Dare to Be Great Writer: 329 Keys to Powerful Fiction

by Leonard Bishop

Book Overview

Accept the challenge of writing fiction that's not just good, but GREAT--and salable. Bestselling author Leonard Bishop provides 329 succinct, powerful chapters of writing instruction, each containing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898794641
• ISBN13: 9780898794649
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Resource for Writers of All Kinds

I'm not sure if I'm alone in this pursuit, but as a writer and ever-hopeful, future novelist, I have amassed my own library of "How-to" books on the subject of writing. As it must be with surfers who are ever in search of the perfect wave, I am always in search of the perfect book of writing advice. What I've always wanted is a book that is flexible enough to meet my own writing needs while inspiring me to "push the envelope," so to speak. Some books cater to science fiction writing, while others target the would-be romance novelist. One book will tell you that writing is an art, while another will tell you that a writer who doesn't write with an audience in mind will achieve the standard definition of the "starving writer.As my library grew, my knowledge increased, but the desire to learn more about my craft has not been satisfied. I hope it never is.The book "Dare to Be a Great Writer" is, in my opinion, the author's personal challenge to you, the writer, to never settle with mediocre writing. It is broken down into easily digestible segments with each topic containing clear and concise tips and advice on many different subjects."Openings," "Plot," "Character, "Forshadowing," and "Genre" are just some of the many topics in the book. None of these detailed segments are featured together, which I believe is the author daring you to be serious about your writing enough to absorb it all without needing to refer to it constantly. There is an index in the back, just in case you want to figure out how to solve a specific problem, but I've found that I rarely need it.This book gives me many pieces of clear-cut advice and inspiration that I can safely say that this book has done more for me in honing my writing than any other single book in my writing library. I cannot say that the same will happen for you, but I think it can be an essential part of any serious writer's reference list.

What A Great Guy!

I loved Leonard Bishop's book Dare to Be a Great Writer! I think the thing that I appreciated most about the man is that he used to be a "hobo," as he put it, and could barely read, let alone write, when he got into college. Yet, you would never have guessed that unless you read his forward for the book. He overcame many obstacles, and his book is wonderfully written, concise, encouraging, inspiring. He tells all writers and would-be authors to keep the pencil moving, believe in yourself and never give up your dreams

Dare To Be A Great Writer

It is refreshing to read an Author whose aim is to advance the writer and not the author's ego. Dare To Be A Great Writer is one of, if not the the most articulate teaching books on the market. Mr. Bishop's manipulation of the written language is both powerful and mesmerizing, proving he is a genius in the craft of writing. Mr. Bishop dares to stand firm in his pursuit of excellence. I can hardly wait for Writers Digest to publish his next book, The Last Book You'll Need For Learning How To Write.

The Bible For Fiction Writers

This book is wonderful. Mr. Bishop gives excellent advice and samples on every point of fiction. He is both funny and serious. His story of how he began writing is a riot. I use this book constantly when I get depressed over my writing. The best book on writing fiction I have ever read.

More important than your dictionary

I haven't read through Leonard Bishop's book entirely, mostly because it functions more as a key reference book than any treatise on great writing. As instructed by Bishop in his introduction, you can feel free to open to any page and take in great rules and tools of the trade explained and advanced with perfect and often whimsical examples, or seek out your weak points using the index. Before you make the mistake of considering yourself a fiction writer, you need to learn the rules of the road. Bishop has written down the rules and carved out the map as well.