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The Handbook of Creative Writing
An extensive, practical and inspirational resource, this three-in-one volume is designed as a textbook for students and practitioners of creative writing at all levels. In 48 distinctive chapters the Handbook: *examines the critical theories behind the practice of creative writing (Part 1) *explains the basics of how to write a novel, script or poetry (Part 2) *explores how to deal with the practicalities and problems of becoming a writer (Part 3). As well as the main creative writing activities, chapters cover other practices from translation to starting a small magazine and from memoir writing to writing for children. Contributors are all experts in their fields: poets, novelists, dramatists, publishers, editors, tutors, critics and academics. Anyone with an interest in creative writing will find this book invaluable in developing their own creative writing projects and as a way into new areas of writing activity. Key Features *The only book to combine the theory and practice of writing with detailed advice on the business of writing and living as a writer *Combines breadth and depth with original thinking on creativity and evaluation of creative work *Shows ways of approaching the task of writing and how to improve one's work *Presents material which is hard to find elsewhere, e.g. writing for teenagers; writing humorous fiction; finding a film agent.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
485 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2007
6 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2019
April 25, 2019 – page 11
2.27% "Nice, upbeat intro from the editor in which he talks about why the articles he's chosen to include in this volume are appropriate for the subject."
April 26, 2019 – page 24
4.95% "Ch01 - Creativity and Pedagogy: not just inspiration, but the mind of the artist at such a stage that relevant memories are triggered. Reading teaches us how effects in form are constructed. Cognitive science can teach us how creative writing works so that when comparisons and connections arise we can track them. Process and product are equally important. Great literature models technique. There's magic and mystery."
April 26, 2019 – page 37
7.63% "Ch02 Evaluation of Creative Writing MAs. Didn't make many notes, but that's not to say this wasn't a good chapter. Interesting stuff, but because I'm already on an MA I was mostly assessing my course against the criteria laid out here. I'm happy to say that I'm happier with my course as a result - apart from about the lack of Tutor/Student interaction."
April 26, 2019 – page 42
8.66% "Ch03 - Creative Writing MFA. A US phenomenon that seems so much like a Creative Writing MA that I don't know why it has a chapter devoted to it. The contents seems the same but the assessment seems to be less rigorous. Skimmed and mostly forgotten."
April 26, 2019 – page 54
11.13% "Ch04 - Creative Writing and Critical Theory. Well written chapter by a creative writing teacher who uses critical theory in her lessons. She talks is through one of them and it just shows the contrast between the OU's teaching methods and her methods. She's awesome. She suggests that CW and CT should be taught together rather than be in opposition. I say that without CR there would be nothing to use CT on; end of."
April 27, 2019 – page 65
13.4% "Ch06 - Genre. A good chapter - interesting and informative. But it's just about the history of genre and what it means today. Not as useful as it might be to a creative writer. One interesting point for me: Ishiguro write Never Let Me Go as a metaphor of human destiny rather than a commentary on biotech just as I will write Remember the Future as a commentary on karma, chance and fate rather than a bk about nanoech."
April 28, 2019 – page 78
16.08% "Ch06 - The Writer as Artist. About the literary theory that says that the important part of a work of art (a piece of writing), when it comes to analysing it in any way, is the art itself rather than the artist (writer). Phrases such as 'the writer is dead' are discussed. Much debate, but at the end of all of this they are still missing the elephant in the room: without the artist/writer there is no art/writing."
April 28, 2019 – page 95
19.59% "Ch07 - The Future of Creative Writing. Awful, awful, awful. Could barely make my way through this chapter of empty words. If this is the future of creative writing then I want no part of it."
April 28, 2019 – page 108
22.27% "Ch08 - Reading, Writing and Teaching the Short Story. Excellent chapter with some good points on the craft of short stories. Page 102 has some good points for me."
