Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition

A Guide to Narrative Craft

By: Janet Burroway, Elizabeth Stuckey-French, Ned Stuckey-French

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A creative writer's shelf should hold at least three essential books: a dictionary, a style guide, and Writing Fiction. Janet Burroway's best-selling classic is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and for more than three decades, it has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn the craft.

This new edition continues to provide advice that is practical, comprehensive, and flexible. Burroway's tone is personal and nonprescriptive, welcoming learning writers into the community of practiced storytellers. Moving from freewriting to final revision, the book addresses "showing not telling", characterization, dialogue, atmosphere, plot, imagery, and point of view. It includes new topics and writing prompts. And the examples and quotations throughout the book feature a wide and diverse range of today's best and best-known creators of both novels and short stories.

This book is a master class in creative writing that also calls on us to renew our love of storytelling and celebrate the skill of writing well. There is a very good chance that one of your favorite authors learned the craft with Writing Fiction. And who knows what future favorite will get her start listening to this edition?

©2019 Janet Burroway, Elizabeth Stuckey-French, and Ned Stuckey-French (P)2019 Tantor

Packed with information.

Good book. Packed with information. My only suggestion to whoever downloads the book is to listen to it at 2.1 speed. Even at that speed it sounds like a regular person speaking. The narrator reads very slowly and drags every word.

Essential

Expected nothing, but this is great even for advanced readers on writing. Will buy the book also to get the prompts which are read out too fast

Learning to Write

Well read with loads of valuable advice and examples of good writing. Highy recommended to all writers.

Why am I just finding this?

Absolutely terrific. I'm just miffed that I didn't stumble upon it much sooner than now. It might have made a world of difference. Nonetheless, I have it now and have devoured it and fully expect to do so again and again. The writing prompts really make things move. Often, ideas and their discovery, like rummaging around in an old and nearly-abandoned attic, come hard, covered in dust, excelsior, and cobwebs. This text is an industrial-strength leaf blower set on high. Pretty neat, and very friendly.

A gem

I have an MA and a PhD in contemporary culture, and I’ve published novels and short stories. I’ve read several books on style and literary theory — and yet, this book is a really good read for a fiction writer. It’s solid theory, classically referenced and in direct, to-the-point insights. A round of applause also goes to the voice actor — smooth, firm and very memorable voice. This is a gem!

A Fiction Writer's must read

I learned so much from this book. I appreciate all of the insights. Toward the end of the book new ground but it is the opening that helped me most especially the first four chapters. It is read and reads well all the way through.

Superior

Superior (no wasted words there).

This work is on the short list, worthy of reading again and again. Inspiring.

Great content!

This one is full with knowledge of the craft, and is very well constructed and conveyed. Highly recommended!
I didn't like the narration, though, which to me was dull and unengaging; but accelerating the playback speed to 1.20 or 1.25 did wonders.

Impressed

I am actually impressed with this book. It gives you a lot to think about as well as a lot of knowledge without making you feel bored.

Worth The Time

Overall, this is one of the best crash course books about the craft you will find. The early chapters are especially useful having been updated for the times with fresh tips and perspectives. The quality of substance goes down a bit in the latter chapters and the ending seems to fizzle on an awkward ten page or so excerpt from one of the author’s own books. The excerpt does not clearly stand as an example of her point to the reader and instead feels like a plug for one of her books.