Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
An essential read. Short Circuit is a collection of essays from writers who are passionate (and successfully!) about short fiction. A real gold mine of insights and ideas for aspiring writers and for those seeking a refresher. (The Bridport Prize )
Product Description
Short Circuit is a unique and indispensable guide to writing the short story. A collection of 24 specially commissioned essays from well-published short story writers, many of them prize winners in some of the toughest short story competitions in the English language. The writers are also experienced and successful teachers of their craft.
Each essay picks up on one or more craft or process issues and explores them in context, within the creative practice of the writer. Each writer has given of themselves very generously, exploring what it is that helps them produce strong short fiction, looking at their sources of inspiration, revealing more than a little of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’. They share favourite writing exercises, and suggest lists of published stories they find inspirational. Much of the guidance can equally be applied to writing longer fiction.
Contributions include five essays from winners of The Bridport Prize. There are interviews with Clare Wigfall – winner of The National Short Story Award – and with Tobias Hill whose short story collection won the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen Award. Other prize-winning writers in this book include winners of The Asham Award for New Women Writers, The Fish Histories Prize, The Fish Short Story Prize, The BBC Short Story Prize, The Commonwealth Award, Writers Inc. Writer of the Year, The Willesden Herald Prize, NAWG Millennium Award for Radio Short Story and the Per Contra Prize.
Each essay picks up on one or more craft or process issues and explores them in context, within the creative practice of the writer. Each writer has given of themselves very generously, exploring what it is that helps them produce strong short fiction, looking at their sources of inspiration, revealing more than a little of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’. They share favourite writing exercises, and suggest lists of published stories they find inspirational. Much of the guidance can equally be applied to writing longer fiction.
Contributions include five essays from winners of The Bridport Prize. There are interviews with Clare Wigfall – winner of The National Short Story Award – and with Tobias Hill whose short story collection won the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen Award. Other prize-winning writers in this book include winners of The Asham Award for New Women Writers, The Fish Histories Prize, The Fish Short Story Prize, The BBC Short Story Prize, The Commonwealth Award, Writers Inc. Writer of the Year, The Willesden Herald Prize, NAWG Millennium Award for Radio Short Story and the Per Contra Prize.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad About the Book,
By Moriarty (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story (Salt Guides for Readers and Writers) (Paperback)
At last, a book that not only recognises the short story as a viable art form but also respects, loves and attempts to analyse it. It can be read from cover to cover or as I did, dipped into periodically. I also bought two copies for writer friends. It also doesn't matter if one writer featured in the book might contradict another - the point is that this book is as much about craft as it is about passion and the individual methods each writer uses to produce their story. I was fascinated by the terms. techniques and tricks used, such as creating resonant or circular endings. It's a bit like learning to sew properly: as soon as you can stitch neatly and understand what you are doing, then the stitching should be pretty much invisible. My appetite for writing short stories, as well as my appetite for reading them, was greatly accelerated by Short Circuit. Also it is no accident that the named writers who have penned each chapter keep popping up again and again in competition wins. This is a magical, sincerely written and inspirational guide. I defy any would-be writer to read it and then not want to find some paper, quick.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring,
This review is from: Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story (Salt Guides for Readers and Writers) (Paperback)
This is an inspiring yet practical manual that collates diverse, pragmatic advice from respected writers. The exercises at the end of each chapter, and the suggestions for further reading, are thought provoking antidotes to writers block.I highly recommend this book to short story writers and students of all standards.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short Circuit,
This review is from: Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story (Salt Guides for Readers and Writers) (Paperback)
This just about eclipses Rick De Marinis's "The Art and Craft of the Short Story" as my favourite "How To..." book.Vanessa Gebbie - who writes a mean short story herself - has assembled a bunch of writers with a solid track record of winning prizes in the shorter form. Each of them has written a short essay on a different aspect of short story writing - from character to setting - and ends their contribution with a list of their personal favourite stories, which is a nice touch. Paul Magrs' rather idiosyncratic Dos and Don'ts list is great. I would award this five stars but for the contribution of Graham Mort, whose slightly pretentious essay stands out as being ridiculously erudite in an otherwise fun-to-read and hugely accessible collection. Strongly recommended.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Reference > Writing > Writing Skills
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