April 28, 2019 – page 116
23.92% "Chp09 - Writing the Memoir. Quick and easy chapter about what I call Creative Non-fiction. Some good stuff but nothing that I didn't know already. Take care what tense you use - make full use of present (to anchor him in the narrator's time), past simple (for looking back), past continuous (for things that were happening all the time) and past imperfect (for looking father back). Write about real people sensitively."
April 29, 2019 – page 126
25.98% "Ch10 - Intro to the Novel. Lovely chapter - made plenty of notes. Helped to me to decide pov (1st person / storyteller), plot (transformation / disaster / quest) for my next novel and gave me a great exercise (analyse the structure of published novels) to find templates for my own structure."
April 29, 2019 – page 132
27.22% "Ch11 - Crime Fiction. A corking chapter. Not that I'm going to write crime fiction, but a lot of these points are transferable. In particular the ones about suspense. I could put suspense in my next novel by giving warning before the asteroid strike the spaceship. Then the characters have choices. And the uncertainty will keep readers reading."
April 30, 2019 – page 146
30.1% "Ch12 - Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. Excellent chapter, especially as the next novel I write is to be Sci-fi. Some useful points for general writing too."
April 30, 2019 – page 154
31.75% "Ch13 - How language Lives Us : reading and writing historical fiction. A really boring chapter that failed to capture my imagination or interest. I guess I won't be writing historical fiction any time soon."
April 30, 2019 – page 162
33.4% "Ch14 - Writing Humorous Fiction. I was thinking that this nothing that couldn't have been found from a quick browse around the internet and then when I reached then end I found out why: 'the author gratefully acknowledges the research assistance of Elizabeth Hastings ...'
Still, it gives some of the basics. But nothing very surprising and nothing even remotely funny."
April 30, 2019 – page 169
34.85% "Ch15 - Writing for Children. Good chapter with some interesting information. I don't want to write for children."
April 30, 2019 – page 176
36.29% "Ch16 - Writing for Teenagers. Teenage Fiction is not a genre. Teenagers have as wide a range of interests as adults and so should not be lumped together into one pot. They should be served up a wide variety of books that can speak to them (but without preaching) so that they can maintain an interest in reading and not think it is a childish pursuit."
April 30, 2019 – page 183
37.73% "Ch17 - Creative Non-fiction Workshop. Brilliant little skit. The lecturer tells the story of how to write creative non-fiction. Ingredients are story & information, style & substance and frame and focus."
April 30, 2019 – page 199
41.03% "Ch18 - Intro to Poetry. Some words about poetry that tell me nothing about poetry or how to write it. Intellectual approach with some intimations of feeling disguised as comedy."
May 1, 2019 – page 211
43.51% "Ch19 - What is Form? One person's educated opinion on form and why it is important and why free verse is unsatisfactory (but not unsatisfying)."
May 1, 2019 – page 229
47.22% "Ch20 - New Poetries. If I were interested in writing poetry of any kind then this would be an amazing chapter full of hints, tips and (wonderful, wonderful) exercises. As it is, I can use some of the many experimental tips to write the parts of my novel where my character's mind is breaking down under pressure of catastrophe. Don't worry, the nanobots in her brain are trying to save her at the same time."
May 1, 2019 – page 236
48.66% "Ch21 - The Poet in the Theatre: Verse Drama. I think I would have given the job of writing this to someone who seems more in love with the form than this author. At best he's on the edge. At worst he's sunk in misery at the prospect of verse drama appearing on stage. He seems to like certain verse dramatists, but most, if not all, of them are gone to that drama stage in the sky."
May 1, 2019 – page 251
51.75% "Ch22 - Long Poems. Barely interested in shirt poems so this is a little much. A long list of books written in poem form, most of which I've never heard of."
May 1, 2019 – page 251
51.75% "Ch22 - Long Poems. Barely interested in shirt poems so this is a little much. A long list of books written in poem form, most of which I've never heard of."
May 1, 2019 – page 263
54.23% "Ch23 - Introduction to Scriptwriting. This is not only an excellent intro to scriptwriting but a solid intro to storytelling. Novel writers can take a lot from the advice on scenes and sequences (think about what your structure is before writing), beginnings (inciting event, set-up character traits, get on with it), middles (proactive protagonists with obstacles), ends (big obstacle) and dialogue (make it dramatic)."
