This book is all about writing for publication. How to plan, create and edit work that will sell. How to write a book that you'll be proud of- and which might yet launch you on a new career. Crammed with examples (positive and negative) from successful authors, this essential guide is for writers of every genre: fiction and narrative non-fiction, literary and commercial, adults and children. This guide tells you how to: - Understand your market - Plan your novel or memoir - Develop strong, empathetic characters - Structure and maintain a compelling plot - Ensure that your prose style is strong enough to carry your story - Polish your work until it shines
Writers' & Artists' Guide to How to Write
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Product Description
About the Author
Harry Bingham has authored five novels for HarperCollins and two non-fiction titles with 4th Estate. He has signed a three book crime series deal with Orion. He was included in WHS Fresh Talent Promotion, was shortlisted for WHS's Thumping Good Read Award, and longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin International Literary Prize. He is author of the Writers and Artists Yearbook Guide to Getting Published, writes for national newspapers, is the founder of the Writers' Workshop and editorial consultancy service.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By AGP
Format:Paperback
A lot of these guide books for authors can be heavy going and soul-less, and written by people painfully under qualified to give any sort of advice on how to do it.
Not so with this excellent example of how to write a guide book.
A good guide book should obviously contain lots of useful and practical information, help and professional insight but it's also vital that it's teachings are imparted in an entertaining, engaging and inspiring way and this book does it all.
The advice itself is absolutely invaluable throughout. Everything is covered from character development to plotting, scene and chapter structure to tense and perspective, all with a focus on helping you produce writing of a marketable standard. The information is presented clearly in parts and subsections with useful end of section summaries designed to make navigating the books mine of insight easier (because you will want to refer back to it time after time.)
The section on prose style in itself contains enough jewels to justify purchase but the whole book is rich with advice, points, tips and theories (many of which are clearly demonstrated in practice using excerpts from contemporary and classic published works) which cannot fail to make you a better writer.
I've read this cover to cover with my own work in progress temporarily on pause and already it's improved my style, made my work cleaner and more economic and has even inspired the addition of a fundamental plot element which I didn't see coming and as a result my manuscript is already infinitely better than it was (and that's without even resuming work on it yet.)
I now intend to read it again from front to back with a notebook and pen to hand applying its wealth of knowledge to my work.
I would rate 'How To Write' as highly as Stephen King's 'On Writing' and Walter Mosley's 'This Year You Write Your Novel' as essential purchases for aspiring writers and I cannot praise it more highly than to say that of the three, this one contains the most practical advice on how to make your manuscript better.
Not so with this excellent example of how to write a guide book.
A good guide book should obviously contain lots of useful and practical information, help and professional insight but it's also vital that it's teachings are imparted in an entertaining, engaging and inspiring way and this book does it all.
The advice itself is absolutely invaluable throughout. Everything is covered from character development to plotting, scene and chapter structure to tense and perspective, all with a focus on helping you produce writing of a marketable standard. The information is presented clearly in parts and subsections with useful end of section summaries designed to make navigating the books mine of insight easier (because you will want to refer back to it time after time.)
The section on prose style in itself contains enough jewels to justify purchase but the whole book is rich with advice, points, tips and theories (many of which are clearly demonstrated in practice using excerpts from contemporary and classic published works) which cannot fail to make you a better writer.
I've read this cover to cover with my own work in progress temporarily on pause and already it's improved my style, made my work cleaner and more economic and has even inspired the addition of a fundamental plot element which I didn't see coming and as a result my manuscript is already infinitely better than it was (and that's without even resuming work on it yet.)
I now intend to read it again from front to back with a notebook and pen to hand applying its wealth of knowledge to my work.
I would rate 'How To Write' as highly as Stephen King's 'On Writing' and Walter Mosley's 'This Year You Write Your Novel' as essential purchases for aspiring writers and I cannot praise it more highly than to say that of the three, this one contains the most practical advice on how to make your manuscript better.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Paul B
Format:Paperback
This book covers off all the writing bases from planning through to final editing and does so with aplomb. But what makes it potentially even more useful to an unpublished writer, is the author's knowledge of the publishing industry - in particular his experience in pitching books of all genres to agents through his writing consultancy. As a result the guidance is flavoured with a strong dose of what publishers actually want, which - in a nut shell (depressingly) - is to make money. But the positive message is clear also - write something excellent for the market you are targeting - and you will succeed.
