful, some inspirational, most inert. … Continue reading
Not A Waste of Time Silber, Joan (2009). The Art of Time in Fiction: As Long as it Takes. Minneapolis, MN: Greywolf Press, 114pp. I bought this book on the recommendation of a writing instructor when I was having … Continue reading
Cute Kittens Sell Books! Lamb, Kristen (2013). Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World. Ebook: WANA International ISBN: 1938848322. Lamb is a well-known social media guru for writers and this book offers advice on how to establish and … Continue reading
Humorous Homilies Lamott, Anne. (1994). Bird By Bird: Some Instruction on Writing and Life. NY: Anchor. In a series of personal essays and anecdotes, Lamott muses on what it’s like to be a writer. It’s not really an “instruction,” as … Continue reading
Philosophy of Fiction Wood, James (2008). How Fiction Works. New York: Picador/Farrar, Straus, Giroux. This beautifully manufactured little paperback surveys the main points of novel writing craftsmanship, such as characterization, point of view, metaphor, dialog, and so on, but does … Continue reading
How to Surprise A Reader Boswell, Robert (2008). The Half Known World. Mpls, MN: Gray Wolf Press Robert Boswell presents 9 personal essays exploring different aspects of the craft of writing fiction, all addressing the idea that you should be … Continue reading
The Unspeakable Baxter, Charles (2007). The Art of Subtext. Minneapolis, MN: Graywolf Press Subtext is hard to write, because you don’t write it. You set it up and let it show, but it remains unstated. When done effectively, the reader … Continue reading