Turn your inspiration into a story with clear, expert guidance Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is a step-by-step creative writing course designed to hone your craft, regardless of ability. Written by the founder of the Complete Creative Writing Course at London's Groucho Club, this activity-based guide walks you through the process of developing and writing in a wide range of genres including novels, short stories and creative nonfiction. The book includes writing prompts, exercises, mind maps, flow charts and diagrams designed to get your ideas flowing. You'll get expert guidance into character development, plot structure and prose, plus extensive insight into self-editing and polishing your work.
Whether you're a new writer with a seed of an idea you would like to develop, or are looking to strengthen your creative writing skills, this book has you covered. Covering every aspect of narrative, from setting initial goals to formatting a manuscript, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies provides the tools and instruction you need to make your story the best it can be.
- Learn to spark your imagination and sketch out ideas
- Create compelling characters and paint a picture with description
- Develop your plot and structure and maintain continuity
- Step back from your work and become your own ruthless editor
The rise of e-books has opened up the publishing world, even to non-established writers. If you have a story you're dying to tell but aren't sure how, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is the clear, concise solution you need.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
Part I: Getting Started with Creative Writing Exercises 5
Chapter 1: Preparing to Create Your Writ ten Masterpiece 7
Chapter 2: Sketching Out Ideas 21
Part II: Realising That Character Is Everything 35
Chapter 3: Developing Your Characters’ Backgrounds 37
Chapter 4: Creating Drama through Dialogue 47
Chapter 5: Embodying Your Characters 57
Chapter 6: Developing Your Dialogue-Writing Skills 65
Chapter 7: Conveying Characters’ Thoughts in Style 77
Chapter 8: Choosing and Using Different Points of View 87
Chapter 9: Creating Complicated, Well-Rounded Characters 105
Part III: Painting the Picture with Description 125
Chapter 10: Navigating the Locations in Your Stories 127
Chapter 11: Appreciating the Power of the Senses 137
Chapter 12: Getting Things Done: Describing Action and Activity 147
Chapter 13: Building Character with Objects and Possessions 155
Chapter 14: Using Description to Create Atmosphere and and Suspense! 167
Chapter 15: Managing Metaphors, Similes and Symbols 187
Chapter 16: Describing the Inef fable: Saying What Can’t Be Said 203
Part IV: Developing Your Plot and Structure 213
Chapter 17: Writing a Gripping Opening 215
Chapter 18: Plot ting Your Way to Great Stories 225
Chapter 19: Making Good (Use of) Time in Your Writing 235
Chapter 20: Structuring a Longer Work of Fiction 247
Chapter 21:Tightening the Tension to Enthral Readers 257
Chapter 22: Expanding Your Ideas into Larger Narratives 267
Chapter 23: Approaching the Grand Finale: The End’s in Sight! 279
Part V: Polishing Your Product: Revising and Editing 299
Chapter 24: Reviewing and Rewriting Your Work 301
Chapter 25: Whipping Your Work into Shape 313
Chapter 26: Polishing Your Work for Publication 321
Part VI: The Part of Tens 331
Chapter 27: Ten Top Aids for Writers 333
Chapter 28: Ten Great Ways to Stay the Course 339
Index 345
About the Author :
Maggie Hamand, a novelist, journalist and nonfiction writer, is the founder of the popular Complete Creative Writing Course at the Groucho Club, London, and has been teaching aspiring writers there for 15 years.
