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How Fiction Works
How Fiction Works | James Wood
6 posts | 11 read | 31 to read
What makes a story a story? What is style? Whats the connection between realism and real life? These are some of the questions James Wood answers in How Fiction Works, the first book-length essay by the preeminent critic of his generation. Ranging widelyfrom Homer to David Foster Wallace, from What Maisie Knew to Make Way for DucklingsWood takes the reader through the basic elements of the art, step by step. The result is nothing less than a philosophy of the novelplainspoken, funny, bluntin the traditions of E. M. Forsters Aspects of the Novel and Strunk and Whites The Elements of Style. It sums up two decades of insight with wit and concision. It will change the way you read.
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WarandWar
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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One of the best books on writing you can get. Is light on plot, but makes up for it with great sections on word choice, POV, stream of consciousness and so much more. Back of book has list of all referenced books in case you want to read any of them (which i suggest you try at least, so good books in there).

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Waynegjr
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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balletbookworm
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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Mehso-so

I do really enjoy discussions of close reading, which is what makes up most of this small book. However, the arrangement of many “points” doesn‘t lend itself to remembering many of them. The narrator of this audiobook is the. Slowest. Reader. Who. Pauses. Between. Every. Word. Meaning 1.5x speed makes it sound normal. (Maybe if you are portraying an Oxbridge professor you could listen to this book instead of the expense of hiring a dialect coach)

balletbookworm Third book started, second finished for #24in48 Readathon @24in48 6y
28 likes1 comment
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cewilf
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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Found some interesting books on reading and writing...maybe I'll finally start the novel I've been thinking about for months 🤔

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TheWellReadOwl
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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My writing partner today 🐶 had a *ruff* day. 🐾

Chessa Such a cutie! 8y
Onceuponatime Aw, so tired! 8y
TheWellReadOwl @Chessa Thanks! 😊 @Onceuponatime He spent all day hanging in the sun. 🌞 8y
See All 12 Comments
List_addict It's hard work being well read! 8y
LA_Mead Did you like "How Fiction Works?" It sounds interesting. 8y
SusanInTiburon Cutie! I liked How Fiction Works quite a bit. Do you? 8y
TheWellReadOwl @LA_Mead Its not a "how to write" book but it dissects effective writing and really helps me when I'm trying to nail down a voice or when I need help rounding out a character. 8y
TheWellReadOwl @Susanintiburon Yes! I find myself coming back to it when I'm writing. 8y
MMFinck Sai, does your website have more than a cover page? I'm interested in what you write. I write women's fic and for booksbywomen.org zine. Good luck w the writing, whatev it is. :) 8y
TheWellReadOwl @MMF Website launch got pushed back 😟 until July but it will be about bookish things, reviews, life, etc. I'm also writing a book (fiction) and I'll be posting parts of it on the site. There will be a section devoted to writing. 8y
MMFinck Ah! I totally get it. It took me FOREVER to finish my website. Good luck with it! :) 8y
ineverlearn Helpful book to both readers and writers! 8y
117 likes9 stack adds12 comments
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TheWellReadOwl
How Fiction Works | James Wood
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Getting back to writing after a long hiatus. This little gem always helps me sharpen my focus. It isn't a "how to write" book, or even a "how to write well" book. It's more of a "now that you've written something, how do you make it better?" book.

31 likes12 stack adds