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Chargement... Description (Elements of Fiction Writing) (édition 1999)par Monica Wood (Auteur)
Information sur l'oeuvreDescription par Monica Wood
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. This book came recommended by a friend of mine. As description can sometimes give me fits (where to put it, what to say, how much, etc.), I was more than happy to hear her glowing recommendation for this book and to add it to my required reading list for the term. And I now have to add my glowing recommendation on top of hers. Wood's text takes every aspect of description and ties it in with another element of writing: forward motion, setting, dialogue, style, and point of view. She also discusses particular problems that come up with description, and tackles some of those lessons so many writers hold dear. For my buck, one of the most enlightening sections was the discussion of showing versus telling, where Wood breaks both down and explains what they mean in fiction, and why and when you should choose one over the other. That was gold. I'm particularly a fan of the telling voice when it's engaging, so I'm glad to see someone take "Show, Don't Tell" and put it in its proper place. Not that Wood advocates telling over showing, per se: she simply discusses how telling versus showing can rev up style, pick up the pace, and define the focus of your tale. After all, you don't always need a dramatized flashback to get a key piece of information across. Sometimes, you just need to lay it out like it is. Flashbacks and flash-forwards are something else Wood discusses in detail, as well as simile and metaphor. I paid particular attention to description through dialogue, since I tend to rely on dialogue more than anything, but I also found her section on point of view particularly useful, as well as her section on setting. Interesting note on point of view, I think my third person tends to be more limited-distant, which is interesting, since my preference in reading is limited-intimate, and that's what I'm trying for. I keep blaming television and film for the measure of distance I can't seem to break out of, so point of view will continue to be something I continue to work at and improve on. And I even found her commentary on setting very useful. That's a particular weakness of mine, and every little bit of advice helps. Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. It's a smooth read, accessible, and it uses good examples to get the point across. Beginning writers will find this of particular use, but I wouldn't limit this book to only beginners. There's some very good stuff in here, and it gives us plenty of food for thought, no matter what genre you write in. aucune critique | ajouter une critique
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Description is most powerful when it's visible, aural, tactile. Make your descriptions fresh and they'll move your story forward, imbue your work with atmosphere, create that tang of feeling that editors cry for and readers crave. Monica Wood helps you squeeze the greatest flavor from the language. She segments description like an orange, separating its slices to let you sample each one. You'll learn about: Detail, and how you can use description to awaken the reader's senses of touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight Plot, from advancing story using only relevant description--and how to edit out sluggish, reader-stopping writing Style, and the use of description to create a mood that matches your story's content Point of view, how selecting omniscient, first person or third person limited narrative influences the descriptive freedom you have Creating original word depictions of people, animals, places, weather and movement Wood teaches by example, developing stories with characters in various situations, to show you how you can apply description techniques. You'll also see samples of work by such noted writers as Mark Helprin, Anne Tyler and Raymond Carver. And you'll find the dos and don'ts, lists and descriptive alternatives to common verbs and nouns, and tips for editing your work. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Mind you, that editor also told me that if you're going to take advice on writing, take it either from name-bestselling writers or gatekeepers such as acquiring editors or agents--not necessarily anyone who writes for Writer's Digest or has taught a writing class. Wood doesn't quality as a "name" writer, but I have liked the Elements of Fiction Writing series Writer's Digest puts out and this is no exception. Wood is good at breaking down the issues effectively. It's interesting how description comes up in every aspect of storytelling. There are chapters on "Description and Forward Motion," "Description and Dialogue," "Description and Point of View," "Description and Style," and "Description and Setting." ( )