Creating Fiction

Rating:
Summary: Neither interesting nor helpful
Review: A decidedly uninteresting collection of essays. The essays are written in a sort of univerally vanilla style, which is maybe indicitive of how writing classes are taught, but which hardly gets the reader exciting about the writing process. The exercises are hokey, and may be of interest to people just getting started on the work of writing, but will most likely be useless to anyone who has completed a few stories. "The Eleventh Draft" and "Why I Write" are much more interesting, inciteful, and inspiring books about creating fiction.

Rating:
Summary: A Complete Writing Workshop in One Book
Review: Imagine having 23 professional writing coaches at your disposal - each instructor teaching the fundamentals of writing they've perfected over the years. "Creating Fiction" is the best of nationwide creative writing programs taught by respected novelists and short story writers.

Established authors offer their expertise in these informative essays. Every entry ends with related exercises pertaining to the writing elements you've just learned. In fact, you'll find over 100 writing exercises taught in expensive workshops.

These writing essays tackle the challenging aspects of your writing venture. This in-depth guide to writing covers:

* Thinking About Fiction

* Characterization

* Point of View

* Plot, Structure and Narrative

* Style and Voice

* Revising, Editing and Marketing

Every category provides a variety of essays, offering several unique perspectives to help you perfect your craft.

Rating:
Summary: Have not read it just yet . . .
Review: Well I have not read Ms. Checkoway's book just yet, but I can say from experience that Ms. Checkoway knows writing and how to teach it. As one of my first writing instructors, she gave me tools I still use today. I know that every aspiring writer can benefit from reading "Creating Fiction."