"you can get away with anything as long as you do it well" This is a truism that extends to every aspect of writing.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
I think that this is one of those nuggets of wisdom that says a lot in just a few words. You could take it as “there is no right way to do something.” Or you could take it as “avoid analysis paralysis, stop thinking about how to do it and just do it well”
@vCoralSandsv
4 ай бұрын
Story Genius by Lisa Cron has really changed how I approach writing a scene. The author posits a "3rd rail" that runs along each scene that ties why the scene matters and what the character does next because of it. This is separate from the plot's cause and effect. The third rail dives into character motivation, needs, and wants, but also ensures every scene is essential to telling the story. I really recommend it. Just bought the Art of Fiction and am excited to learn more!
@kkay3784
4 ай бұрын
Sol Stein on Writing, Sol Stein on Editing. Yes! Passive voice video PLEASE!
@dukeofdenver
4 ай бұрын
Wired for Story by Lisa Kron is the best writing book I've ever read, especially in dissecting exactly what is happening when writing seems "boring".
@BooksForever
4 ай бұрын
This one is a solid recommendation.
@ivydehler2439
4 ай бұрын
This is a great book.
@raina4732
4 ай бұрын
Someone in a previous video of yours recommended Matt Bird’s The Secrets of Story, and I can confirm it’s excellent! Packed full of great advice. One the things I loved was the way he describes how to make a likable character. No one cares about a “save the cat” moment. We connect with characters who are misunderstood, so have the character in Act 1 do something for good intentions and someone around them misinterprets their action or motive as bad. (In Black Swan, Nina assumes she didn’t get the ballet part because she has no confidence, so she congratulates the girl she assumes got the part. The girl runs smiling to the cast list and then comes back to Nina angry and says F You! Nina is so shocked and almost scared by this, she goes timidly to the cast list and sees her own name, she got the part. But now she feels like a (female dog) and her genuine kindness was misinterpreted as being malicious.
@moshecallen
4 ай бұрын
Garner's marking of meter etc is not just about avoiding distracting rhymes. It's about controlling the rhythm and flow of the text. Tolkien and other writers who excel at poetry (so not me) are masters at this.
@michaelmayo
4 ай бұрын
I'll add a few. "On Moral Fiction" by Gardner explores just that, the moral dimension of fiction and why fiction is weaker without a strong moral center. "Into the Woods" by John Yorke is both an interesting history of storytelling and why it's been so important to man and a good explanation of fiction elements, why you need them, and how to use them. Finally, my Bible is "Techniques of the Selling Writer" by Dwight Swain. His book is the best nuts and bolts book on prose itself. How to use short sentences and paragraphs vis a vis long sentences and paragraphs in regards to creating the mood and drive of your story. These three books have been invaluable to me in writing.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
We’ve been looking for more prose-focused books!!! It’s easy to find books on storytelling, but harder to find truly useful books on writing technique and prose. Thank you for your suggestions! I’ll definitely be adding all of these to the list!
@JackieLynwood
4 ай бұрын
I found "The Secrets of Story" by Matt Bird completely by accident and it was an absolute game-changer. I have not found another writing craft book that so succinctly lays out the components of a compelling story. K.M. Weiland is another craft writer (her podcast/KZitem is also fantastic) who is excellent at giving accessible, easy-to-follow guidelines for creating an amazing story that readers can't put down.
@keithprice3369
4 ай бұрын
I generally dislike first person POV. It just doesn't feel natural to me -- as a reader and as a writer. If I'm telling someone about something that happened to me or something I did, I'm probably an unreliable narrator because I'm going to either gloss over my weaknesses or exaggerate my strengths. I'd be either too humble or two much of a braggart. And I'd end up feeling the need to apologize. And if I need a twist in my story, it feels highly manipulative to have withheld it from my story telling. I know a lot of people love first person. I much prefer deep 3rd person POV.