May 1, 2019 – page 273
56.29% "Ch24 - Writing for the Stage. I can take these points and the exercises and make them about writing novels; so this is a useful chapter for me. Write about your private obsessions, ideas, ideals, recurring dreams, fondest hopes, greatest fears. Write from your heart and gut."
May 1, 2019 – page 282
58.14% "Ch25 - Writing for Radio. Mostly about the challenges facing those writing plays that no-one will see (because it's the radio - duh!) like how to walk on the spot to indicate that you are walking. Other sound effects are available."
May 1, 2019 – page 291
60.0% "Ch26 - Writing for TV. Swift run through the various formats, structures and types of shows on TV and what you need to do to break into this area. Entertaining, but not of much use to a novel writer (apart from some notes on structure)."
May 2, 2019 – page 293
60.41% "Ch27 - Writing for TV: UK Differences. Does what it says on the tin."
May 2, 2019 – page 305
62.89% "Ch28 - Writing for Film. Best chapter so far. Goes thorough, step by step, how to write a film script. So much of this chapter is also applicable to novel writing (apart from the part that says just write action (no thoughts). Three act structure is explained. The Hero's Journey is explained. How they fit together is explained. And you can write all these out on diagrams. Wonderful."
May 2, 2019 – page 312
64.33% "Ch29 - Writing as Experimental Practice. This chapter contains, ironically, the best description of the process of writing contemporary fiction that I've ever read. As well, here are some great examples of types of experimental writing: mixed media/genre, other languages, inverted expectations, automatic writing, performed stories, procedural writing (using found words) and collaborations. Interesting chapter."
May 2, 2019 – page 320
65.98% "Ch30 - Writing as 'Therapy'. So, yeah, writing can be used as therapy. Not just for the writer but for readers and the wider community. Seems like lots is being done in this area, but I'm not sure it's as widespread as the author makes out. Worth trying, though."
May 2, 2019 – page 327
67.42% "Ch31 - Writing in the Community. Interesting and something I'd like to do myself. In fact, I have done it myself - from both sides of the fence: as a participant in various writing groups in York and as a facilitator of many workshops on creative writing in various places in the UK and abroad. It's fun and satisfying in all respects."
May 2, 2019 – page 332
68.45% "Ch32 - Writing for the Web. Yeah, done that.
"It is probably fair to say that creative writers build a readership most effectively through a combination of participation in an online writing community and mixing their creative work with comment and neo-journalism on a blog-type site of their own." True that."
May 2, 2019 – page 338
69.69% "Ch35 - The Role of the Critical Essay. I feel that this chapter missed the point. It made oblique reference to the fact that a writer that can critique a piece of work can become a better writer but failed to make the link between critiquing the work of others and becoming a writer that can thenceforth critique and therefore edit ones own work more successfully."
May 2, 2019 – page 345
71.13% "Ch34 - Translation. Well-written chapter that's of little or no interest to me. Shame, because the guy really knows her eggs."
May 2, 2019 – page 353
72.78% "Ch35 - Creative Writing Doctorates. A waffle chapter that doesn't really say much about anything. I think it's trying to make a case for studying a PhD in Creative Writing, but it doesn't. It concludes that the aim of a CW Doctorate is to assist the writer to display a considerable understanding of their subject. Not to teach it, but to enable one to display knowledge. Sounds like a useless endeavour to me."
May 2, 2019 – page 363
74.85% "Ch36 - How to Start a Literary Magazine. Nice little chapter that asks the questions that need to be answered before you embark on such a project. Concise and informative. Read it for interest or to use in anger (metaphorically speaking)."
May 3, 2019 – page 368
75.88% "Ch37 - How to be a Writer. Entertaining and true first hand account of how to be a writer. "Write something. Do it again. Read and continue to read. Respect your own time. Whatever you are writing, start each scene late. Be feminine. Don’t despair." There's some other stuff too, but this is the essence."
