Sunday, December 27, 2009

Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy

Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy is a hot off the presses book that needs to be on every writer's bookshelf. The book consists of nineteen chapters full of topics to help any writer from a beginner to an experienced.

I attended a Randy Ingermanson workshop at the American Christian Fiction Writers' conference in Dallas a few years ago. I am a subscriber to his The Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine which gives writing advice. When Randy announced his book and offered it for purchase, I immediately ordered it.

My copy is already full of post-it notes, and I'm only a quarter of the way through. He helps a writer determine at what level she is and makes suggestions for skills that need to be mastered to move to the next level. The Five Pillars of Fiction are identified for in depth study in later chapters.

The best advice I've received so far is to write the first draft without worrying about grammar or details. Those will be taken care of in subsequent drafts. He also helps a writer identify her style of writing to make writing a creative project instead of a blank page.

I expect to consult this book on a regular basis. Order a copy. You won't be sorry.

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good book & one I should get. I've never studied under Randy, but have been helped second hand by writers who have.

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  2. A writer's topics should well up from inside and demand expression. That is what gives wholeness and integrity to a work of fiction. My new release, Angela 1: Starting Over, came to me one day at lunch as a series of three books, with character, setting, and plot outline. Once that happened, I could not help writing and that's what gives the book its vigor. To learn more, just click on my name and follow the link to my website.

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  3. I enjoyed Randy's class at conference, too. I'll have to read that book.

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  4. I just purchased this book, too, but I haven't yet read it. I was glad to read your thoughts about the book. I'll move it up on my to-be-read list. Thanks!

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