The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction

by Barnaby Conrad

A complete and concise guide to writing and selling long and short fiction, including outlining, narrative writing, details, description, pacing, and action.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

312 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 1990

About the author

Barnaby Conrad, Jr. was an American artist, author, nightclub proprietor, bullfighter and boxer.

NB: Father of writer Barnaby Conrad III.

Washington Post obituary:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/20...

Reviews

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guide for authors, divided into a lot of sections which each tackle a particular topic. Rather an old book now (1990), but the general sections on e.g. character development, endings, themes, description, how to deal with writer's block and rejection, how short stories differ from novels etc are still applicable, it's just the material on the publishing industry which is now out of date and that is a relatively small part of the book.

The book uses a lot of examples, with some quotes, and also advice from a lot of different writers, either classic ones such as Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald etc, or those who were very popular at the time of publication. Some, who were apparently best sellers, I've never heard of, but a lot are familiar names even if I've never read their books, e.g. Sidney Sheldon. Quite a few extracts come from the various addresses given at the Santa Barbara Writers' Conference which I think was held annually and is still running.

The main 'bias' is that the book is overwhelmingly American, unsurprisingly in view of its genesis at the Santa Barbara Writers' Conference, and references to 'this country' etc are obviously the USA, although authors like Chekhov are discussed. There's some good advice here for beginner writers; for me, it's reinforcement although I found the examples interesting and I wish I'd read this years ago when I was given bad advice about writer's block, because the advice in this book is what I discovered the hard way - don't wait for a great idea, instead just write any old thing and eventually the creative spirit will return.

[Linda Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books about writing fiction. I read it more than ten years ago, but would like to buy another copy now.

[Tara Dobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update review: 01/04/2020 - my rating has changed to 3 Stars because since reading this so many years ago and have found three better books on the subject on writing, and learning so much more from the other three books...I'll have to confess, The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction by Santa Barbara Writers Conference is a good beginner book for writers starting out. It's missing some serious techniques about the craft, but as a new writer learns more over the years, it's ok to find better books later on to improve on ones craft.
*******
While trying to write better and wanting to learn even though my school days were behind me, I picked up this book. I didn't read it straight through, as I had picked and chose what I wanted to learn. It helped a great deal for the 'bare-bone-basics', but other than that, there could have been more to it. I do use it as review whenever I needed a extra push in something I may have missed in my writing style. As though a writing or English teacher is sitting on my shelf waiting to be asked a question. It's my personal 'bible' on how to write better. It is so well loved that there 'used to be' coffee stains on the cover sleeve, but have now been washed way. Even though I have found a better 'on writing' book since then, I'll never get rid of this wonderful piece of 'help'.

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Conrad's "The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction" to be an excellent resource for the beginning and intermediate novel and short story writer. Each chapter covers an important writing topic such as point of view, dialogue, and characterization. Conrad's writing style is pointed towards those with limited knowledge in fiction writing. His explanations and examples of many key writing topics were clear and helpful to me.

One of the features of the book, I enjoyed, is at the end of each chapter an author's (usually well known author) comments were presented. Most of the different author's discussions about the chapter topic were presented at the Santa Barbara Writers' Conference that Conrad is associated with.

Two of many things I will take away from Conrad's book is the (1) importance of developing dynamic and fascinating characters and (2) the necessity of conflict in the story; whether the conflict be person vs. person, person vs. society or nature, or person vs. himself.

This book will be a valued writing reference for me. I recommend this book to all who want to have a better understanding of the craft of writing, especially those like myself, who are new to the writing novels.

[Laini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book on craft I ever bought, and I still love it. It took me 19 years, but I finally made it to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Had the time of my life! Only wish I could have gone when Barnaby, Ray Bradbury and the giants of fiction were going. Thankfully, Charles Schultz's son Monte is revving up the conference with new blood, and I'm hoping it regains the luster it once had. Highly recommended (both book and conference).

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great reference book for writers. With insight, tips and writing exersises from a wide range of authors, I wanted to read and write simultaneously. I so dreaded having to give this one back to the library that I found it on betterworldbooks and ordered it. I have to have this on my shelf!

[Kevin Albrecht]

(Recommended in "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" as full of inspiring helpful essays.)

[Bridger Cummings · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be okay. It seemed like multiple different people wrote it, which is fine, but sometimes the first person narration was lost to me on who was writing at that time.
Additionally, the keynote messages often had nothing to do with the previous chapter. Not a big deal, but just seemed out of place a lot of the time.
Lastly, just due to the age of the book, a lot of the publication info. is a bit outdated.
All that being said, there were still quite a few good points and tips that the book offered.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was a useful and entertaining discussion of how to write fiction. It was uneven depending and the section and which, if any, speaker from the conference we were listening to. It was also a bit dated. It was not the best writing guide I've read, but at times it was educational and did inspire me a little.

[Mark Mathes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This classic handbook can help writers solve problems in an inspiring way. Nearly three dozen topics from opening scenes to dialogue to sex scenes to flashbacks to selective detail and endings. Concise commentaries by some top novelists of our time: James A. Michener, Elmore Leonard, Tom McGuane, Sydney Sheldon, Dominick Dunne, Joseph Wambaugh and dozens more.

[Haley Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God.” (Sidney Sheldon)

Although I did not agree with everything this book said (as is expected in a book on writing), I found it a very interesting and helpful read. Would definitely recommend to aspiring writers.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book from Writer's Digest and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Lot of wit amidst the camaraderie, tips and just plain old general words of encouragement.

[Waldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Reader, i married him" არ მახსოვდა და ალბათ ვერც შევამჩნიე წლების წინ.