The Language of Fiction: A Writer's Stylebook - Softcover

Shawver, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1611683300 ISBN 13: 9781611683301

Publisher: University Press of New England, 2013

Synopsis

Rare Book

About this title

Review

In the 18 chapters of his new style manual for writers, Shawver advocates for functional grammar: technical knowledge not simply for the sake of correctness but for greater artistic consciousness.-- "Kansas City Star"

"Many writers erroneously believe that the mechanics of language are subordinate to fiction's ideas, but Shawver argues precisely the opposite in this direct and clearly written guide to the craft of writing. . . . With a wealth of examples from fiction across genres and time periods, Shawver's guide will be indispensable for those who are beginning to write or want to improve their prose. . . . Highly recommended."-- "Choice"

"Shawver is an inviting, openhearted writer. His book is in no way a fustian treatise. Instead, it gently and logically sets forth the possibilities available to someone constructing prose and weighs in on how a wordsmith might sort through the options to arrive at a formulation that supports a desired meaning and tone. He doesn't come out and say it, but his goal is to lead writers on a path to a distinctive style informed by good taste. He proves such an engaging companion on the page that any serious reader should delight in what he has to say--and any aspiring writer would be foolish not to listen."-- "Santa Fe New Mexican"

"Shawver is consistently clear, thorough, and humorous, the humor rooted in humble self-effacement and in poking fun at his subject's driest patches. He comes across as friendly and passionate. As one of my students noted, he does the best anyone can possibly do with material that beginning writers might find dull. As another student said, 'He sounds like a professor you'd want to take a class with."-- "Green Mountains Review"

About the Author

BRIAN SHAWVER is an alumnus of the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop. He is the author of the novels The Cuban Prospect and Aftermath. He currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where he teaches at Park University.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of New England
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1611683300
• ISBN 13: 9781611683301
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264