The Art of Writing Fiction - Softcover

Cowan, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1408248344 ISBN 13: 9781408248348

Publisher: Routledge, 2011

Synopsis

The Art of Writing Fiction guides the reader through the processes of creative writing from journal-keeping to editing, offering techniques for stimulating creativity and making language vivid. Readers will master key aspects of fiction such as structure, character, voice and setting.

Andrew Cowan provides an insightful introduction that brings his own well-crafted prose style to bear on the processes and pleasures of writing fiction, offering practical and personal advice culled from his own experience and that of other published writers. He lays open to the reader his own notes, his writing, and the experiences from his own life that he has drawn on in his fiction allowing the reader to develop their own writing project alongside the author as they go through the book.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Cowan is the Director of the Creative Writing programme at the University of East Anglia. He is the author of five novels, including Pig (1994), which won the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and most recently Worthless Men (2014).

Review

'Drawing on his own experience as a writer, Andrew Cowan lays bare the notes and experiences that he has used in his career, aiming to give an introduction to the creative writing process.' Times Higher Education 'Very sane, intelligent, and in tune with my own experience of teaching.' Tessa Hadley, Bath Spa University 'It looks absolutely great and will be a tremendous asset in our program.' Professor Brian Castro, University of Adelaide 'At last a well-written, intelligent book about Creative Writing that I can comfortably recommend to my students.' Matt Thorne, Brunel University 'Not only is it really useful and informative, it is also enjoyable to read... essential reading for all my students!' Michael Langan, University of Greenwich 'Structurally the book is perfect, but what makes it magical is the revelatory tone... intimate and honest and instructive in a meditative manner. Solid advice sure, but sold so poetically.' Susan Bradley Smith, La Trobe University 'The best coursebook on Creative Writing that I have ever read. Everything is here... writer/teachers will be stealing from this book for years to come.' Richard Beard, National Academy of Writing 'I think it's a really fantastic resource. The chapter on 'Viewpoints' is perfect.' Karen Stevens, University of Chichester 'Clearly written, interesting and well-targeted suggestions for practical exercises.' Wayne Price, Aberdeen University 'I've recommended it to my MA and PhD students. It's a work that in a very unself-conscious way takes us with the writer through the stages of the creative writing experience. I found the quotes honest and apposite and unlaboured. It is authentic.' Dic Edwards, University of Wales Lampeter 'The book covers many of the narrative and creative issues that come up when teaching creative writing. The examples are excellent. The chapters rise in complexity beginning with an engaging piece on writers' places and practice and gradually taking novice writers through more complex narrative issues.' Stephanie Norgate, University of Chichester

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1408248344
• ISBN 13: 9781408248348
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240