Rating: 
Summary: A must-read for writers of *any* type if Fiction
Review: Do you write? Do you write *anything*, even if it's not Science Fiction? This is the best book I've ever read on writing fiction. It thoroughly and masterfully discusses the mechanics such as plot, pacing and characterization. It dispenses insightful advice. But most importantly, it tells you how to polish. How to edit your own work. How to train an 'educated reader' to help you edit your own work. If you are trying to break into the fiction market today, your manuscript has to be good already. Publishers don't have time or resources to help you polish. Card gives intelligent, creative advice on how you and your 'educated reader' can work together to produce the best story you are capable of writing. This book also contains excellent insight on the peculiarities of writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. But no matter what kind of fiction you write, read this book. Terry L. Neil
Rating: 
Summary: How to Write SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
Review: A wonderful book! In it, Card adresses some of the key issues addressing writers in the speculative fiction field. In the first few pages of this book, Card explains he does not intend this to be a book about writing, in general. Rather, it is a book about writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, in particular. Things like viewpoint, theme, etc. that writers of every genre need to cover are not addressed. So if the book seems lacking in that area, that's the reason. That said, there are some wonderful tips for SF writers, both technical and practical, both for writing and being a writer. For instance, should a SF writer get an agent first, or send books to a publisher first? Card gives his answer, and it's different than other genres. Also, he explains how to use a Wise Reader to handle problems with exposition. Full of interesting anecdotes, useful tips, and valuable guidelines, this has remained one of the textbooks of the field.
Rating:
Summary: "How to Make and Idea More than an Idea"
Review: All of my sci-fi stories used to merely present, what I thought to be, great ideas for stories. During my reading of this book, some of my old stories took on new dimensions, (through painful rewrites). I created new stories and even new worlds that I would have never attempted to create otherwise. Admitedly, I only wrote "idea" stories. I never considered creating a "place", a "character", or an "event" for the sake of a story. My focus was on entertaining myself and my readers with unusual concepts. One of those short story concepts may well end up as a short novel... with two sequels.
While I write as a hobby I still found the "business" aspects of writing helpful in the event I should ever seek becoming a published writer.
This book can help an idea become an entire new world or indroduce a character who can effectively present the idea.
I also appreciate that I didn't feel like I was being told how to write my story, but rather, how to include elements to make it more readable and more enjoyable.
This is a definite keep-on-the-shelf reference.
Rating:
Summary: "How to Make and Idea More than an Idea"
Review: All of my sci-fi stories used to merely present, what I thought to be, great ideas for stories. During my reading of this book, some of my old stories took on new dimensions, (through painful rewrites). I created new stories and even new worlds that I would have never attempted to create otherwise. Admitedly, I only wrote "idea" stories. I never considered creating a "place", a "character", or an "event" for the sake of a story. My focus was on entertaining myself and my readers with unusual concepts. One of those short story concepts may well end up as a short novel... with two sequels.
While I write as a hobby I still found the "business" aspects of writing helpful in the event I should ever seek becoming a published writer.
This book can help an idea become an entire new world or indroduce a character who can effectively present the idea.
I also appreciate that I didn't feel like I was being told how to write my story, but rather, how to include elements to make it more readable and more enjoyable.
This is a definite keep-on-the-shelf reference.
Rating:
Summary: Idespensible
Review: All writers of Speculative Fiction must read this book
Rating: 
Summary: Trivializes a high art form
Review: Books like this are almost self-parodying. 'How to Paint a Mona Lisa', 'How to Play Like Yo-Yo Ma', etc. All this book did is show that sci-fi writers are going thru such lean times that they can make more money selling how-to books than doing their 'thing'. Seriously, would a real pro in a crowded market sell his secrets for success for a few bucks, hoping to create his own competition? Not likely. Writing great lit. takes a dedication to art that makes this slim how-to volume seem like an insult, sorry. If he had titled it 'How I Write Sci-Fi/Fantasy", it might have been more honest; but not really, precisely because he's hiding his 'best secrets' to keep you from topping him. Think for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent treatise
Review: Card does an excellent job of doing exactly what he promises..teaching the reader how to write sf and fantasy. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to write in this field. Card deftly uses his own experiences to show the reader how to create a universe. His throwaway paragraphs depicting sentence structure and other techniques show the reader how easy it is to create an interesting universe.
Rating:
Summary: Good for more than one thing
Review: Even if you are not planning on writing science fiction or fantasy today, this book is worth your time if you are 1) interested in Orson Scott Card and how he gets and develops his ideas, and what he likes to read, or 2) you are interested in writing of any kind, even non-fiction. If you have even a fleeting interest in any of these subjects, Card will tell you more in a little book than almost anyone else in a very big book.
Rating:
Summary: Great book! It teaches you almost all you need to know!
Review: Great book! Card really shows how to go about it. He shows some rules for space travel that I never thought of, but really make sense. He really is easy to understand, and the book was just what I was looking for. Plus, he tells about how to go around seeking to be published as a sci-fi or fantasy author! Great book! I think everyone aspiring to be a sci-fi or fantasy writer read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Must Have for writers of ANY GENRE!
Review: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Writer's Digest Genre Writing Series) - and Characters and Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing) - are each invaluable, even if all you do is READ books! This is a master storyteller, divulging clear, concise strategies for creating literature - which is something he does as well as any writer alive (and most of the dead ones!). Both books offer brilliant insight, whether you write Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror) or not! There should NOT be an English or Literature classroom without multiple copies of both! No exaggeration, these books are the genome of great writing. Card writes in a way that engages, even in these nonfiction works. It will stretch your own Viewpoint, and possibly your Character as well - all without ever condescending, or transcending the reader's understanding. I wish i weren't so notorious for exaggeration, because these books changed me as a writer, as a reader, and yes, along with his other works - as a human. Writer's Digest is to be praised for the presentation of these books, and for bringing two essential masterpieces to the writer's tool belt. (I just love a maimed metaphor, don't you?)
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