Scarlett Thomas is the
author of best-selling books such as The End of Mr Y and Our
Tragic Universe, so her writerly background bodes well for this
guide on ‘how to write fiction and unlock the secret power of
stories’, and as a member of the Creative Writing faculty at Kent
University, you know you’re in safe hands when you open this
weighty tome on all things literary.
The academic background
is soon apparent as the first section of the book looks at the theory
surrounding fiction, calling into play Soctrates, Plato and Homer.
The style is fluid and accessible, and illuminates great swathes of
fiction, discussing the difference between narrative, story and plot,
the eight basic storylines and Joseph Campbell’s monomyth. If
you’re put off by the classic nature of the chapters so far, then
hold your horses, as part two focuses specifically on the practice
of writing.
Thomas looks in depth
at the process of creating a character, likening it to Stanivlaski's
method of acting. The text is light on do-it-yourself exercises, and
chooses instead to show examples of how other create their
progagonists and supporting casts. There is the interesting example
in the chapter entitled 'Writing a good sentence', where she suggests
having a bank of words and setting yourself a 'budget'. Some types of
words are cheap (E.G. Concrete nouns are free), while others will
cost you dearly (Adverbs cost £20!).
This is a hefty book
which should be drank like a fine wine, but not the sort of workbook
that will sit by your laptop full of pencil scribblings. It's value
is undeniable, but only to those prepared to put the work in to get
the pearls of wisdom out.
***
RESOURCES is a series
of blog posts reviewing the glut of creative writing books available
to aspiring writers, searching out the gems so you don't have to.
Have you read this book? Leave your comments below.
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