@Iron-Bridge
4 ай бұрын
Very valid point. Even though I do like good first person POV 😊
@keithprice3369
4 ай бұрын
@@Iron-Bridge If the storytelling is good, I can usually overlook my annoyance with 1st Person. The only book where 1st Person really worked for me (in fact I loved it) was Name of the Wind. And that's only because it was really a 3rd Person POV where the main character actually starts telling a story to some visitors. The first person aspect worked well there because it actually felt like someone telling someone their life story. Most 1st Person narratives don't feel that way to me.
@EddieCaplan
4 ай бұрын
Art of Fiction was one of the first, and best, books about writing I read. Thanks for promoting it!
@jerrel.writes
4 ай бұрын
Story by Robert McKee changed my writing game completely
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't heard of this one. I'll put it on the list!
@jerrel.writes
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theoryand I shall start Art of Fiction :)
@josephinebalfour
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theoryit’s absolutely up there as THE book for screen writers. I am fond of The Art of Fiction by David Lodge too. It’s a brilliant intro to the nuts and bolts of actually writing your first draft of a book. The Creative Writing Students Handbook by Cathie Hartigan and Margaret James is also a handy introductory book and The Creative Writing Course Book by Julia Bell et al, is considered a must but it’s done nothing but collect dust on my book shelf for more than a decade now.
@Tony-id6kg
4 ай бұрын
Story is one of my all time favourites. But if you love Story, and McKee's style, you will probably find Gardner's book and specifically his style of writing ... uninspiring at best. Where McKee is truly inclusive, deeply human and absolutely incredible at teaching both the artistic and technical aspects of storytelling, Gardner is condescending, elitist and boring. His book didn't exactly age well.
@kentjensen4504
4 ай бұрын
@@Tony-id6kgTell us you’re woke without telling us you’re woke. You just got me to buy Gardner’s book.
@terryg4589
3 ай бұрын
"He had opened the door and saw the thief" isnt the passive voice. It is the past perfect (had opened) and past simple (saw the thief)
@dmandrewsauthor
4 ай бұрын
Polyglots will tell you that language is chiefly acquired, not learned. I believe it is the same with writing fiction. You acquire it through reading fiction.
@oaktreeman4369
3 ай бұрын
"Writing Fiction" by R V Cassill was the book that got me started. It's divided into three sections. The first deals with the techniques of storytelling- dialogue, scene and half-scene, and so on. The final section deals with more abstract themes - unity, tone, and so on. The middle section consists of six short stories by various writers - including "The Lady with the Pet Dog" by Chekhov.
@meherazulazim
4 ай бұрын
I was surprised and happy when I saw this video pop up on my feed. I relied a lot on this book when I was trying to transition from writing poetry to writing fiction way back in 2018. At times it was a stern teacher but most of the time a good friend. There's advice here and in Gardner's "On Becoming A Novelist" that can change you for the better as an author and perhaps as a person too. For example, "a good writer is never a bad physian" has continued to stay with me. Thank you for doing this video. Hope it blows up!
@Jppen97
4 ай бұрын
Here’s one vote for that passive voice video!
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
You DO exist…color me impressed
@Jppen97
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theory I was actually JUST looking for a video on the topic. I generally try to avoid it, but there are sometimes where it just *feels* right to use and sounds right. The issue is that I do not know the theory well enough to know how and how not to use it. So I would love any more info on it!
@technologistrevolution
4 ай бұрын
@@Jppen97 The passive voice can (I'd even say should) be used if you want to de-emphasize the agent of the action to the point you don't think it necessary to mention them at all. It means the agent *could* be dropped. The need for this is rare in fiction. The reason it doesn't work in most cases is (to use an example) "The MC was stabbed by the knight" places the knight in a position that *could* remove reference to them altogether ("The MC was stabbed"), however, because the knight is the one stabbing the MC they're important! You don't actually want to lose sight of them. It is salient to the reader and to the MC that it is the knight stabbing them (and not anyone else in the scene). If the agent truly can be dropped or you truly do not believe they are salient then the passive is fine. "The palm trees were shaped by the wind" (a drunken paraphrase of Hemingway, I'm sure he'd approve) is fine because "the wind" is not nearly as important as the shape of the palm trees. In fact, for good use of the passive I'd actually recommend reading The Old Man And The Sea and you'll see in most cases where the passive is used the agent is either unimportant or needs to be de-focused.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
What a good breakdown!