May 3, 2019 – page 376
77.53% "Ch38 - How to Present Yourself as a Writer. Excellent and useful chapter on how to market yourself as a writer and, in this way, establish a relationship with publishers. Covers (but not in depth) subjects like what is promotable about you, covering letters, getting involved in your local community, get interviewed, and be flexible. Above all, talk yourself up to people who might be useful. And that means everyone."
May 3, 2019 – page 384
79.18% "Ch39 - Publishing Fiction. An insider in the publishing business talks about where editors find readers, how an editor decides who told read first (and what to publish), how editors acquire books, what an editor (and copy-editor) does and gives some dog and don't say to writers (solicit, don't argue, edit thoroughly, research agents/publishers, think about criticism, read a lot). Good chapter."
May 3, 2019 – page 391
80.62% "Ch40 - American PoBiz (Poetry Business). Advice to poets wanting to publish their poems from a small publisher of poems in the US. Irrelevant to me (and to most of the world judging by poetry sales volumes). Plus - poets are such snobs!"
May 3, 2019 – page 398
82.06% "Ch41 - Publishing Poetry in Britain. I always wonder, when I read in these articles that publishers have a backlog of two years, whether there's a way around this; a way to get to the front of the queue. I suppose it's all about supply and demand. If the supply is high and the demand is low then either the price must fall, or a poetical nuclear war (or similar catastrophe) must occur in order to lower supply. Hmm."
May 3, 2019 – page 405
83.51% "Ch42 - The Literary Agent (Novel). "I'm on your side, honest, Guv." Life from the point of view of an agent. Sounds well meaning, but rather defensive and vague."
May 3, 2019 – page 412
84.95% "Ch43 - The Film Agent. Another agent defending his corner. Sounds like this one knows his business. And his money."
May 4, 2019 – page 422
87.01% "Ch44 - The Literary Agent: TV, Radio and Theatre. Detailed analysis, by an agent, of the small print around agent representation. Read only if you're writing in this field."
May 4, 2019 – page 436
89.9% "Ch45 - Copyright. Skimmed and skipped over this chapter without feeling guilty. A lot of legalese from two lawyers. Read only if you're mad or paranoid that your agent is trying to diddle you."
May 4, 2019 – page 445
91.75% "Ch46 - Literary Life: Prizes, Anthologies, Festivals, Reviewing, Grants. Seems to focus on these as money-making opportunities, rightly or wrongly. Interesting in passing. The back end of this book seems to cover some of the more fringe activities. As an outlet myself, perhaps I ought to pay more attention."
May 4, 2019 – page 452
93.2% "Ch47 - The Writer as Teacher. A creative writing teacher speaks."
May 4, 2019 – page 459
94.64% "Ch48 - Making a Living as a Writer. Verdict: difficult but doable. The key is to write well and write lots."
May 4, 2019 – page 485
100.0% "Finishes with a nice glossary. If this was a test, I would have passed with 100%."
2.27% "Nice, upbeat intro from the editor in which he talks about why the articles he's chosen to include in this volume are appropriate for the subject."
April 26, 2019 – page 24
4.95% "Ch01 - Creativity and Pedagogy: not just inspiration, but the mind of the artist at such a stage that relevant memories are triggered. Reading teaches us how effects in form are constructed. Cognitive science can teach us how creative writing works so that when comparisons and connections arise we can track them. Process and product are equally important. Great literature models technique. There's magic and mystery."
April 26, 2019 – page 37
7.63% "Ch02 Evaluation of Creative Writing MAs. Didn't make many notes, but that's not to say this wasn't a good chapter. Interesting stuff, but because I'm already on an MA I was mostly assessing my course against the criteria laid out here. I'm happy to say that I'm happier with my course as a result - apart from about the lack of Tutor/Student interaction."
April 26, 2019 – page 42
8.66% "Ch03 - Creative Writing MFA. A US phenomenon that seems so much like a Creative Writing MA that I don't know why it has a chapter devoted to it. The contents seems the same but the assessment seems to be less rigorous. Skimmed and mostly forgotten."
