Research Fiction

Following the success of several recent inspirational and practical books for would-be writers, Poemcrazy is a perfect guide for everyone who ever wanted to write a poem but was afraid to try. Writing workshop leader Susan Wooldridge shows how to think, use one's senses, and practice exercises that will make poems more likely to happen.

The Uncollected Essays of Elizabeth Hardwick is a companion collection to The Collected Essays, a book that proved a revelation of what, for many, had been an open secret: that Elizabeth Hardwick was one of the great American literary critics, and an extraordinary stylist in her own right. The thirty-five pieces that Alex Andriesse has gathered here-none previously featured in volumes of Hardwick's work-make it clear that her powers extended far beyond literary criticism.

Best-selling author Elizabeth George has spent years teaching writing, and in Write Away, she shares her knowledge of the creative process. George combines clear, intelligent, and functional advice on fiction writing with anecdotes from her own life, the story of her journey to publication, and inside information on how she meticulously researches and writes her novels.

Book one in the five books of the Story Series by author, scriptwriter, story consultant, and PhD scholar of narrative theory David Baboulene. The author helps you to understand what makes stories that grip. With invaluable new thinking on subtext plus insights on story success from, Bob Gale—legendary Hollywood scriptwriter and producer of the Back to the Future trilogy, Lee Child—16 million Jack Reacher novels sold in 43 countries and 29 languages, and more. Simply a must-listen for anyone wanting to understand how to turn ideas into stories that sell.

Daisy Dumont tries so hard to be normal. She doesn't talk about the night her parents were murdered, or the fact that she can't remember it. She certainly doesn't talk about her imaginary friend who disappeared shortly afterward. Then the MRF calls. The research facility finally admits that they took her former friend, and now they want her help to save him.

For fans of determined plus-sized heroines and cinnamon-roll bear shifters, A Polar Expedition is the first standalone novella in the Shades of Sanctuary series, where the vibes are cozy, the heat is high, and the mates are monstrous. Grab a cup of tea and snuggle in because while the burn might be slow, the HEA is only a few hours away!

"Writing is structure,” William Goldman said, but too often aspiring writers plunge into their work without grasping this fundamental principle. Story structure is one of the most important concepts for a writer to understand - and ironically, one of the least frequently taught. In this book, New York Times best-selling author William Bernhardt explains the elements that make stories work, using examples spanning from Gilgamesh to The Hunger Games.

The first book in The Art Of series of books on the craft of writing, fiction writer and essayist Charles Baxter's The Art of Subtext discusses and illustrates the hidden subtextual overtones and undertones in fictional works haunted by the unspoken, the suppressed, and the secreted.

The vast majority of writers begin the storytelling process with only a partial understanding of where to begin. Some labor their entire lives without ever learning that successful stories are as dependent upon good engineering as they are artistry. But the truth is, unless you are master of the form, function, and criteria of successful storytelling, sitting down and pounding out a first draft without planning is an ineffective way to begin. Story Engineering starts with the criteria and the architecture of storytelling, the engineering and design of a story....

An audacious street rat, Pax scrambles to develop powerful and forbidden magic before his enemies can capture and ruin him. A monstrous beast, capable of shattering the city's defenses, is coming. Panic ensues, and the capital mobilizes for war, pushing Pax's strategic abilities to their limits. With time running out, the corrupt ruling families of the Astan Empire will stop at nothing to track down and extinguish any hint of rebellion. Pax races to strengthen his crew and navigate new alliances as the stakes skyrocket.

Aspects of the Novel is compiled from a series of lectures delivered in 1927 by E. M. Forster at Trinity College, Cambridge, in which he discussed the English language novel. By using examples from classic texts, he explores the seven universal aspects of the novel: story, characters, plot, fantasy, prophecy, pattern, and rhythm.

Love horror? Want to write it? Write Horror: Good Enough to Wake the Dead is a writing guide like no other. Specialized to the genre, Write Horror includes examples from movies, literature, and film as well as practical examples. Escamilla includes writing exercises, charts, and introduces two new writing methodologies: The Basement Method and the Horror Pinch Theory. Once you listen to this audiobook, you’ll be ready to scare the world.

La structure est-elle le fondement caché de toutes les histoires à succès ? Pourquoi certaines histoires fonctionnent-elles et d'autres pas ? La réponse est la structure. Dans ce guide primé de l'auteur du célèbre "Préparez votre roman", vous apprendrez les fondements universels qui garantissent une intrigue et des arcs de personnages puissants.

Learning how to write your first novel can be overwhelming. You have to master outlining, writing, revising, and so much more...and it can be scary if you've never done it before. While it seems daunting, writing your first novel is simple when you have someone experienced to help you through it. In this writer’s guide, prolific writer M.L. Ronn shares an easy step-by-step process of writing compelling fiction that he's perfected after writing over 40 books.

Once upon a time there was a novel that opened at a normal house in a typical street in England. Arthur Dent awoke to discover it was about to be demolished to make way for a new village by-pass. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy began. Once upon a time another novel opened at another normal house in a typical street in England. 4, Privet Drive, home of Mr and Mrs Dursley. The infant Harry Potter was about to be deposited on their doorstep.

Robert Olen Butler, author of Perfume River, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, and A Small Hotel, teaches graduate fiction at Florida State University—his version of literary boot camp. In From Where You Dream, Butler reimagines the process of writing as emotional rather than intellectual and tells writers how to achieve the dream space necessary for composing honest, inspired fiction.

Marie Antoinette was a child of 14 when she was made to leave her family and country to become the wife of another child, France's 15-year-old King Louis the XVI. Far from home and suddenly thrust not only into the role of a woman and wife, but of a queen, Marie Antoinette lived an astonishing, though short, existence.

Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies is the only reference aspiring writers need to get their careers off to the right start. Fully updated to reflect the industry's latest trends and secrets, this book helps you understand what makes a great novel, so you can hone your craft and write books people want to read. We break down the romance subgenres, give you expert tips on plotting and pacing, and walk you through the process of finding an agent and getting published in today's competitive market—or self-publishing like many six-figure authors are doing.

Mara Vance never thought her useless psychology degree would lead to studying an actual monster. Subject X-13, aka "The Nightmare," is armed with sharp teeth, claws, and a constantly shifting form… yet Mara finds the huge shadow creature as intriguing as he is terrifying. As Mara studies him, she soon realizes that The Nightmare is far more intelligent than her shady superiors say he is. And every night, she indulges in twisted fantasies about the same monster. What happens in her dreams stays in her dreams—right?

Edited and annotated by H. L. M., this is a selection from his out-of-print writings. They come mostly from books - the six installments of the Prejudices series, A Book of Burlesques, In Defense of Women, Notes on Democracy, Making a President, A Book of Calumny, Treatise on Right and Wrong - but there are also magazine and newspaper pieces that never got between covers (from the American Mercury, the Smart Set, and the Baltimore Evening Sun) and some notes that were never previously published at all.