@Jppen97
4 ай бұрын
@@technologistrevolution thanks so much for this!
@ranovee2682
4 ай бұрын
Lesser known book from what I have seen but one of my favorites is Maps of the Imagination: The Writer As Cartographer. Its most about the journey of creating art in your mind, not so much the technical side of writing. But wow is it brilliant and interesting.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
As someone who also digs maps, I love it. Thanks for a book I haven’t heard of before!
@Johanna_reads
4 ай бұрын
I didn't finish this book before returning it to the library, but it is a gem for writers or anyone who wants to learn about the craft. I'm not a writer, but I enjoy learning about the topic to provide better reviews. It's a challenging read at times, as you mentioned. Thanks for the highlights and for bringing attention to this excellent book!
@hannibalhills
4 ай бұрын
Yes, please on the passive voice video.
@BlackMasterJoe89
4 ай бұрын
One of my favorite writing books is "Consider This" by Chuck Palahniuk.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
I didn't know that Palahniuk had a writing book! I'll definitely have to check it out. Kind of scared of what I might learn from him
@BillPeschel
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theory He quotes a lot from the guy who taught him, who runs a writing group. But it has his own insights like this: "People love to see others suffer and lose. Perhaps this trend toward losers explains the horror vogue in the same period [late 1960s, early ’70s]. From Rosemary’s Baby to The Omen, The Sentinel, Burnt Offerings, and The Stepford Wives, we watched innocent people abused and destroyed by sinister forces beyond their awareness. The formula varies in small ways, but it remains a pornography of someone else’s suffering."
@Garrettero
4 ай бұрын
Great book, one of my favorites too.
@BooksForever
4 ай бұрын
It’s a banger! I highly recommend it, too.
@ernestboston7707
4 ай бұрын
I remember the very first time I watched an interview of him - had no idea who he was - and it was a mesmerizing journey, I realized about half way through it thinking, "Wow, I bet I never forget this piece of video", and I only watched it once, so far. Soft White Underbelly Novelist interview-Chuck Palahniuk
@orcasquall
4 ай бұрын
I've watched lots of videos on writing, story telling, film making, screenplay writing, and so on. All in the name of "how do I tell a good story?" Then I came across this book "5000 words per hour: Write faster, write smarter" by Chris Fox (not sponsored), and I realised that my problem now is not story structure, it's that I'm writing too slow.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
These are my favorite kinds of recommendations. Definitely looking into this one. Thanks!!
@upg5147
4 ай бұрын
I would like a video on passive voice but what I would REALLY enjoy is a video on different sentence structures and how to mix them up. There aren't many videos on that topic on KZitem from what I found and it's something I know I struggle with but don't really know the different ways to change things up. I would love some advice on types of sentences to help me spice up my work. Amazing job as always!
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Noted! Thanks for letting me know :) I’m definitely put something together for sentence structures!
@nicklang6798
2 ай бұрын
I have to say thogh i wish more fantasy and sci-fi writers would do more writing books, like Terry Brooks has one out, Usuala Lagueini, um um, yeah thats all i can think of
@Writing-Theory
2 ай бұрын
I feel the same way! Orson Scott Card has a small book called science fiction and fantasy that’s pretty good. Brandon Sandersons free KZitem college classes on writing are another great resource for fantasy writers! Not a book but still helpful
@nicklang6798
2 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theory 😂 you know I completely forgot I have Orson Scott Cards writing book. Ok, so now we have three sci Fi fantasy writing books 😄 oh, I think JK Rowlering has one to buy it's not by her though.
@SpookySkellyGurl
4 ай бұрын
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace is one of the most illuminating books I've ever read.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
I’ve seen this one come up a few times! Everyone says that it’s a game changer
@SpookySkellyGurl
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theory I'd go so far as to say, having it assigned as a textbook in college was almost worth that whole semester's tuition.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
My god, she’s gone too far
@paint-baby
4 ай бұрын
I'd watch a video on passive voice, as someone who has a lot of problems with it in all of my writing including persuasive writing
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Good to know! I know that it’s a pain point for a lot of writers in a lot of different styles
@WillGraham-uv1ol
3 ай бұрын
Thx 4 the video ginger this was very informative ❤❤❤
@bryanrussell4613
4 ай бұрын
Ursula Le Guin's Steering the Craft is the best. This helped me with grammar in terms of tenses.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Love me some Le Guin! Steering the craft has come up a lot in the comments. It’s definitely on the list!
@luiscorona2379
4 ай бұрын
what did I think about this video? AWESOME review! Just clicked the purchase button on Amazon! Thank you!
@ThomasHawkwood
3 ай бұрын
I've been taking my writing and playing it through Siri or AI voice to hear it spoken to me. I think it helps me hear what sounds odd or good.
@sarahalbert6833
4 ай бұрын
Yes please to a video on passive voice. I still catch myself using it without intending to. Sometimes it creeps in without me noticing until I get to the edit. Some advice on when it should be avoided and when it is okay to use would be greatly appreciated. I haven't read the John Gardner book. It seems a little heavy for me. I have read all the others though and enjoyed them greatly. 😁 PS please give Bailey a pat from me
@heythereJungle
4 ай бұрын
great vid as always, dunno how we're sitting at 30 views, these will get big someday soon!!
@ShandoGuardian
2 ай бұрын
please explain the passive voice. I could actually use some technical writing advice
@greblaksnew
4 ай бұрын
What's with you people and the passive voice? Was the distinction between passive and active voices, and when and how to use them, never taught you?
@michaelrahman1163
4 ай бұрын
I would suggest a book called Writing Fiction A GUIDE TO NARRATIVE CRAFT Tenth Edition JANET BURROWAY with ELIZABETH STUCKEY-FRENCH and NED STUCKEY-FRENCH
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Anything that gets a 10th edition is bound to be good. Added it to the list!
@keithprice3369
4 ай бұрын
It's interesting because you're saying this is a really good book but if I had watched your discussion of it without knowing your conclusion up front, I'd have assumed you didn't much care for it. 😊
@edwardmemwah1610
3 ай бұрын
Great artists steal what they love and then make it their own, so you're never going to read the best advice about writing in a book about how to write. James Scott Bell's Plot and Structure is loaded with useful exercises that you can apply to works that you love, so you can learn how to replicate what you love for your own readers. That's really the most important skill.
@WillGraham-uv1ol
3 ай бұрын
What do u mean great artists "steal"...?
@edwardmemwah1610
3 ай бұрын
@@WillGraham-uv1ol Ideas come from other ideas and the best way to learn how to write is to first learn how to read. Walt Disney didn't bother to create new stories, he showed old stories in a new way and built the richest entertainment company in the world. George Lucas didn't create Star Wars from nothing, there are entire books and documentaries about his influences. Most writing advice is worthless because it doesn't include good instructions for how to steal from works you love (and hate) and make them your own. That is the essence of all art. Never, ever ever ever, waste your time trying to think of "new" ideas. We're all surrounded ideas that are free for the taking. But you have to collect them and make them your own. Steal and get away with it. Never copy.
@ernestboston7707
4 ай бұрын
I jumped over to Amazon to see a piece of this book, but it was printed a long time ago so the printing is difficult for me to read. I am just used to reading modern fonts and find it irritating to my eyes.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
For writing books, I’ve been using the ebook versions and this is one of the reasons why. That and the fact that it’s really easy to highlight and find the text that I’ve highlighted. Also, as someone who’s been burned by a couple bad printings of physical books, I feel your pain, my friend.
@rachelthompson9324
4 ай бұрын
King's book on writing is useless. I've read dozens of books on craft. The most comprehensive book for a serious writer, in my view, is from Larry Brooks called, Story Engineering. I'm also a fan of Deb Dixon's book, Goal, Motivation and Conflict, for new writers.
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the recommendations! I don’t think I’ve seen the Deb Dixon book mentioned yet. I’ll add both to the list!
@BooksForever
4 ай бұрын
Story Engineering is indeed a good recommendation-definitely worth reading.
@rachelthompson9324
4 ай бұрын
@@Writing-Theory I met Deb in the late 90s. I don't know if she is still around but I have heard you can still find her books on amazon although used.
@rachelthompson9324
4 ай бұрын
@@BooksForever It's not an easy read for persons new to the craft but Brooks covers everything one needs to know. Every craft books says some of the same things while Brooks says it all.
@ashley-r-pollard
3 ай бұрын
Dwight V. Swain, Jack Bickham, and Deborah Chester are good reads.
@ailynkoay3285
4 ай бұрын
what's accidental rhyme?
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Accidental rhymes are times when your words swerve like birds into similar pronunciations. Your writing takes on a musical quality, and between you and me, the reader gets distracted and impacted by the compacted sounds that they hear and reading the sounds out loud. Or, without me trying to do accidental rhyming, it’s using words that rhyme too close together in your writing. When reading it out loud, it sounds weird. It almost comes out as slam poetry.
@samwaters2001
3 ай бұрын
Steering the craft by Ursula k. Le Guin is awesome
@nicklang6798
2 ай бұрын
A great book i live about the structure of writing is Scene and Structure by James Scott Bell 😮 he tackles a lot of other issues too. Mab i wish i had this 15 yrs ago
@WillGraham-uv1ol
3 ай бұрын
I believe u would like syntax as style by virginia tufte btw
@Sharath275
4 ай бұрын
John truby anatamy of story and genres are the best book on writing stories..
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
That’s the next video in this series. I’m excited for it! Everyone speaks very highly of it
@plus1creator
4 ай бұрын
Starting a sentence with -ing words is bad? Never thought about it. But, the one I just did will be my last!
@Latinocr
4 ай бұрын
The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne
@danielchapman6032
9 күн бұрын
It's OOP, but I like Techniques of the $elling Writer byt Dwight V Swain.
@boogerie
4 ай бұрын
Well if you liked THE ART OF FICTION so much you probably should read ON BECOMING A NOVELIST by John Gardner as well
@Writing-Theory
4 ай бұрын
Something tells me that Gardner has very specific definitions for a Novelist and a Writer and somehow they’re different
@ChrisHaze100
4 ай бұрын
John trubys new book on genre
@BooksForever
4 ай бұрын
I agree… Truby’s new book on genre was way more useful than The Anatomy of Story, which I found to be a somewhat incomprehensible hash-and this is coming from someone who genuinely respects Truby and feels he does a fine job explaining storycraft in interviews. Somehow everything just went amiss in the written Anatomy of Story. But Genre is solid.
@vaultboy6455
4 ай бұрын
Listening for 20 minutes to someone claiming to be even a minor authority on writing, only to find out he's unable to pronounce Dostoevsky (DOS-TOY-EV-SKI, btw)....and you lost me for good... Utterly absurd...
@johnmrke2786
4 ай бұрын
I'll check them out. The clickbaitiness makes you look sus though.
@wordfullyyours
2 ай бұрын
I as not impressed with The Anatomy of Story.
@haydongonzalez-dyer2727
4 ай бұрын
Neat
@giiibbzoffizix
4 ай бұрын
❤
@kaoskronostyche9939
4 ай бұрын
I read this book when it first came out in 1991. I have read many "how to write" books over the years. I may or may not have something of value to add here (I think I do). I know my views will be controversial so I will keep them to myself. You're welcome.
@raina4732
4 ай бұрын
Just purchased with your link in the description! Does that mean your doggies get treats? 🦴🦴
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