The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction

It's a difficult thing wading through the myriad of writing books and most are all saying the same thing. This is a collection of quotes and advice from other writers and I think the most helpful resource to a writer. I'm currently referring to it as the Bible of writing. It is thick with knowledge and almost every sentence offers encouragement and enlightenment. I do my devotions and read from it every morning before I begin my writing day.If you're looking for a good book to help you come up with a plot or develop characters (I'm not sure there is one), look elsewhere. If you ever wished you could have hundreds (it seems like hundreds) of writers telling you what has worked for them, providing you with guidance and options for getting into a groove, buy this book.

The Modern Library Writer's Workshop is a book about the art of writing narrative prose. Koch believes passionately that writing can be taught, and he has assembled a text that sets about doing just that. Though written for the beginning writer, Koch believes every writer, however proficient, can find herself at a place of new beginnings, or a place of uncertainty, and can find something of value here that will give great comfort and inspiration as she begins again. Koch captures the urgency a new writer feels simply to begin. I loved this recognition and his admonition to "plunge into it (the writing). And you must do it now." I loved the permission Koch seems to give to take ample advantage of one's own memory, power of observation, reading preferences and desire to write as ways to help shape the writer's life. He urges us to write every day and to treat writing as a job, even if we have another job. A writer's life is hard, but possible. We can learn to shape the story and make the characters come alive, and to do that we need to pay attention to the story, the structure and the plot. We must know the difference between story (the account of the sequence of events) and plot (what makes the story move). Structure is what joins the story and the plot. Koch shows us how to organize the plot by developing the characters and the conflicts they experience. This makes the story come alive and feel cohesive. The use of drama and improbability to uncover the meaning of the story is especially helpful for me, as a nonfiction writer. " Finally," Koch says, "truth in even the most fantastic fiction--that is, its authenticity--rests somewhere, somehow on bedrock of facts." This is the heart of his work for me, and gives the craft its superb ring of truth.

Awesome book with lots of "what did famous authors do" that gives you some kind of perspective on life and work of a writer and what kind of options he has is this and that situations. I know that that sounds a bit general but the Koch goes just deep enough to explains the things clearly. That is really useful for someone new, but i think this book needs examples to be really full. I think Koch wants us to read all the books that are mentioned in hes references but that is just to much material to go through. I would love to but you know, the time. :)

The first and last chapters have the greatest advice. Overall, a good primer for the beginning writer. It is meant to get work going and help plow through doubt.

Reading just the first chapter of this book caught my attention and encouraged me to read on. The first chapter's tips on writing about what you know, where to find your story, inventing your story, etc., peeked my interest. It's a well written book with sentences that flow easily from one topic to another on what to think about and how to prepare for your writings, no matter what you choose to write. I look forward to reading the next chapters!

This book has provided fuel for my recently withering desire to write. I often need a kick in the rear end and I found the boot I needed in this book. The book does not get very technical but does give the writer the right path to follow in all aspects of writing. Koch did his research and provides literally hundreds of inspirational quotes from many of the great writers we all know and love. Koch makes you believe he is on your side in the battle. Not everything will be absorbed on the first read but I don't think it was meant to work that way. This isn't necessarily a how-to book. Advice and encouragement is given but it is clear your own way must be paved.

This is a bit strange. I don't remember the author's name, not even the exact contents of the book, but it kept insisting that one start writing immediately. I had spent at least a year with no inspiration to write. So I started buying some books about writing to motivate me again. Some were pretty good. This one was not the best, but it's the one that got me writing again (even before I finished it). That was 2 months ago and I haven't stopped. So I've come back to Amazon to give it my 5 stars!

Koch combines the best of writing advice from authors on writing. It spans the entire process of completing a narrative text, covering not just fiction but also memoir.It begins with the process of writing the very sketchiest of rough drafts and takes the writer to the final product of a completed story.It examines the elements that go into a good story, and how the writer excavates his or her story from all of the notes in the writer's mind and assorted notebooks and pieces of paper.A great read that should lead to great writing.

This is one of the best books about writing for writers. There's so much I agree with here, but if I had to pick one idea, it would be this: write your first draft fast.And then we can talk about all the rest.

Um livro de cabeceira para qualquer escritor ou aspirante. Melhor degustado pausadamente, capítulo a capítulo. Um companheiro de longa jornada...

No soy escritora pero me dio hace un tiempo por querer escribir alguna historia corta y creo que es uno de los libros que me han despejado más dudas respecto al arte de escribir. Mientras que lo leía se me iban encendiendo bombillitas, "ah, pero ésto era así!", la verdad es que lo recomiendo para los que se quieran iniciar en el arte de escribir. Eso sí, está en inglés.

a must buy for aspiring authors

This book is god-sent! If you ever wanted to write, but never had the guts to go through with it, or if you have started but never finished it, this book will help you along the way. It gives you hope and a wide range of inspiration and tips that help you get a move on. A must read for all aspiring writers.