Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #181466 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-23
• Binding: Paperback
• 164 pages

Synopsis
From the author of "How to Write a Damn Good Novel", this new title offers advanced techniques in fiction writing: how to build suspense, create fresher, more interesting characters and achieve greater reader sympathy, empathy and identification. Quoting a range of writers from Stephen King and Kafka to Peter Benchley and Stephen Crane, this is a practical, readable, down-to-earth and concise book which analyses what makes good (and commercial) fiction work and shows how to apply this understanding in an author's own writing.

Customer Reviews

Essential Reading
This is a must have for any fiction writer. It was recommended to me by a successful published novelist who teaches creative writing as a degree. It especially gives indispensable advice about characterization. It backs up it's theories with examples from well known novels. BUT BEWARE. The title of this book is 'HOW TO WRITE DAMN GOOD FICTION'. It is exactly the same book as Frey's differently titled, 'HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL 2'. Make sure you don't by the same book twice.
p.s. Frey's 'How to Write a Damn Good Novel' is very good too.

Very Useful
Frey does a fantastic job here and approaches it in a friendly and amusing way. Apart from having very useful advice, I found the book inspiring and it gave my writing a bit of a boost. The section on dealing with family and friends who don't appreciate your writing lifestyle was hilarious. And unfortunately true.

I'd recommend this to people who can already write competantly, but perhaps need some guidance on the finer points of plotting.

Excellent, but watch out...
This is a great little gem of a book, but fans of Mr Frey watch out: This is a reprint of "How to write a damn good novel II", so don't buy it if you've already got that one - the text is identical and you only end up having to return one...