Is this writing guide worth the bucks?

[jomar]

I saw this book in B&N and got sticker shock:

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French.

It's still $45 used on Amazon. So, anybody have any personal experience with this one. Thoughts? Good, bad, worth it, other recs (besides King's On Writing)?

Thanks.

 

[Weird Harold]

I saw this book in B&N and got sticker shock:

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French.

...Thoughts? Good, bad, worth it, ...

The local library system apparently got sticker shock, too -- they don't have a copy.

They do have 47 other self-help books on writing fiction (not including Stephen King's On Writing.) One of the 47 has an introductin by Janet Burroway.

Other than the introduction, there are only six hits for either author, (counting three hits for

The giant jam sandwich. Story and pictures by John Vernon Lord, with verses by Janet Burroway.

Off-hand, I'd say that neither author has much of a track record as a writer to inspire me to emulate them -- or lay out even paperback prices for their combined wisdom.

 

[jomar]

Thanks WH. Amazon reviews were very favorable and the price certainly suggests college text. Interesting the authors have an expensive "how to" book, but not a lot of their own to show.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers has made all the difference for me in polishing things up to a standard publishers would be interested in. I liked the Gotham Writer's Workshop: Writing Fiction book as well.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The local library system apparently got sticker shock, too -- they don't have a copy.

They do have 47 other self-help books on writing fiction (not including Stephen King's On Writing.) One of the 47 has an introductin by Janet Burroway.

Other than the introduction, there are only six hits for either author, (counting three hits for

The giant jam sandwich. Story and pictures by John Vernon Lord, with verses by Janet Burroway.

Well, that's the first time I've seen any mention of that book in years! I read it to my kids so often, I still know the verses by heart.
I got it as a library cull. None of this has anything to do with the subject of course...

 

[jomar]

Thanks cerise.

Feel free to be off topic Stella, but only if it brings back good memories.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

Stephen King's writing book isnt on my Top 20 list of writing books.

Of all my writing books, and I have many, the one I wont part with is WRITING FOR STORY by Jon Franklin. He won two Pulitzer prizes. One of the stories he won a prize for just knocks you on your ass.

Many so-called writing guru's are fucking clueless when it comes to teaching exactly what they do. Worse, they cannot define what basic terms mean. Like plot or story.

Physicist Richard Feyman said that if you cant explain what you mean, you dont know what the fuck youre talking about.

A WRITER'S COACH by Jack Hart is a good book. He's a managing editor of a newspaper.

THE TECHNIQUE OF CLEAR WRITING by Robert Gunning is excellent.

 

[jomar]

JOMAR

Stephen King's writing book isnt on my Top 20 list of writing books.

Of all my writing books, and I have many, the one I wont part with is WRITING FOR STORY by Jon Franklin. He won two Pulitzer prizes. One of the stories he won a prize for just knocks you on your ass.

Many so-called writing guru's are fucking clueless when it comes to teaching exactly what they do. Worse, they cannot define what basic terms mean. Like plot or story.

Physicist Richard Feyman said that if you cant explain what you mean, you dont know what the fuck youre talking about.

A WRITER'S COACH by Jack Hart is a good book. He's a managing editor of a newspaper.

THE TECHNIQUE OF CLEAR WRITING by Robert Gunning is excellent.

Yeah, makes you wonder if some successful writers are naturals who have a knowledge and feel, but can't put it ito words. Could be they haven't taken the time to really think about it and just crank out a quick how-to. Must be a shocker to see an author BS about what a plot is, huh.

Thanks for the references, James, I'll check into them.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

I'm a dummy. I really am. So I keep a notebook that I fill with tidbits of useful information. And if you collect enough tidbits about anything, a real meaning kinda coagulates from the mix of stuff in your notes.

I collect writing hints from successful authors and add them to my notebook.

I salvage excellent examples of description or dialogue. My office is a virtual chop-shop for stories. I take stories apart, saving the valuable parts and shit-canning the rest. Even the rawest newbie has something I can use.

 

[jomar]

That's a really good idea, James. I haven't got to that point, but it sounds very useful. Keeps you aware all the time - which is a good thing.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

A notebook full of relevant expressions, etc. comes in handy when you need to say something about...say...boners. Like "Oh! My God! Your dick looks just like a snake! God! That musta hurt! Can I hold it?"