Elements of Writing Fiction - Characters & Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing),   ISBN:9780898799279

Customer Rating: 

Awesome book. Very detailed and extensive. Seems like a simple thing but rather than using quotes from other books to demonstrate a concept, he's written his own. This really helps to make the point. Most other books I've read on writing quote from example fiction novels. The problem is that they'll quote one book for a good example of a concept and from another source for a bad example. Its comparing apples to oranges and makes it hard to really get the point. Orson Scott Card does an awesome job with his examples and delves into really satisfying depth with all the subjects he's covered. Its the first book on writing that I'm inspired to read again.

Customer Rating: 

This book is very well done. There were some pages that took me days to finish because I'd spending hours between each paragraph writing down a flood of ideas and information. He does give a beneficial disclaimer in the beginning that not all ideas will be pertinent to all writers, as is usually the case in a comprehensive summary of any subject. There were chapters that I could have skimmed through because I'd already applied these principles to my work; others were invaluable to adding depth and breadth to my characters. I will be rereading this book often.

Customer Rating: 

This book has given me many ideas abotu writing my novel. It has helped me decide what viewpoint to use and which of my characters to develop. It has also helped me to know when I am making a novice mistake in my writing.

Customer Rating: 

I checked this book out 3 times at the library before finally deciding to buy it. Written in an engaging mentor to student kind of voice, I found myself really enjoying Orson Scott Card's take on Character development and viewpoint.I'm currently attending college, pursuing a degree in creative writing and I have to say even with all the thorough (and very expensive) classes I take, this book is really a gem. He breaks down character functions, pacing, character arc, etc. For $15 you get what you might never learn in a workshop.

Customer Rating: 

There aren't any writing exercises in this book. As a beginning writer, I need all the help I can get. The high ratings this book has received helped me decide to buy it. This book sounded like it would help me understand how to create characters, but with no exercises, it is of little use to me at this time. Perhaps it would be useful to a more experienced writer than I am.