Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies

by Maggie Hamand

Overview

Turn your inspiration into a story with clear, expert guidance

Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is a step-by-step creative writing course designed to hone your craft, regardless of ability. Written by the founder of the Complete Creative Writing Course at London's Groucho Club, this activity-based guide walks you through the process of developing and writing in a wide range of genres including novels, short stories and creative nonfiction. The book includes writing prompts, exercises, mind maps, flow charts and diagrams designed to get your ideas flowing. You'll get expert guidance into character development, plot structure and prose, plus extensive insight into self-editing and polishing your work.

Whether you're a new writer with a seed of an idea you would like to develop, or are looking to strengthen your creative writing skills, this book has you covered. Covering every aspect of narrative, from setting initial goals to formatting a manuscript, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies provides the tools and instruction you need to make your story the best it can be.

• Learn to spark your imagination and sketch out ideas
• Create compelling characters and paint a picture with description
• Develop your plot and structure and maintain continuity
• Step back from your work and become your own ruthless editor

The rise of e-books has opened up the publishing world, even to non-established writers. If you have a story you're dying to tell but aren't sure how, Creative Writing Exercises For Dummies is the clear, concise solution you need.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118921050
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	11/10/2014
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	533,805
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Maggie Hamand, a novelist, journalist and nonfiction writer, is the founder of the popular Complete Creative Writing Course at the Groucho Club, London, and has been teaching aspiring writers there for 15 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Creative Writing Exercises 5

Chapter 1: Preparing to Create Your Writ ten Masterpiece 7

Chapter 2: Sketching Out Ideas 21

Part II: Realising That Character Is Everything 35

Chapter 3: Developing Your Characters’ Backgrounds 37

Chapter 4: Creating Drama through Dialogue 47

Chapter 5: Embodying Your Characters 57

Chapter 6: Developing Your Dialogue-Writing Skills 65

Chapter 7: Conveying Characters’ Thoughts in Style 77

Chapter 8: Choosing and Using Different Points of View 87

Chapter 9: Creating Complicated, Well-Rounded Characters 105

Part III: Painting the Picture with Description 125

Chapter 10: Navigating the Locations in Your Stories 127

Chapter 11: Appreciating the Power of the Senses 137

Chapter 12: Getting Things Done: Describing Action and Activity 147

Chapter 13: Building Character with Objects and Possessions 155

Chapter 14: Using Description to Create Atmosphere and and Suspense! 167

Chapter 15: Managing Metaphors, Similes and Symbols 187

Chapter 16: Describing the Inef fable: Saying What Can’t Be Said 203

Part IV: Developing Your Plot and Structure 213

Chapter 17: Writing a Gripping Opening 215

Chapter 18: Plot ting Your Way to Great Stories 225

Chapter 19: Making Good (Use of) Time in Your Writing 235

Chapter 20: Structuring a Longer Work of Fiction 247

Chapter 21:Tightening the Tension to Enthral Readers 257

Chapter 22: Expanding Your Ideas into Larger Narratives 267

Chapter 23: Approaching the Grand Finale: The End’s in Sight! 279

Part V: Polishing Your Product: Revising and Editing 299

Chapter 24: Reviewing and Rewriting Your Work 301

Chapter 25: Whipping Your Work into Shape 313

Chapter 26: Polishing Your Work for Publication 321

Part VI: The Part of Tens 331

Chapter 27: Ten Top Aids for Writers 333

Chapter 28: Ten Great Ways to Stay the Course 339

Index 345