How to Tell a Story: The Secrets of Writing Captivating Tales

Rating:
Summary: Gold in them there hills!
Review: Rubie's book is great.

I got a copy because I thought it'd be fun to write something out of my usual genre. (Search on author "Stephen L. Nelson" if you want to see what I've written.) And I was really well-rewarded for my reading investment...

As an author, there are some things I know about and so get to "double-check" on Rubie's notions and conclusion. In the handful of places where I, as an oft-published author of nonfiction, can test his knowledge, he's absolutely right. Which then leads me to conclude, "Hey, Rubie's probably right about all this other stuff, too."

The one other thing I will say about this book--and this isn't a criticism of the book but more advice for readers--is this: some of the stuff that Rubie talks about is a little subtle. If one isn't careful in one's reading, one might miss some pretty important stuff. I think you'd want to read this title more than once...

Rating:
Summary: Gold in them there hills!
Review: Rubie's book is great.

I got a copy because I thought it'd be fun to write something out of my usual genre. (Search on author "Stephen L. Nelson" if you want to see what I've written.) And I was really well-rewarded for my reading investment...

As an author, there are some things I know about and so get to "double-check" on Rubie's notions and conclusion. In the handful of places where I, as an oft-published author of nonfiction, can test his knowledge, he's absolutely right. Which then leads me to conclude, "Hey, Rubie's probably right about all this other stuff, too."

The one other thing I will say about this book--and this isn't a criticism of the book but more advice for readers--is this: some of the stuff that Rubie talks about is a little subtle. If one isn't careful in one's reading, one might miss some pretty important stuff. I think you'd want to read this title more than once...

Rating:
Summary: An insightful, hands-on book that solves immediate problems
Review: This book by Peter Rubie and the late Gary Provost is filled with the kind of hands-on advice you'd get from very good writing instructors. More clearly than in many other books, Rubie and Provost explore the nature of character, objectives, and obstacles, and demonstrate that plot and structure derive from character and conflict. While the book is primarily intended for writers of fiction and nonfiction narrative, the principles can also be used by screenwriters and playwrights, and in fact most of the authors' examples are taken from films.

I'm a playwright and read this book while blocked on a project. Thanks to the ideas expressed here, I was able to go back and immediately think of further ideas and a "next step." The only reason I didn't rate the book 5 stars is that I think you can quarrel with some specific pieces of advice and with some analyses (e.g., the authors cite the play and movie "Betrayal" as an example of flashback, while I think it's actually an example of a nonlinear time sequence). (Also, it's surprising that a book about writing consistently misuses the word "it's.") But those are quibbles. I found this to be a useful, thorough book.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: This book was written by the very capable Peter Rubie, drawing on the instruction of the late writing teacher Gary Provost (died 1995). It's a unique read, ultimately, as you feel like you're getting into the mind of two authors.

I've read a lot of books on writing. And I must admit, I usually start each new one a little pig-headed, almost challenging it to teach me something new. But I've only finished one that left me feeling disappointed, and it wasn't this one. So, maybe I'm biased. Or maybe these books are as good as we all hope.

How To Tell A Story, at first, seemed a little basic. I felt like I'd seen it all before: been there, read that. But then the author took hold, and I was his. Chapter by chapter, he tackles all of the major elements of writing a story, and he does so clearly. The goal of reading books on writing is to get many different perspectives on the same material until it sinks in.

How many times have I finished a such a book and eagerly sat down at my keyboard to put the advice to work, only to somehow miss the point and turn out [bad]fiction anyway?

Rubie's book is a fine refresher course, not centering on one aspect too closely--but closely enough!

After reading How To Tell A Story, a holism of sorts had sunk in, much like when you change a car tire. You don't tighten the bolts one at a time. You tighten one, then the one opposite it, then the one to the right, then to the left. You get those bolts in place in an act of totality.

In other words, you're not getting, with this book, three unbalanced chapters on how to write scenes, two on characterization, four on setting. It's structured and clear.

You get a rational treatment of many areas without feeling short-changed in any of them.

For my own plight, I realized I was having problems with story structure. Rubie helped that. He gives what he calls the Gary Provost Paragraph that essentially describes 90% of the stories (successful stories) ever written. "Once upon a time SOMETHING HAPPENED to someone, and he decided he would pursue a goal." The paragraph goes on, giving a generic story that, at the same time, shows basic story structure. I found that simply by replacing his generic elements with specifics from the story I'm working on ("Once upon a time, Jen's father struck her, and she decided she would get him out of this abusive life.") my story became clearer, its weaknesses clearer. I could see all the holes in my plot.

Now, many of you are thinking, "Writing ain't a formula. This ain't no ad-lib, you know!"

