The Lie That Tells A Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction

Description

“This is the most practical, hard-nosed, generous, direct, and useful guide to writing fiction I’ve ever read. Thank you, John Dufresne, for this gift to writers—not just beginning writers, but all writers. Dufresne knows all the obstacles to good writing and to being a writer, from experience, and he’ll have none of that. His generous, wise, cajoling, stern, and compassionate voice will get you working right away. Buy this book and save your writing life.” —Brad Watson, author of The Heaven of Mercury [Back Cover] INTRODUCTION....XIII The Process GETTING IN SHAPE....3 AS A MATTER OF FACT ... 11 WRITING AROUND THE BLOCK....21 BECOMING A WRITER....31 PICK YOURSELF UP....47 SITTING ALONE IN A QUIET ROOM....57 GETTING BLACK ON WHITE....69 DOING IT AGAIN (And Again [And Again]).... 81 THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO SEE....95 CLISHMACLAVER.... 109 The Product GETTING HER UP THE TREE, GETTING HER DOWN • Beginnings and Endings-119 THE QUEEN DIED OF GRIEF • Plot.. ..133 PLOTTERY • Plot_159 THE HEART OF FICTION • Character-169 THE METHOD • Character-183 “LET’S TALK,” HE SAID • Dialogue-197 MAY I ASK WHO’S CALLING, PLEASE? • Point of View.... 221 YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING IF YOU’RE NOWHERE • Place.... 243 THE ART OF ABBREVIATION • The Very Short Story.... 257 Other Matters READING TO WRITE....267 THE WRITER READS....273 SMALL CRAFT WARNINGS.... 289 GO FORTH AND WRITE....297