April 26, 2019 – page 54
11.13% "Ch04 - Creative Writing and Critical Theory. Well written chapter by a creative writing teacher who uses critical theory in her lessons. She talks is through one of them and it just shows the contrast between the OU's teaching methods and her methods. She's awesome. She suggests that CW and CT should be taught together rather than be in opposition. I say that without CR there would be nothing to use CT on; end of."
April 27, 2019 – page 65
13.4% "Ch06 - Genre. A good chapter - interesting and informative. But it's just about the history of genre and what it means today. Not as useful as it might be to a creative writer. One interesting point for me: Ishiguro write Never Let Me Go as a metaphor of human destiny rather than a commentary on biotech just as I will write Remember the Future as a commentary on karma, chance and fate rather than a bk about nanoech."
April 28, 2019 – page 78
16.08% "Ch06 - The Writer as Artist. About the literary theory that says that the important part of a work of art (a piece of writing), when it comes to analysing it in any way, is the art itself rather than the artist (writer). Phrases such as 'the writer is dead' are discussed. Much debate, but at the end of all of this they are still missing the elephant in the room: without the artist/writer there is no art/writing."
April 28, 2019 – page 95
19.59% "Ch07 - The Future of Creative Writing. Awful, awful, awful. Could barely make my way through this chapter of empty words. If this is the future of creative writing then I want no part of it."
April 28, 2019 – page 108
22.27% "Ch08 - Reading, Writing and Teaching the Short Story. Excellent chapter with some good points on the craft of short stories. Page 102 has some good points for me."
April 28, 2019 – page 116
23.92% "Chp09 - Writing the Memoir. Quick and easy chapter about what I call Creative Non-fiction. Some good stuff but nothing that I didn't know already. Take care what tense you use - make full use of present (to anchor him in the narrator's time), past simple (for looking back), past continuous (for things that were happening all the time) and past imperfect (for looking father back). Write about real people sensitively."
April 29, 2019 – page 126
25.98% "Ch10 - Intro to the Novel. Lovely chapter - made plenty of notes. Helped to me to decide pov (1st person / storyteller), plot (transformation / disaster / quest) for my next novel and gave me a great exercise (analyse the structure of published novels) to find templates for my own structure."
April 29, 2019 – page 132
27.22% "Ch11 - Crime Fiction. A corking chapter. Not that I'm going to write crime fiction, but a lot of these points are transferable. In particular the ones about suspense. I could put suspense in my next novel by giving warning before the asteroid strike the spaceship. Then the characters have choices. And the uncertainty will keep readers reading."
April 30, 2019 – page 146
30.1% "Ch12 - Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. Excellent chapter, especially as the next novel I write is to be Sci-fi. Some useful points for general writing too."
April 30, 2019 – page 154
31.75% "Ch13 - How language Lives Us : reading and writing historical fiction. A really boring chapter that failed to capture my imagination or interest. I guess I won't be writing historical fiction any time soon."
April 30, 2019 – page 162
33.4% "Ch14 - Writing Humorous Fiction. I was thinking that this nothing that couldn't have been found from a quick browse around the internet and then when I reached then end I found out why: 'the author gratefully acknowledges the research assistance of Elizabeth Hastings ...'
Still, it gives some of the basics. But nothing very surprising and nothing even remotely funny."
April 30, 2019 – page 169
34.85% "Ch15 - Writing for Children. Good chapter with some interesting information. I don't want to write for children."
April 30, 2019 – page 176
36.29% "Ch16 - Writing for Teenagers. Teenage Fiction is not a genre. Teenagers have as wide a range of interests as adults and so should not be lumped together into one pot. They should be served up a wide variety of books that can speak to them (but without preaching) so that they can maintain an interest in reading and not think it is a childish pursuit."
