What do you think?
Rate this book
Dwight Swain: Master Writing Teacher
DWIGHT SWAIN has mentored thousands of writers. Now you can hear this legendary teacher's own voice with priceless advice on - Story Structure
- Building Strong Characters Structuring Your Novel A step-by-step guide to writing stories you can sell. Learn how - Conceive and cast your work
- Find the spine
- Drive the plot forward
- Use scene and sequel as building blocks
- Create conflict
- Use the springboard scene
- And much, much more! How to Build Fictional Characters Learn how - Create memorable heroes and villains
- Make your characters likeable
- Give your characters purpose
- Put story people in danger
- Discover a character's attitude and motivation 4 CDs, 3 Hours
- Building Strong Characters Structuring Your Novel A step-by-step guide to writing stories you can sell. Learn how - Conceive and cast your work
- Find the spine
- Drive the plot forward
- Use scene and sequel as building blocks
- Create conflict
- Use the springboard scene
- And much, much more! How to Build Fictional Characters Learn how - Create memorable heroes and villains
- Make your characters likeable
- Give your characters purpose
- Put story people in danger
- Discover a character's attitude and motivation 4 CDs, 3 Hours
Audio CD
First published June 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Dwight V. Swain
79 books23 followersDwight Vreeland Swain's first published story was "Henry Horn's Super Solvent", which appeared in Fantastic Adventures in 1941. He contributed stories in the science fiction, mystery, Western, and action adventure genres to a variety of pulp magazines.
He joined the staff in the extremely successful Professional Writing Program at the University of Oklahoma training writers of commercial fiction and film. He pioneered scripting documentaries and educational/instructional films using dramatic techniques rather than the previously common talking heads. In the 1960s, he scripted a motion picture, Stark Fear, starring Beverly Garland and Keith Toby. He later wrote non-fiction books about writing, including Techniques of the Selling Writer, Film Scriptwriting, Creating Characters, and Scripting for Video and Audiovisual Media, and was much in demand as a speaker at writers' conferences throughout the US and Mexico.
He joined the staff in the extremely successful Professional Writing Program at the University of Oklahoma training writers of commercial fiction and film. He pioneered scripting documentaries and educational/instructional films using dramatic techniques rather than the previously common talking heads. In the 1960s, he scripted a motion picture, Stark Fear, starring Beverly Garland and Keith Toby. He later wrote non-fiction books about writing, including Techniques of the Selling Writer, Film Scriptwriting, Creating Characters, and Scripting for Video and Audiovisual Media, and was much in demand as a speaker at writers' conferences throughout the US and Mexico.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 5, 2013
3 ½ stars. Might be good for an author just starting out. Might be good for authors who feel stuck and could use a nudge.
The best part is you can listen while driving your car. Dwight Swain published a lot of fiction as well as some how-to-write books. This audiobook is two lectures he gave around 1991 for writer workshops.
Many of his thoughts are simple and obvious. Example: every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. But I could see the following. Someone is writing a book and is kind of stuck, so they listen to this tape. Then they think oh yeah, I could try this, or I should do that. Then they would go back to their writing. I see it as a jog for writers.
A few thoughts from the lecture:
Alfred Hitchcock quote: Drama is life with the dull parts left out.
The strength of your villain is the strength of your story. The bad guy is ruthless to get what he wants, even if it is just the corner office.
Every chapter needs a climax (disaster, crisis). Authors should stretch out the climax scenes. A disaster could be winning the lottery. Disasters don’t have to be bad.
The main character wants something. It could be relief from a boss, change in climate, revenge...
A story is a record of how somebody deals with danger.
Books on the craft of writing:
I purchased and started reading Swain’s book “Techniques of the Selling Writer” published in 1965. I couldn’t get into it. It reads like an encyclopedia. But for some, that could be good.
I loved the following two books that I think would be useful to all fiction writers. “Stein on Writing” by Sol Stein and “On Writing” by Stephen King.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 2 hrs and 59 mins. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Date: workshops conducted around 1991. Genre: nonfiction, how to write.
The best part is you can listen while driving your car. Dwight Swain published a lot of fiction as well as some how-to-write books. This audiobook is two lectures he gave around 1991 for writer workshops.
Many of his thoughts are simple and obvious. Example: every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. But I could see the following. Someone is writing a book and is kind of stuck, so they listen to this tape. Then they think oh yeah, I could try this, or I should do that. Then they would go back to their writing. I see it as a jog for writers.
A few thoughts from the lecture:
Alfred Hitchcock quote: Drama is life with the dull parts left out.
The strength of your villain is the strength of your story. The bad guy is ruthless to get what he wants, even if it is just the corner office.
Every chapter needs a climax (disaster, crisis). Authors should stretch out the climax scenes. A disaster could be winning the lottery. Disasters don’t have to be bad.
The main character wants something. It could be relief from a boss, change in climate, revenge...
A story is a record of how somebody deals with danger.
Books on the craft of writing:
I purchased and started reading Swain’s book “Techniques of the Selling Writer” published in 1965. I couldn’t get into it. It reads like an encyclopedia. But for some, that could be good.
I loved the following two books that I think would be useful to all fiction writers. “Stein on Writing” by Sol Stein and “On Writing” by Stephen King.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 2 hrs and 59 mins. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Date: workshops conducted around 1991. Genre: nonfiction, how to write.
March 7, 2018
Pretty basic stuff.
So basic that I saw myself at an auditorium, yawning as I slowly started to daydream, vaguely wondering why I was there listening to this paleolithic views and attitudes about and towards something so wild and ever-evolving magical as writing. Back to the basics again and again is a legitimate tactic to achieve Mastery, but this is killing me.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swain, a hook is not what you describe it to be.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swain, you don't have to grab the reader's attention by showing disasters and evoking danger. You're confusing a specific emotion with the whole spectrum of emotions. Excitement, awe, wonder, etc. can also grip the reader's attention. Not everything has to do with fear and danger, and this includes writing.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swai--
Wait, I thought as I suddenly realized the lecture had ended. Why am I still here?
So I left and then I write.
So basic that I saw myself at an auditorium, yawning as I slowly started to daydream, vaguely wondering why I was there listening to this paleolithic views and attitudes about and towards something so wild and ever-evolving magical as writing. Back to the basics again and again is a legitimate tactic to achieve Mastery, but this is killing me.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swain, a hook is not what you describe it to be.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swain, you don't have to grab the reader's attention by showing disasters and evoking danger. You're confusing a specific emotion with the whole spectrum of emotions. Excitement, awe, wonder, etc. can also grip the reader's attention. Not everything has to do with fear and danger, and this includes writing.
No, Mr. Dwight V. Swai--
Wait, I thought as I suddenly realized the lecture had ended. Why am I still here?
So I left and then I write.
August 29, 2011
I got a couple of the lessons from Audible and it was very helpful! He's a good teacher. It's something I can listen to over and over and always pick up something new I can use each time.
August 22, 2018
A lot of very basic information, but all of it sound and worth a listen, especially for beginners. I have a degree in writing and still found myself jotting notes. The second presentation is really the same information as the first, just said a little differently,
So it does feel a little repetitive. It also feels a little dated since it was recorded in the early 90's, but language choices aside, it's solid advice.
So it does feel a little repetitive. It also feels a little dated since it was recorded in the early 90's, but language choices aside, it's solid advice.
August 8, 2017
Sound quality wasn't always the best, but some excellent info.
February 19, 2025
The audio was a bit off.
October 26, 2018
A short and entertaining listen.
September 8, 2016
Perfect quick overview of the writing craft for starting and experienced writers!!!
May 12, 2015
Rhubarb.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews