The lie that tells a truth : a guide to writing fiction
In his signature comic voice, teacher and author Dufresne demystifies the writing process, showing that while the idea of writing may be overwhelming, the act of writing is simplicity itself. Drawing upon the wisdom of literature's great craftsmen, his lucid essays and diverse exercises initiate the reader into the tools, processes, and techniques of writing: inventing compelling characters, developing a voice, creating a sense of place, editing your own words. Where do great ideas come from? How do we recognize them? How can language capture them?--From publisher description
Nonfiction
xvi, 298 pages ; 24 cm
9780393057515, 0393057518
52166224
The process: getting in shape
As a matter of fact
Writing around the block
Becoming a writer
Pick yourself up
Sitting alone in a quiet room
Getting black on white
Doing it again (and again [and again])
The meaning of life is to see
Clishmaclaver
The product: getting her up the tree, getting her down: beginnings and endings
The queen died of grief: plot
Plottery: plot
The heart of fiction: character
The method: character
"Let's talk," he said: dialogue
May I ask who's calling, please?: point of view
You can't do anything if you're nowhere: place
The art of abbreviation: the very short story
Other matters: reading to write
The writer reads
Small craft warnings
Go forth and write