April 30, 2019 – page 183
37.73% "Ch17 - Creative Non-fiction Workshop. Brilliant little skit. The lecturer tells the story of how to write creative non-fiction. Ingredients are story & information, style & substance and frame and focus."
April 30, 2019 – page 199
41.03% "Ch18 - Intro to Poetry. Some words about poetry that tell me nothing about poetry or how to write it. Intellectual approach with some intimations of feeling disguised as comedy."
May 1, 2019 – page 211
43.51% "Ch19 - What is Form? One person's educated opinion on form and why it is important and why free verse is unsatisfactory (but not unsatisfying)."
May 1, 2019 – page 229
47.22% "Ch20 - New Poetries. If I were interested in writing poetry of any kind then this would be an amazing chapter full of hints, tips and (wonderful, wonderful) exercises. As it is, I can use some of the many experimental tips to write the parts of my novel where my character's mind is breaking down under pressure of catastrophe. Don't worry, the nanobots in her brain are trying to save her at the same time."
May 1, 2019 – page 236
48.66% "Ch21 - The Poet in the Theatre: Verse Drama. I think I would have given the job of writing this to someone who seems more in love with the form than this author. At best he's on the edge. At worst he's sunk in misery at the prospect of verse drama appearing on stage. He seems to like certain verse dramatists, but most, if not all, of them are gone to that drama stage in the sky."
May 1, 2019 – page 251
51.75% "Ch22 - Long Poems. Barely interested in shirt poems so this is a little much. A long list of books written in poem form, most of which I've never heard of."
May 1, 2019 – page 251
51.75% "Ch22 - Long Poems. Barely interested in shirt poems so this is a little much. A long list of books written in poem form, most of which I've never heard of."
May 1, 2019 – page 263
54.23% "Ch23 - Introduction to Scriptwriting. This is not only an excellent intro to scriptwriting but a solid intro to storytelling. Novel writers can take a lot from the advice on scenes and sequences (think about what your structure is before writing), beginnings (inciting event, set-up character traits, get on with it), middles (proactive protagonists with obstacles), ends (big obstacle) and dialogue (make it dramatic)."
May 1, 2019 – page 273
56.29% "Ch24 - Writing for the Stage. I can take these points and the exercises and make them about writing novels; so this is a useful chapter for me. Write about your private obsessions, ideas, ideals, recurring dreams, fondest hopes, greatest fears. Write from your heart and gut."
May 1, 2019 – page 282
58.14% "Ch25 - Writing for Radio. Mostly about the challenges facing those writing plays that no-one will see (because it's the radio - duh!) like how to walk on the spot to indicate that you are walking. Other sound effects are available."
May 1, 2019 – page 291
60.0% "Ch26 - Writing for TV. Swift run through the various formats, structures and types of shows on TV and what you need to do to break into this area. Entertaining, but not of much use to a novel writer (apart from some notes on structure)."
May 2, 2019 – page 293
60.41% "Ch27 - Writing for TV: UK Differences. Does what it says on the tin."
May 2, 2019 – page 305
62.89% "Ch28 - Writing for Film. Best chapter so far. Goes thorough, step by step, how to write a film script. So much of this chapter is also applicable to novel writing (apart from the part that says just write action (no thoughts). Three act structure is explained. The Hero's Journey is explained. How they fit together is explained. And you can write all these out on diagrams. Wonderful."
May 2, 2019 – page 312
64.33% "Ch29 - Writing as Experimental Practice. This chapter contains, ironically, the best description of the process of writing contemporary fiction that I've ever read. As well, here are some great examples of types of experimental writing: mixed media/genre, other languages, inverted expectations, automatic writing, performed stories, procedural writing (using found words) and collaborations. Interesting chapter."
May 2, 2019 – page 320
65.98% "Ch30 - Writing as 'Therapy'. So, yeah, writing can be used as therapy. Not just for the writer but for readers and the wider community. Seems like lots is being done in this area, but I'm not sure it's as widespread as the author makes out. Worth trying, though."
