Creative Writer's Handbook (3rd Edition) - Softcover

Jason, Philip K.; Lefcowitz, Allan B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0137879121 ISBN 13: 9780137879120

Publisher: Pearson College Div, 1998

Synopsis

This comprehensive introduction to creative writing combines theory, practical advice, and examples in each chapter and not only explores elements of effective writing applicable to all genres, but also considers the creative writing enterprise and the necessary Òwriterly attitude.Ó Emphasizing basic conventions and terms, this valuable book begins by taking an extensive look at issues of importance to every creative writer, including attitudes, habits, journal-keeping, point of view, language, invention and research, and more. Each major genre is covered in several chapters that include numerous examples of effective writing of each type. The book also illustrates faulty practices with accompanying explanations and suggestions, e.g., diction problems, poetry problems, narration problems, and dialogue problems. It also features questions and exercises which may spark results worth developing into poems, stories, or plays. Finally, it considers how word processing may affect the writing process and provides necessary tools, including manuscript form, resource texts, markets, and terms. The third edition of Creative Writer's Handbook has been revised to include a new chapter on non-fiction narration; an expanded section on writing for screen and television; a revised chapter on the pleasures of creative writing; new sections on free verse in the poetry section; and an updated section on Tools and Resources. An essential resource for anyone who writes, whether professionally or solely for the pleasure of it.

About this title

From the Publisher

Combining theory, practical advice, and examples in each chapter, this introduction to creative writing not only explores the elements of effective writing that are applicable to ALL genres, but considers the creative writing enterprise and the necessary "writerly attitude."

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

In this edition we have given more attention to the interrelationships among genres. Though techniques of character development or dialogue may appear irrelevant to writing poetry or nonfiction, they are not. Nor are the techniques of sound patterns beside the point when one comes to write a play or a story. As we tell students in our workshops, what makes writing both fascinating and difficult is the fact that everything counts.

Almost everywhere, we have added and replaced examples, expanded sections, deleted some material and added other material. We have tried to make the book more readable, and we have added tools like the "scam sheet" and "Proofreading Check List" in Chapter 16. Chapter 2 has new material on the journal as a literary form. Chapter 4 includes an enhanced discussion of style. Chapter 5 attends more fully to electronic research. We have added new stories to Chapter 12 as well as a creative nonfiction essay that is not a memoir. In Chapter 15, two ten-minute plays have replaced Trifles because we felt shorter plays would be more helpful models for beginning writers. We have deleted and added exercises. In short, we have tried to do what a revision ought to do.

If you are coming to The Creative Writer's Handbook for the first time, you may be overwhelmed by both the amount of detail and the number of questions we ask you to consider as well as the sizeable number of exercises. Don't be. Our idea was to provide you with a smorgasbord from which to choose what tempts your palate.

We wish to thank the following reviewers for their valuable contribution: Joan Connor, Ohis University, and Juliet W. Kincaid, Johnson County Community College.

We want to stress again that this book is about useful techniques for the beginner. No book teaches; practice does.

Finally, we want to thank those students, colleagues, and friends who have helped us to improve the work.

ABL

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson College Div
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0137879121
• ISBN 13: 9780137879120
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 411