Stein On Writing A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies

by Stein, Sol

• ISBN13: 9780312254216
• ISBN10: 0312254210
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-25
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary

Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether they are newcomers or old hands, students or instructors, amateurs or professionals. As the always clear and direct Stein explains here, "This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions'”how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place." With examples from bestsellers as well as from students' drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called "triage" method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.

Author Biography

Sol Stein has lectured on creative writing at Columbia, Iowa, UCLA, and the University of California at Irvine.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
The Essentials
The Writer's Job May Be Different Than You Think	p. 3
Come Right In: First Sentences, First Paragraphs	p. 15
Welcome to the Twentieth Century	p. 42
Fiction
Competing with God: Making Fascinating People	p. 49
Markers: The Key to Swift Characterization	p. 74
Thwarting Desire: The Basics of Plotting	p. 82
The Actors Studio Method for Developing Drama in Plots	p. 90
The Crucible: A Key to Successful Plotting	p. 94
Suspense: Keeping the Reader Reading	p. 97
The Adrenaline Pump: Creating Tension	p. 105
The Secrets of Good Dialogue	p. 110
How to Show Instead of Tell	p. 122
Choosing a Point of View	p. 129
Flashbacks: How to Bring Background into the Foreground	p. 143
The Keys to Credibility	p. 152
The Secret Snapshot Technique: Reaching For Hidden Treasure	p. 156
How to Use All Six of Your Senses	p. 160
Love Scenes	p. 167
Creating the Envelope	p. 186
Fiction and Nonfiction
Amphetamines for Speeding Up Pace	p. 193
Liposuctioning Flab	p. 197
Tapping Your Originality	p. 209
The Door to Your Book: Titles That Attract	p. 212
Nonfiction
Using the Techniques of Fiction to Enhance Nonfiction	p. 223
Conflict, Suspense, and Tension in Nonfiction	p. 232
Quoting What They Say	p. 240
Guts: The Decisive Ingredient	p. 242
Literary Values in Fiction and Nonfiction
Commercial? Popular? Literary?	p. 249
Particularity	p. 254
Similes and Metaphors	p. 264
Increasing the Effect on the Reader through Resonance	p. 268
Revision
Triage: A Better Way of Revising Fiction	p. 277
Reprieve: Revising Nonfiction	p. 290
Where to Get Help
Where to Get Help	p. 297
A Final Word	p. 302
A Glossary of Terms Used by Writers and Editors	p. 305
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