Writing Fiction Craft

A creative writer's shelf should hold at least three essential books: a dictionary, a style guide, and Writing Fiction. Janet Burroway's best-selling classic is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and for more than three decades, it has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn the craft.

While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader's experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters' struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you. That's where The Emotional Craft of Fiction comes in. Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers.

In this book, I'll reveal the powerful techniques employed by best-selling authors, and I'll show you how to apply them to rivet your readers. I'll start with the basics of Point of View - if you're already familiar with the concept, you can treat them as a refresher - and then guide you to advanced strategies for taking your reader deep.

A Practical Guide to Making Your Settings Work for Your Story Some writers treat setting as an afterthought—a simple backdrop for the plot to unfold. But the best stories don’t just happen somewhere; they emerge from places that feel alive, rich with history, symbolism, and emotion. The Anatomy of Settings is a step-by-step guide for writers looking to craft immersive worlds that shape character arcs, deepen conflict, and reinforce theme. Whether you’re writing fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, or contemporary stories, this book will help you transform your settings from ...

The traditional writing workshop was established with white male writers in mind; what we call craft is informed by their cultural values. In this bold and original examination of elements of writing - including plot, character, conflict, structure, and believability - and aspects of workshop - including the silenced writer and the imagined reader - Matthew Salesses asks questions to invigorate these familiar concepts. He upends Western notions of how a story must progress.

Crafting Immersive Fiction: A Comprehensive Guide is the ultimate resource for writers eager to create stories that captivate from start to finish. Whether you're a new writer or a seasoned author, this guide offers the tools you need to craft unforgettable fiction. What’s Inside: Core Elements of Storytelling: Develop complex characters, authentic voices, and engaging arcs. Understand plot structure, from exposition to resolution, and how to balance themes and subtext to deepen your narrative. Building Conflict and Stakes: Master the art of tension, conflict, and pacing to keep readers ...

Dive into the world of fiction with a pen in hand and a wealth of imaginative narratives in mind! This engaging book is your playground for learning how to craft captivating, concise tales that pack a punch. Explore the elements of storytelling, including character development, plot structure, and dialogue, and learn to apply them to short forms from flash fiction to novelettes. Whether you've got a head buzzing with potential whodunnits, ghost stories, or heartfelt dramas, we'll guide your journey from the first spark of an idea to a fully-realized short story. You'll learn to weave ...

With passion and wit, Mary Oliver skillfully imparts expertise from her long, celebrated career as a disguised poet. She walks listeners through exactly how a poem is built, from meter and rhyme, to form and diction, to sound and sense, drawing on poems by Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and others. This handbook is an invaluable glimpse into Oliver’s prolific mind—a must-have for all poetry-lovers.

Gotham Writers' Workshop has mastered the art of teaching the craft of writing in a way that is practical, accessible, and entertaining. Now the techniques of this renowned school are available in this audiobook. Once you've listened—and written—your way through this book, you'll have a command of craft that will enable you to turn your ideas into effective short stories and novels. You will be a writer.

Many people say that they have at least one novel inside them - it's on a lot of bucket lists - but most will never come up with the goods. For one thing, you need an awesome stubbornness, an absolute unwillingness to give in, if you're going to succeed. Perhaps that can't be taught, but fortunately there are a few things that can be. In this short guide to the essentials of writing novels, author Joe Morello draws on more than thirty years of experience in the writing of both fiction and non-fiction to offer you some very practical advice on how to go about being one of those people who ...

You’ve written a short story or a novel. You keep receiving rejection slips from editors and publishing houses … and now you’re not sure it’s good enough to self-publish. You know your story needs a rewrite yet don’t know how to improve it … besides, work or school is hectic, the house needs to be cleaned, and the kids demand your attention, so who has time? … But we bet you can find just 7 minutes a day to achieve your dream of getting that story published. If you can, this is the book for you. This practical, how-to guide takes you step-by-step through improving your story ...

Unlock the Secrets to Captivating Storytelling You sit at your desk, staring at a blank page, struggling to bring your ideas to life. What if you could uncover the keys to turning those ideas into compelling narratives? This guide is your roadmap, showing you how to harness the power of storytelling, no matter your experience level. Imagine crafting characters and scenes so immersive that readers feel every laugh, tear, and thrill. With practical strategies, you’ll break through creative blocks, develop your unique voice, and make each writing milestone an achievement worth celebrating. ...

Does the idea of creative writing excite you, but you don’t know where to begin?Whether you dream of writing a story, a collection of poetry, or a legacy piece to pass down to future generations, this guide is essential for your loved one. Unlock their creative potential with this inspiring and accessible guide from the initial spark of an idea to the final polished manuscript. The Page Turners Presents: A Guide to Writing is tailored specifically for men and women in prison who have limited resources. In this guide, they will discover fundamental principles for understanding the parts of...

Whether you’re dreaming of galactic empires, magical kingdoms, or dystopian futures, this comprehensive guide will help you bring your imagined worlds to life—and keep readers turning pages. Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy is your essential companion for crafting compelling characters, building immersive settings, and mastering the tools of powerful storytelling. You’ll learn: Worldbuilding Creating magic systems and technologies that feel real Pacing, suspense, and scene structure Character arcs, voice, viewpoint, and more How to write each genre, from time travel to high fantasy...

Fellow writers, have you heard about this thing called AI? And that new kid on the block, ChatGPT? Are you curious about its effect on our beloved art of writing or concerned about what all this means? Write With AI: Guide for Fiction and Nonfiction Authors is a step-by-step guide that will show you how to use Artificial Intelligence for both your fiction and nonfiction writing. It will also give you the background to understand the claims, concerns, and limitations of AI technology as well as keep up with the pace of AI-driven change. After reading this book, you will: Get Acquainted with ...

Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of romance fiction? Dive into "From Pen to Passion," where the art of crafting captivating love stories awaits. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover the keys to unlocking the secrets of the romance genre. Whether you're a budding writer or a seasoned author, this book is your passport to creating heartwarming and emotionally resonant tales of love, desire, and connection. What You'll Find Inside: Crafting Unforgettable Characters: Learn how to breathe life into your heroes and heroines, making them relatable, multi-dimensional, and...

This writer's guide is packed full of insightful lessons on writing well. Gleaned from years of teaching writing workshops and crafting his own stories, Christopher Hawke teaches these lessons in a clear and concise way. While The Elements of Style and the Chicago Manual of Style are important for any author, this series is geared more toward the heart of writing—what makes a story really work and why.

Revolutionizing Romance: Where AI Meets the Heart's Narrative. In a digital era where AI intersects with the timeless allure of love stories, Romance in the Digital Age: 100 Templates To Craft AI-Powered Serialized Stories emerges as your guiding star. Dive deep into over 100 meticulously crafted synopsis templates designed to empower romance authors, harnessing the blend of human creativity with the precision of artificial intelligence. Whether you're penning a tale of star-crossed lovers or exploring the depths of passionate redemption, this book provides the scaffolding to build your ...

Struggling with writer’s block? Wish you could generate story ideas and drafts more efficiently? This first-of-its-kind guide reveals how writers at any level can collaborate with AI to supercharge their fiction craft. Inside you’ll discover step-by-step techniques for: - Brainstorming compelling premises and characters with AI in minutes - Using AI templates to easily outline plot sequences, relationships and arcs - Drafting scenes, chapters, and full manuscripts with AI writing assistance - Revising work faster by having AI assess pacing, consistency, clarity - Optimizing book ...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys is known for creating vivid characters and harrowing plots. After five award-winning works of historical fiction and countless hours of meticulous research, she can affirm that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your life experience. You: The Story is a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page.