Published in 2011 by Headline Books, Inc., the book
is broken into roughly three sections titled “Craft “and “Genre,” and “The Writer’s
Life.” Each section has several sub-sections related to the main topic of the section.
This design allows readers to move back and forth through each section or the
book as a whole to find the information they need at the time they need it.
The “Craft” section opens the book with a
sub-section on “Style Ad Process.”
Information on opening lines, how to handle point of view and how not to
information dump is here among other items of interest. Each article is of
several pages and features a brief author bio at the end. This same format is
used throughout the book.
“Character And Dialogue” is the next sub-section starting
on page 64. This section is all about making your characters realistic, making
them suffer, and in the end, making them as well as your writing and the story
stronger.
“Plot And Structure” follows next with interesting
pieces such as “Demystifying What Editor’s Want” by Venessa Giunta. Now that you have strong characters and know
what the editors want in them, it is time to put your characters into a good
story. A good story is made up of a lot of elements such as pacing, characters
that can save themselves, find romance when warranted, as well as the setting
they are placed into for the story.
In the novels by James Lee Burke, the setting is as
important as the characters. The sub-section on “Setting” comes next starting
on page 111. While Susan Crandall does not reference Burke in her piece “Setting
as a Character: It’s More than a Backdrop”
she uses plenty of other references to make the same point while also
explaining how to do it. She isn’t the only author to discuss setting as there
is a lot more information here on this key part of your tale.
Starting on page 129 with “Genre” it is on to specifies.
After a general sub section on “Genre and Originality” which makes the point
there are certain expectations for each genre, their limitations, and how to
deal with those while pursuing originality, it is on to the various genres with
each section getting their own detailed sub section.
“Romance And Women’s Fiction” begins on page
150. While some are arguing for a clear
distinction between the two, in this book they are grouped together. In a
poignant and inspirational essay by Crystal B. Bright titled “Write from the
Heart” she explains how she pursued her dream and the novel she wanted to write
despite the “no’s.” Her inspirational story does not apply just to romance
novelists, but to all writers in all genres. That fact ties into a key point noted
in the introduction of the book and constantly reinforced though many examples throughout
Many
Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction. Regardless of
the genre you write in, you can learn from those in other genres because there
are universal principals that link all types of writing together.
Following the essays on many types of romance is the
subsection titled “Science Fiction And Fantasy.” Pieces on world building, cyberpunk, using
myths, realism and more are here and provide a lot of interesting reading.
Then it is on to those of us who want to kill people
for fun and profit, have no underworld connections, and don‘t want to be
arrested. “Horror, Mystery and Suspense
Thrillers” begin on page 196 with essays on plotting, getting the dialogue
correct, surprising readers and lots of other good information. Along with an
excellent piece on plotting by Victoria Thompson there is an excellent advice piece
by David Morrell about thrillers.
“Children’s And Young Adult Fiction” are their own deal
and have a section starting on page 227. Getting those readers into your work
and how not to lose them is the point of this section. It is not just about
those teen readers either. How to
properly do picture book illustrations based on the text and other information
is present here.
While the book is primarily about novels it also
explores other approaches in the sub-section “Alternative Approaches.” Prolific author Michael Bracken leads off
this section with his essay, “I Write Short Stories” that begins on page 264. He
makes the point that short stories can be more lucrative than novels while also
making you a stronger writer. He also helpfully explains how to find those short
story markets, how to write for them, and how to be productive. As he points out
on page 249 – “Writing short fiction requires the same skills as writing
novels: the ability to create coherent plots, to develop believable characters,
to write realistic dialogue, and to mesmerize readers into suspending disbelief
for the length of a story.”
Also included in this section are essays on topics
such as magical realism, how magna is gaining in popularity and how to write
for that market, and movie tie in books.
Having moved through the genres and then some it is
back to advice that will definitely help all with “The Writer’s Life.” Starting
on page 269 this nearly 90 page section is devoted to sub sections on. “Learning”
and “Working” and Promoting.
“Learning” as a writer never ends and can come in
many forms. This can be from graduate school, brutal critique, workshops, or just
about anything. Even TV shows that are hated in the beginning as Catherine
Mulvany explains in “Lessons from the Vampire Slayer.”
“Working” starting on page 289 is all about productivity.
Writing more, pleasing readers in multiple genres, and time management among other
topics are covered here. As Lee McClain points out in her essay “Time
Management: Creative Paths to Productivity.” . . . unlike literary fiction,
genre fiction requires you to be prolific.
Stephanie Meyer wouldn’t have had the same success if she’d waited two years
before bringing the second Twilight
novel to completion.” (Page 297) As a genre writer, you simply have to be
productive and get a lot of work out because readers expect and demand it. Her informative
essay is about how to be productive in terms of novels, but this piece also
ties in nicely to Michael Bracken’s essay referenced above about why he chose
to pursue short stories over novels and editing anthologies.
Also in this section are excellent essays by Shelly
Bates titled “The Seven Habits That Got Me Published” and “How to Get an Agent”
by Ginger Clark among other very informative pieces. Professionalism in how you
act and your work is a key part of both pieces and the others. That includes adjusting
to the rise of e-books as well as being dumped by your publishing house. A very
informative section and one that will help you no matter where you are as a
writer.
Marketing your own work is a job many of us dread
and hate. After all, the book should sell itself, right? These days, if it ever did, things don’t work
that way which is why a section titled “Promoting” is necessary. With essays on
the basics of author bios, contact information, press releases, book reviews
and more, this section gives you the framework to tell the world about your
book. Getting information on your book out there so readers/buyers know about it
is key here with lots of basic yet very good information.
The book closes with a detailed “Resources And
References” section that covers where to go for more information imprint and
online.
An extensive and inspirational book filled with lots
of practical advice for any writer at any stage in his or her career, Many
Genres, One Craft: Lesson in Writing Popular Fiction is one of those
books that writers just have to have on their shelves. Unlike many of the
courses and books bandied about online, this book features practical and realistic
advice and tips from writers who have managed to build prolific and solid careers
stretching back decades. No matter your particular writing interest, the
information in this book will not only be specific to that interest, but to the
craft of writing as a whole. Simply put --this is an excellent book that you must
have and use.
Many
Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction
Editors
Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller
Headline
Books, Inc.
May
2011
ISBN#
978-0-938467-08-3
Hardback
(also available as e-book)
384
Pages
$29.95
Material supplied by the publisher quite some time
ago in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
Posts
4 comments:
Thank you for such an in-depth and gracious interview, Kevin!
So glad you're enjoying the book.
:) Heidi
Very good book. I am sorry it took me so long to do the review.
Okay, Kevin, you're right! This is a book I have to have.
Hope you like it, Pat. Normally I give away the review books, but this one is staying right here with me. :))
Thank you for reading and commenting.
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