Itching to write? Here's THE guidebook
- Jun 22, 2017
- 1 min read
I just pulled out my version of Janet Burroway's, Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft. Decades into my career, eight years after publishing a bestseller in Columbine, I still turn to this amazing book.
If you're just starting out with writing, or definitely if you've been toying with it but feel a bit rudderless, this is THE book. For anyone interested in writing — fiction or non — this is an amazing tool, which I highly recommend.
Each chapter takes you step by step through one core element: plot, character, setting, POV, etc. And while the examples are fiction, the exact same techniques apply to narrative nonfiction.
It's a classic, in its 9th edition, with heavy revisions each time. But I think the revisions are mainly just new writing examples, and there are a slew of them, short and long, which illustrate each point.
It's pricey, with new copies of the 9th edition selling for over $100! Just get a used version of a previous edition. I got the 8th, for about $20. Worth every penny.
Her website says this, and I'm pretty sure it's all true:
The classic text in fiction writing, Writing Fiction has been in print for thirty-two years and is the most widely used creative writing text in America.
I also include this on my Advice for Writers page.
I love that you still go back to Burroway after all these years—that's the mark of a truly great craft book. The chapter-by-chapter breakdown of plot, character, and POV is exactly what I needed when I was starting out, and honestly, I still flip through my dog-eared copy when I feel stuck. Speaking of feeling stuck, I've also been using a scroll test online at inputbench.com to check my mouse wheel when my hands start cramping from too much typing—kind of a weird tangent, but it's one of those little tools that keeps my setup from distracting me from the actual writing. Anyway, totally agree that a used older edition is the way to go; no need to drop a…
This guidebook by Janet Burroway is invaluable for both budding and seasoned writers. It breaks down essential elements of writing in a clear way—definitely a must-read! Check out Paint Hide and Seek for more insights.
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