Book description
The pieces of a satisfying novel or story seem to fit together so
effortlessly, so seamlessly, that it's easy to find yourself
wondering, "How on earth did the author do this?" The answer
is simple: He sat alone at his desk, considered an array of options,
and made smart, careful choices.
In On Writing Fiction, award-winning author and respected
creative writing professor David Jauss offers practical information
and advice that will help you make smart creative and technical
decisions about such topics as:
- Writing prose with syntax and
rhythm to create a "soundtrack" for the narrative
- Choosing the right point of view to create the appropriate
degree of "distance" between your characters and the
reader
- Harnessing the power of contradiction in the
creative process
In one thought-provoking essay after
another, Jauss sorts through unique fiction-writing conundrums,
including how to create those exquisite intersections between truth
and fabrication that make all great works of fiction so much more
resonant than fiction that follows the "write what you know"
approach that's so often used.