'How to Write' is entertaining as well as clearly written, and the textual examples have a good range. I am in the process of planning a new novel and reading this guide in tandem has helped me wrestle afresh with tricky issues such as the 'motivation of my protagonist' upfront, rather than having to painfully fix the problems afterwards. Anyway that's the plan - why isn't any of this ever easy!
'How to Write' is entertaining as well as clearly written, and the textual examples have a good range. I am in the process of planning a new novel and reading this guide in tandem has helped me wrestle afresh with tricky issues such as the 'motivation of my protagonist' upfront, rather than having to painfully fix the problems afterwards. Anyway that's the plan - why isn't any of this ever easy!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A. Peabody
Format:Paperback
Although this book is called How To Write, I think at base it does a slightly different job. The emphasis is rather more, how to avoid getting it wrong. For me this is no bad thing. A lot of books offering help and guidance in any field tackle their subject by effectively saying the way to do whatever it is is to do it this way; because this is the way I do it. This book approaches the subject by saying, here are the aspects of writing you need to get right. It then presents examples of mistakes to avoid. Combined with selected examples from a wide variety of published works with explanations of why the selected extract does it's job, or doesn't do it, it illustrates what you need to get right and how it can be gotten right, or wrong.
It is no surprise that the book is divided in well delineated sections. The author, Harry Bingham, runs a writers consultancy and the approach feels like well defined lectures, each focussed on their specific subject, plot, character, marketplace, editing, etc etc. The approach in the book almost certainly has it's genesis in the structure of some of the courses that they run.
You don't have to read the whole thing front to back. If you understand marketplace, skip that bit. It's OK to mooch around.
In summary, this isn't going to show you how to write. But if you have it in you to write then it can help you to become a better writer, maybe even a successful one.
It is no surprise that the book is divided in well delineated sections. The author, Harry Bingham, runs a writers consultancy and the approach feels like well defined lectures, each focussed on their specific subject, plot, character, marketplace, editing, etc etc. The approach in the book almost certainly has it's genesis in the structure of some of the courses that they run.
You don't have to read the whole thing front to back. If you understand marketplace, skip that bit. It's OK to mooch around.
In summary, this isn't going to show you how to write. But if you have it in you to write then it can help you to become a better writer, maybe even a successful one.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not much about editing
This is a readable guide, clearly organised, peppered with interesting observations and often fun. Harry Bingham is an engaging writer. He is also, clearly, a business man. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patricia Cade
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easily accessible
This is the first book I have read on the subject and I found it useful for finding a starting point as I didn't really know where to begin. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs M Lay
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Writers and Artists Guide to how to write .
really amazing book ! well written fantastic advice clear concise ,everything a writer needs If I am honest its way better to purchase a book like this, than do a creative writing... Read more
Published 2 months ago by MS PINK FLUFF
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good
This is full of useful information including a few 'why didn't I think of that' moments. It is written in a relaxed style and you can just as easily head for your problem area as... Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everything you need
I wish I'd read this book earlier on. I've read quite a lot of writing technique books, but this is by far one of the best. Read more
Published 4 months ago by NIGEL COOPER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well recommended over the years
Absolutely stuffed with information and souces. A very long read for a begginer in the subject, especialy one who cannot spell.
Published 4 months ago by Derekfoxes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Become a writer? Read this first.
Step by step outline of how to write well. The writer's catechism, as it were. Every budding writer should read this first, then have it by one's side in the process. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Flower
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must
A must for any wannabe writer. Deep insight in writing techniques. Indeed a "Vade me cum" for anyone willing to write either in English or any other language.
Published 8 months ago by Arthur Rolin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Everything anyone who dreams about writing a book needs! Funny and informative..Also check out Harry Bingham's book 'How to get published'
Published 8 months ago by Linn
5.0 out of 5 stars
In The Top Two!
First off I won't say I've finished this book; I'm quite positive it's going to be in my very small and select collection of "books I am still reading and always will be. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T. Nixon
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