- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Wombat's Book Nook, Yarraville, VIC, AustraliaWombat's Book Nook
AbeBooks seller since December 15, 2025
Condition: Used - Good
£ 3.51
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
An essential guide to the craft of writing, authored by John Fairfax and John Moat, the visionary founders of the renowned Arvon Foundation. Published by Elm Tree Books in London in 1981, this volume distils thirty years of their profound involvement with Arvon, born from a desire to establish a dedicated space for aspiring authors to hone their skills. This is an original paperback edition.Fairfax and Moat present forthright views on the precise deployment of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs – a refreshing, almost 'new' vocabulary for those educated in the English and Welsh secondary systems of the 70s and 80s. They cogently argue that these are the fundamental building blocks of sentences, and without a masterful manipulation of them, even the most carefully constructed literary edifice will falter. Their concise recipe for success? More concrete nouns, fewer adjectives.The book's enduring strength lies in the authors' practical approach, working through compelling "before" and "after" examples drawn from their students' and other poets' writing. This method vividly demonstrates exactly what they mean by exhortations to choose precise nouns or to edit out extraneous adjectives, allowing the reader to discern the impact firsthand. While Fairfax and Moat's extended metaphor of the writer as a sorcerer, weaving spells with words, can occasionally wear thin over ten chapters, the sage and sensible advice they offer is so invaluable that one can readily forgive their occasional mystical flights of fancy.This copy is offered in good paperback condition, presenting a valuable resource for any aspiring or practicing writer. Now, go weave your own spell.…
Seller Inventory # SCAN-14-649D0EED
- Title
- The Way to Write
- Author
- Fairfax, John; Moat, John
- Publisher
- Elm Tree Books, London
- Publication year
- 1981
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0241105579
- ISBN 13
- 9780241105573
- Item weight
- 163 grams
- Seller catalogs
- Writing
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
Fairfax and Moat hold forthright views on the exact use of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs--new vocabulary to anyone who passed through the English and Welsh secondary education systems in the 70s and 80s. They quite rightly claim that as these are the building blocks of sentences, held together by the mortar of punctuation, your carefully constructed literary edifice will come crashing down unless you have learned how to manipulate them to best effect. Their recipe for success? More concrete nouns, fewer adjectives.
The book's strength lies in the way Fairfax and Moat work through "before" and "after" examples culled from their students' and other poets' writing. They highlight exactly what they mean when they exhort you to choose precise nouns or edit out extraneous adjectives--you can read the difference for yourself.
Fairfax and Moat are very keen on the idea of writer as sorcerer, somebody who weaves spells with words, and this extended metaphor can wear thin over the course of 10 chapters. However, what advice they do give is so sensible that you can forgive them their occasional mystical flights of fancy. Now, go weave your own spell... --Amanda Cameron
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Wombat's Book Nook
Yarraville, VIC, Australia
AbeBooks seller since December 15, 2025
Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.
| Item | 25 to 45 business days | 8 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 27.14 | £ 42.22 |
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Store description
Avid eclectic bibliophile for most of my life, getting older now and it's time to let my collection move on to their next guardian(s) so they can continue to be enjoyed. Enjoy browsing through my collection and hopefully you'll find something that piques your interest.
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Non-Fiction, Collectables, Reference, Rare, AntiqueSeller's business information
Wombat's Book Nook
VIC, Australia
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