Elements Of Fiction Writing - Characters & Viewpoint

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E-Book Overview

This book made me stop writing for a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. Not only is it very informative, it's entertaining too and presents the information in very lucid way. I've yet to read Card's fiction, but even the examples he provides in this book are intriguing enough to make me wish the story went on from there! He definitely knows what he's talking about. I felt like after reading the book I had a much clearer understanding about what I was doing in my own characterization. Just being aware of things like the difference between presentational and representational stories, levels of narrative penetration and so forth really help demystify the writing process. I've read a fair number of writing reference books and was pleasantly surprised to find that even in the most basic chapters, like the point of view sections, there was new information for me or information that was presented in a different light. I think this book could be helpful to writers of all skill levels. If you're a novice, the amount of information and number of choices he presents might at first seem intimidating, but even if only a tenth of the book sinks in the first time you read it, you will be a better writer for it. And if you're already pretty comfortable with your level of expertise, I think you'll find the breakdown helps you become more consciously aware of what you're doing. Another thing I liked about it was that it provides examples of bad characterization. I've read writing books that don't give any bad examples, and find it frustrating; I like having references to check myself against, as well as those to which I can aspire. Also, he doesn't give the reader specific writing exercises to do, for which I'm grateful. Does anyone actually do these exercises? I'd rather apply the information to projects I'm already working on, or go back to old stories and improve them.

E-Book Content

CHARACTERS AND VIEWPOINT BY ORSON SCOTT CARD WRITER'S DIGEST BOOKS CINCINNATI, OHIO Characters and Viewpoint. Copyright (r) 1988 by Orson Scott Card. Printed and bound in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Writer's Digest Books, an imprint of F&W Publications, Inc., 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207. (800) 2890963. First paperback edition 1999. Other fine Writer's Digest Books are available from your local bookstore or direct from the publisher. Visit our Web site at www.writersdigest.com for information on more resources for writers. To receive a free weekly E-mail newsletter delivering tips and updates about writing and about Writer's Digest products, send an E-mail with the message "Subscribe Newsletter" to [email protected], or register directly at our Web site at www.writersdigest.com. Portions of this book appeared previously in Writer's Digest (October, November, and December 1986) and in Amazing Stories ("Adolescence and Adulthood in Science Fiction," September 1987). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Card, Orson Scott. Characters and viewpoint / Orson Scott Card, p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-89879-927-9 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Fiction-Technique 2. Characters and characteristics in literature. 3. Point of view (Literature) I. Tide. PN3383.C4C37 1988 808.3-dc!9 88-15532 CIP Illustrations by Janice Card To Gert Fram, alias Nancy Alien Black: You never had any trouble finding an attitude or point of view, and as for inventiveness, you wrote the book. A