No, it isn't, writing isn't. But many of you who are thinking that way might still be producing rambling fiction that reaches the end bluntly, no point, no escalating action or causal events.

Rubie's instruction will show you how to fix your opus. He helps you come up with ideas. He helps you understand the importance of writing for genres. He shows you hooking your readers and keeping them interested, shows you giving your characters goals, shows you making the most out of your scenes, and more.

It's a general book in that it doesn't single out any fictional element as larger than the rest. Every chapter deals with one step of the process. How To Tell A Story is great for beginners, and, as the back cover says, great for pros who might have forgotten a couple of the basics.

That's my problem. Centering too much on one element at the cost of another.

This book smooths it all out.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: This book was written by the very capable Peter Rubie, drawing on the instruction of the late writing teacher Gary Provost (died 1995). It's a unique read, ultimately, as you feel like you're getting into the mind of two authors.

I've read a lot of books on writing. And I must admit, I usually start each new one a little pig-headed, almost challenging it to teach me something new. But I've only finished one that left me feeling disappointed, and it wasn't this one. So, maybe I'm biased. Or maybe these books are as good as we all hope.

How To Tell A Story, at first, seemed a little basic. I felt like I'd seen it all before: been there, read that. But then the author took hold, and I was his. Chapter by chapter, he tackles all of the major elements of writing a story, and he does so clearly. The goal of reading books on writing is to get many different perspectives on the same material until it sinks in.

How many times have I finished a such a book and eagerly sat down at my keyboard to put the advice to work, only to somehow miss the point and turn out [bad]fiction anyway?

Rubie's book is a fine refresher course, not centering on one aspect too closely--but closely enough!

After reading How To Tell A Story, a holism of sorts had sunk in, much like when you change a car tire. You don't tighten the bolts one at a time. You tighten one, then the one opposite it, then the one to the right, then to the left. You get those bolts in place in an act of totality.

In other words, you're not getting, with this book, three unbalanced chapters on how to write scenes, two on characterization, four on setting. It's structured and clear.

You get a rational treatment of many areas without feeling short-changed in any of them.

For my own plight, I realized I was having problems with story structure. Rubie helped that. He gives what he calls the Gary Provost Paragraph that essentially describes 90% of the stories (successful stories) ever written. "Once upon a time SOMETHING HAPPENED to someone, and he decided he would pursue a goal." The paragraph goes on, giving a generic story that, at the same time, shows basic story structure. I found that simply by replacing his generic elements with specifics from the story I'm working on ("Once upon a time, Jen's father struck her, and she decided she would get him out of this abusive life.") my story became clearer, its weaknesses clearer. I could see all the holes in my plot.

Now, many of you are thinking, "Writing ain't a formula. This ain't no ad-lib, you know!"

No, it isn't, writing isn't. But many of you who are thinking that way might still be producing rambling fiction that reaches the end bluntly, no point, no escalating action or causal events.

Rubie's instruction will show you how to fix your opus. He helps you come up with ideas. He helps you understand the importance of writing for genres. He shows you hooking your readers and keeping them interested, shows you giving your characters goals, shows you making the most out of your scenes, and more.

It's a general book in that it doesn't single out any fictional element as larger than the rest. Every chapter deals with one step of the process. How To Tell A Story is great for beginners, and, as the back cover says, great for pros who might have forgotten a couple of the basics.

That's my problem. Centering too much on one element at the cost of another.

This book smooths it all out.

Rating:
Summary: A toolbox for expression
Review: We live in a world of rules and regulations, I would like to think that writing is above all that, that authors can write from the heart and spontaneously. Of course, if we wish to be published, we cannot ignore some of the guidelines in this book. In that aspect, the book is helpful and truly has some wonderful ideas and things to keep in mind that may help you get your book published. My hope is that it does not deter the aspiring writer from plunging on from the heart, since a lot of what this book has to say can be daunting. At times I felt myself being drawn into worry that my own manuscript would fall way short of all these "have to" rules, and I would never be able to remember all this and incorporate it into my own story. If you keep in mind that all this information is to guide and not set in stone, then the book is very helpful, the exercises given are strong and will assist your writing efforts, and you will learn much from this book. I much prefer the book "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg for new authors, but you will glean some helpful insight here as well.

Rating:
Summary: A toolbox for expression
Review: Writers live in a world where the right tools and skills can make the difference between surviving in a hovel and living in a comfortable home. 'How to Tell a Story" is a book that brings many of these skills and tools together in a useful format. Like a painter looking for just the right brush and stoke, I used the ideas and guidelines presented to help finalize my own book, which I'm happy to say is now being published (with minimum 'editing'). Highly recommended.