Write Away: One Novelist's Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life

Here's what I tell my
students on the first day when I teach one of my creative writing courses: You
will be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, and
discipline.

In Write Away, New
York Times bestselling
author Elizabeth George offers would-be writers exactly what they need to know
about how to construct a novel. She provides a detailed overview of the craft
and gives helpful instruction on all elements of writing, from setting and plot
to technique and process. To illustrate her points, George presents excerpts
from a number of well-known writers, including Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Lee,
E. M. Forster, John Irving, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, and
Alice Hoffman.

In addition to being a
clear and concise guide to fiction writing, Write Away also opens a
window into the life of Elizabeth George. It reveals the inspiring personal
story of how the distinguished author came to be published and how she
meticulously researches and crafts her novels.

I have a love-hate
relationship with the writing life. I wouldn't wish to have any other kind of
life . . . and on the other hand, I wish it were easier. And it never is. The
reward comes sentence by sentence. The reward comes in the unexpected
inspiration. The reward comes from creating a character who lives and breathes
and is perfectly real. But such effort it takes to attain the reward! I would
never have believed it would take such effort.

George's solid
understanding of the craft is conveyed in the enticing manner of a true
storyteller, making Write Away not only a
marvelous, interesting, and informative book but also a glimpse inside the world
of a beloved writer.

Elizabeth George is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels of psychological suspense, one book of nonfiction, and two short story collections. Her work has been honored with the Anthony and Agatha awards, the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, and the MIMI, Germany's prestigious prize for suspense fiction. She lives in Washington State.