May 2, 2019 – page 327
67.42% "Ch31 - Writing in the Community. Interesting and something I'd like to do myself. In fact, I have done it myself - from both sides of the fence: as a participant in various writing groups in York and as a facilitator of many workshops on creative writing in various places in the UK and abroad. It's fun and satisfying in all respects."
May 2, 2019 – page 332
68.45% "Ch32 - Writing for the Web. Yeah, done that.
"It is probably fair to say that creative writers build a readership most effectively through a combination of participation in an online writing community and mixing their creative work with comment and neo-journalism on a blog-type site of their own." True that."
May 2, 2019 – page 338
69.69% "Ch35 - The Role of the Critical Essay. I feel that this chapter missed the point. It made oblique reference to the fact that a writer that can critique a piece of work can become a better writer but failed to make the link between critiquing the work of others and becoming a writer that can thenceforth critique and therefore edit ones own work more successfully."
May 2, 2019 – page 345
71.13% "Ch34 - Translation. Well-written chapter that's of little or no interest to me. Shame, because the guy really knows her eggs."
May 2, 2019 – page 353
72.78% "Ch35 - Creative Writing Doctorates. A waffle chapter that doesn't really say much about anything. I think it's trying to make a case for studying a PhD in Creative Writing, but it doesn't. It concludes that the aim of a CW Doctorate is to assist the writer to display a considerable understanding of their subject. Not to teach it, but to enable one to display knowledge. Sounds like a useless endeavour to me."
May 2, 2019 – page 363
74.85% "Ch36 - How to Start a Literary Magazine. Nice little chapter that asks the questions that need to be answered before you embark on such a project. Concise and informative. Read it for interest or to use in anger (metaphorically speaking)."
May 3, 2019 – page 368
75.88% "Ch37 - How to be a Writer. Entertaining and true first hand account of how to be a writer. "Write something. Do it again. Read and continue to read. Respect your own time. Whatever you are writing, start each scene late. Be feminine. Don’t despair." There's some other stuff too, but this is the essence."
May 3, 2019 – page 376
77.53% "Ch38 - How to Present Yourself as a Writer. Excellent and useful chapter on how to market yourself as a writer and, in this way, establish a relationship with publishers. Covers (but not in depth) subjects like what is promotable about you, covering letters, getting involved in your local community, get interviewed, and be flexible. Above all, talk yourself up to people who might be useful. And that means everyone."
May 3, 2019 – page 384
79.18% "Ch39 - Publishing Fiction. An insider in the publishing business talks about where editors find readers, how an editor decides who told read first (and what to publish), how editors acquire books, what an editor (and copy-editor) does and gives some dog and don't say to writers (solicit, don't argue, edit thoroughly, research agents/publishers, think about criticism, read a lot). Good chapter."
May 3, 2019 – page 391
80.62% "Ch40 - American PoBiz (Poetry Business). Advice to poets wanting to publish their poems from a small publisher of poems in the US. Irrelevant to me (and to most of the world judging by poetry sales volumes). Plus - poets are such snobs!"
May 3, 2019 – page 398
82.06% "Ch41 - Publishing Poetry in Britain. I always wonder, when I read in these articles that publishers have a backlog of two years, whether there's a way around this; a way to get to the front of the queue. I suppose it's all about supply and demand. If the supply is high and the demand is low then either the price must fall, or a poetical nuclear war (or similar catastrophe) must occur in order to lower supply. Hmm."
May 3, 2019 – page 405
83.51% "Ch42 - The Literary Agent (Novel). "I'm on your side, honest, Guv." Life from the point of view of an agent. Sounds well meaning, but rather defensive and vague."
May 3, 2019 – page 412
84.95% "Ch43 - The Film Agent. Another agent defending his corner. Sounds like this one knows his business. And his money."
May 4, 2019 – page 422
87.01% "Ch44 - The Literary Agent: TV, Radio and Theatre. Detailed analysis, by an agent, of the small print around agent representation. Read only if you're writing in this field."
