Elements of Fiction Writing - Beginnings, Middles & Ends (The elements of fiction writing) - Softcover

Kress, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0898799058 ISBN 13: 9780898799057

Publisher: Writer's Digest Books, 1999

Synopsis

Get your stories off to a roaring start. Keep them tight and crisp throughout. Conclude them with a wallop. Is the story or novel you've been carrying around in your head the same one you see on the page? Or does the dialogue suddenly sound flat and predictable? Do the events seem to ramble? Translating a flash of inspiration into a compelling story requires careful crafting. The words you choose, how you describe characters, and the way you orchestrate conflict all make the difference—the difference between a story that is slow to begin, flounders midway, or trails off at the end—and one that holds the interest of readers and editors to the final page. By demonstrating effective solutions for potential problems at each stage of your story, Nancy Kress will help you...    • hook the editor on the first three paragraphs    • make—and keep—your story's "implicit promise"    • build drama and credibility by controlling your prose Dozens of exercises help you strengthen your short story or novel. Plus, you'll sharpen skills and gain new insight into...    • the price a writer pays for flashbacks    • six ways characters should "reveal" themselves    • techniques for writing—and rewriting Let this working resource be your guide to successful stories—from beginning to end.

About this title

About the Author

Although she began by writing fantasy, Nancy Kress currently writes science fiction, most usually about genetic engineering. She teaches regularly at summer conferences such as Clarion, and during the year at the Bethesda Writing Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In addition, she is the "Fiction" columnist for Writer's Digest magazine. She has won two Nebulas and a Hugo, and lost over a dozen more of these awards. Her work has been translated into Swedish, French, Italian, German, Spanish, began by writing fantasy, among others.

Synopsis

Covering the main elements of fiction writing, Beginnings, Middles & Ends demonstrates effective solutions for potential problems, from how to hook the editor in the 1st few paragraphs to building drama and credibililty in prose.'

Edition details

• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0898799058
• ISBN 13: 9780898799057
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160