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Title: Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain ISBN: 0-8061-1191-7 Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: May, 1982 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.57 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.94 (17 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Skip the MFA classes and read this book, then write!
Comment: I had published a fair amount of fiction BEFORE I read it. But reading Swain, having him help me take apart the structure of my scenes, the very order of the sentences in a paragraph, the order of words in a sentence, and to then change them for maximum power--wow! Since then I've published much more fiction, because I have an understanding of the techniques of writing. The selling parts of the book are things I've gotten elsewhere, but learning what makes good sentences, good scenes, balanced chapters--it's worth a fortune. This book and Gary Provost's MAKING YOUR WORDS WORK are the two best tools for writers I've found. And I'm saying this as my 1th book is about to come out, and my 500th shorter piece. Thanks, Dwight. Wish you were still around.
Rating: 4
Summary: Solid Advice for Commercial Fiction
Comment: This is a tried and true classic among books on fiction writing.
This is a hefty read -- best digested in smaller portions, but well worth the effort. Swain takes separate looks on all aspects of story building -- characterization, plot, scene structure, etc., and pulls them apart to get to the basic elements. The approach is somewhat scholarly, but for those wrters who do study it, this book will definitely increase understanding of the interlocking components of great fiction.
Readers should remember that this book was first published decades ago. The markets -- especially book and short story markets - have changed quite a bit since then. Thus, the reader should take care to separate the craft advice - which is timeless -- from the advice related to selling, which may not be so timeless. Also, Swain does not give many examples, but the few that are given are, at times, somewhat obscure.
With only that caveat in mind, this book is one I'd expect to see on a serious writer's bookshelf.
Rating: 5
Summary: A must for all serious writers
Comment: This book should be required reading for all writers. It is jam-packed with useful information, excellent examples, and "tricks" of the trade. Although much of the material is geared toward more commercial writing, the author does an excellent job at pointing out when and how these techniques can be modified for more literary genres. The book is extremely well-organized, always clear and insightful. For beginners and expert craftsmen alike.
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Title: Creating Characters: How to Build Story People by Dwight V. Swain ISBN: 0898796628 Publisher: Writers Digest Books Pub. Date: September, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass ISBN: 158297182X Publisher: Writers Digest Books Pub. Date: August, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
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Title: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne, Dave King ISBN: 0062720465 Publisher: HarperResource Pub. Date: 16 February, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Scene and Structure by Jack M. Bickham ISBN: 0898799066 Publisher: Writers Digest Books Pub. Date: April, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: Make Your Words Work : Proven Techniques for Effective Writing-For Fiction and Nonfiction by Gary Provost ISBN: 0595174868 Publisher: Backinprint.com Pub. Date: 21 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $20.95 |
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