Message from Dean - May 8th 2007
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 808
EAN: 9781582971032
ISBN: 158297103X
Label: Writers Digest Books
Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 140
Publication Date: September 15, 2001
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Studio: Writers Digest Books
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Finally, Orson Scott Card's Hugo award-winning classic on the art and craft of writing science fiction and fantasy is available in paperback! Card provides invaluable advice for every science fiction and fantasy writer interested in constructing stories about people, worlds and events that stretch the boundaries of the possible...and the magical. They'll learn: * what is and isn't science fiction and fantasy, and where their story fits in the mix * how to build, populate, and dramatize a credible, inviting world readers will want to explore * how to use the MICE quotient--milieu, idea, character and event--to structure a successful story * where the markets are, how to reach them and get published There's no better source of information for writers working in these genres. This book will help them effectively produce exciting stories that are both fascinating and market-ready.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Orson Scott Card (well known to sf circles as the author of Ender's Game) presents his advice on writing science fiction and fantasy. The book has a specific and limited scope: rather than trying to teach everything one needs to know to write fiction, Card addresses only those areas where speculative fiction differs from other types. Consequently, this is not a stand-alone writing book. If you are unacquainted with the craft of plotting, character development, dialog, etc., you will need to fill those gaps in some other way.
Within the scope the book sets for itself, however, it is top notch. Card really knows his stuff, and has a knack for articulating what he knows in a helpful and memorable way. Particularly valuable is the section on exposition. While most books on fiction writing preach minimizing exposition, Card understands that speculative fiction requires it. The imaginative worlds of speculative fiction are not familiar to readers; they need explaining, and readers ... Read More
Rating:  -
I received this book and was very excited to learn things that my writing has been missing. After reading this book I realized that this is not where I will find the answers. The basics of the information is OK, but I agree with what a previous reviewer said having never had any formal writing training outside of highschool english class myself that what we have here is basically just the common sence basics. It's OK for a refresher course for those who haven't done any writing since school, but if you're expecting to unlock some secret formula and suddenly be a published author by the end of reading the book, you're going to be disappointed. I've learned that there's no book out there that can tell you how to use your imagination, although some can give you tips and ideas of how to tap into it and your experiences to come up with story ideas.
One thing I noticed here is that the author (who I must admit after reading some of his other works recently is nothing to write home ... Read More
Rating: -
Well written, with lots of great insights and real confidence builder. Card also give a lot of resources for further study. At one point (from memory) he says that you must simultaneously believe that the story you are working on today is the greatest story ever written ... so that you have the confidence to move forward. And that the current story you are working on is drivel (my word), so you can take the criticisms and rejection and move on.
The advice he gives on how to query magazines and publishers is worth it's weight in gold, and the section on being careful not to get "pegged" in a specific genre is pretty good too.
The only reason this book doesn't currently rate 5 stars is because some of the information is outdated. I simply have to wonder if, other than certain magazines being out of print, if anything else in the Sci Fi & Fantasy realms have changed since the book was written?
Maybe it's time to spend a day or two updating the content, ... Read More
Rating: -
When you come down to the nuts and bolts all how to write books present the same or similer information as each other. The only difference is the presentation style of the writer and possibly the empasis of some particular aspects over others.
I found this book to be the right book at the right time for me. Some areas like the treatment of reader expectations was new (at least to me). Other points where presented well.
A lot of the examples are based on personal expirence, and why shouldn't they be? He is a published author. At the end of the day if he uses his own writing as an example he can known how he developed the ideas, if he uses someone else's he can only speculate.
About the only thing to be said against this book is that a lot of the advice on the publishing industry is dated and by now inaccurate, but hay this book was written quite some time ago and the real world is a moving target.
Rating: -
Honestly, buying and reading the book isn't worth the money or effort.
By all means, buy this book if you:
- want to hear accounts of the author's problems related to writing
- want to see his obviously opinion-based views of the publishing aspects of SF&F writing
- want to be reminded of the obvious topics that you should know already [as an aspiring writer]
Overall, the book gives more out-of-date examples and opinion-based reasoning than it's worth. Throughout the book, there are perhaps no more than a handful of useful bits of information presented, that you didn't already know. If you know almost nothing about writing, then perhaps this book will be good for you to read. For most people, however, the money and time spent on this book are just not worth it overall.
Simply reading through this book makes you want to throw it across the room. The author's perception of the publishing aspects of writing are blatant bull****, and are obviously ... Read More
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