May 4, 2019 – page 436
89.9% "Ch45 - Copyright. Skimmed and skipped over this chapter without feeling guilty. A lot of legalese from two lawyers. Read only if you're mad or paranoid that your agent is trying to diddle you."
May 4, 2019 – page 445
91.75% "Ch46 - Literary Life: Prizes, Anthologies, Festivals, Reviewing, Grants. Seems to focus on these as money-making opportunities, rightly or wrongly. Interesting in passing. The back end of this book seems to cover some of the more fringe activities. As an outlet myself, perhaps I ought to pay more attention."
May 4, 2019 – page 452
93.2% "Ch47 - The Writer as Teacher. A creative writing teacher speaks."
May 4, 2019 – page 459
94.64% "Ch48 - Making a Living as a Writer. Verdict: difficult but doable. The key is to write well and write lots."
May 4, 2019 – page 485
100.0% "Finishes with a nice glossary. If this was a test, I would have passed with 100%."
May 28, 2019
This is an excellent, if densely written and very scholarly, tome. Not for everyone by any means, but reading it makes me feel like I've gone through an MFA program in creative writing. My only gripe is that the memoir section could have been longer.
February 14, 2022
THE HANDBOOK OF CREATIVE WRITING
The book is so comprehensive it is MA/MFA in a reader's hand. Every aspect of creative writing across genres is done justice.
For ease of navigation the book is divided into three section – the craft of writing, writer’s life and writing theories and contexts.
You don't have to start on the first section the craft of writing that takes you through the genres from short story, memoir, novel, poetry to script writing and others in between. I would advise you to go through it chapter by chapter on your first reading armed with a notebook and pen to take notes.
Done with your cursory reading of Section 1, you get down to some serious engagement with your genre specific reading – short story, memoir, novel, poetry, script or others that are up your alley.
From genre-specific reading, you take the Section Writers Life that deals with the nuts and bolts of writing – how to become a writer, how to present yourself as a writer, publishing, agents, copyright, literary life and making a living as a writer.
As you can see from the three sections, the entire spectrum of creative writing is cover in this book. This is a true writer’s companion. In my many years quest of becoming a writer I haven’t encountered as comprehensive and solid foundation as this book.
From this book, the writing world is my oyster if you may say. All the other texts in the world and programmes are supplementary to it. It has everything about writing in its bowels.
All that’s left for me after the book is to study further through specialist texts and writing programmes, as well as writing of course.
The book is so comprehensive it is MA/MFA in a reader's hand. Every aspect of creative writing across genres is done justice.
For ease of navigation the book is divided into three section – the craft of writing, writer’s life and writing theories and contexts.
You don't have to start on the first section the craft of writing that takes you through the genres from short story, memoir, novel, poetry to script writing and others in between. I would advise you to go through it chapter by chapter on your first reading armed with a notebook and pen to take notes.
Done with your cursory reading of Section 1, you get down to some serious engagement with your genre specific reading – short story, memoir, novel, poetry, script or others that are up your alley.
From genre-specific reading, you take the Section Writers Life that deals with the nuts and bolts of writing – how to become a writer, how to present yourself as a writer, publishing, agents, copyright, literary life and making a living as a writer.
As you can see from the three sections, the entire spectrum of creative writing is cover in this book. This is a true writer’s companion. In my many years quest of becoming a writer I haven’t encountered as comprehensive and solid foundation as this book.
From this book, the writing world is my oyster if you may say. All the other texts in the world and programmes are supplementary to it. It has everything about writing in its bowels.
All that’s left for me after the book is to study further through specialist texts and writing programmes, as well as writing of course.
June 9, 2010
An excellent, all-round resource for any and all practitioners of creative crafts.
October 25, 2022
Used as a textbook. Appreciated the genre-organized chapters.
May 4, 2012
A good and thorough handbook, certainly, and one I come back to as a resource and a guide again and again. The parts I have use for are brilliant. The reason it only gets three stars is largely because so much of the book is of little interest or use to me. I never intend to write for radio or television, thus those chapters were simply skipped. But, as said; a quality book none the less.
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