The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction

by John Dufresne

Overview

"This is the most practical, hard-nosed, generous, direct, and useful guide to writing fiction." —Brad Watson

Finally, a truly creative—and hilarious—guide to creative writing, full of encouragement and sound advice. Provocative and reassuring, nurturing and wise, The Lie That Tells a Truth is essential to writers in general, fiction writers in particular, beginning writers, serious writers, and anyone facing a blank page.

John Dufresne, teacher and the acclaimed author of Love Warps the Mind a Little and Deep in the Shade of Paradise, demystifies the writing process. Drawing upon the wisdom of literature's great craftsmen, Dufresne's lucid essays and diverse exercises initiate the reader into the tools, processes, and techniques of writing: inventing compelling characters, developing a voice, creating a sense of place, editing your own words. Where do great ideas come from? How do we recognize them? How can language capture them? In his signature comic voice, Dufresne answers these questions and more in chapters such as "Writing Around the Block," "Plottery," and "The Art of Abbreviation." Dufresne demystifies the writing process, showing that while the idea of writing may be overwhelming, the act of writing is simplicity itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393325812
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	08/17/2004
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John Dufresne is the author of 25 works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including Louisiana Power and Light and Love Warps the Mind a Little. He lives in Florida, where he teaches writing at Florida International University.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	XIII
	The Process
	Getting in Shape	3
	As a Matter of Fact	11
	Writing Around the Block	21
	Becoming a Writer	31
	Pick Yourself Up	47
	Sitting Alone in a Quiet Room	57
	Getting Black on White	69
	Doing it Again (And Again [And Again])	81
	The Meaning of Life is to See	95
	Clishmaclaver	109
	The Product
	Getting Her Up the Tree, Getting Her Down: Beginnings and Endings	119
	The Queen Died of Grief: Plot	133
	Plottery: Plot	159
	The Heart of Fiction: Character	169
	The Method: Character	183
	"Let's Talk," He Said: Dialogue	197
	May I Ask Who's Calling, Please? Point of View	221
	You Can't Do Anything If You're Nowhere: Place	243
	The Art of Abbreviation: The Very Short Story	257
	Other Matters
	Reading to Write	267
	The Writer Reads	273
	Small Craft Warnings	289
	Go Forth and Write	297

What People are Saying About This

Ron Carlson

Frank and friendly talk about the approach to and the craft of fiction....a welcome companion.

Lewis Nordan

This is the writing guide I've been waiting for.

Janet Burroway

An engaging covers-all-the bases guide—sometimes moving, often funny, full of goodwill and good sense.

Alan Cheuse

I used to think that the only books of this kind worth reading were John Gardner's and Janet Burroway's. I've made room on my shelf for Dufresne's.

George Garrett

Dufresne makes it all good fun, from first to last, from guggle to zatch. See for yourself.

Connie May Flower

With uncommon candor, grace, insight, and clarity, Dufresne unmasks the Writer's Muse, allowing...a vivid and rich exploration of the creative process.

Steve Yarbrough

Dufresne's literary intelligence shines through every line....I'll be directing people to this book for years to come. It's wonderful.

Editorial Reviews

"An engaging covers-all-the bases guide—sometimes moving, often funny, full of goodwill and good sense."

Janet Burroway

"Finally, a truly creative—and hilarious—guide to creative writing, full of encouragement and sound advice. Provocative and reassuring, nurturing and wise, The Lie That Tells a Truth is essential to writers in general, fiction writers in particular, beginning writers, serious writers, and anyone facing a blank page."

Bookriot.com - Nikki Vanry

"Dufresne makes it all good fun, from first to last, from guggle to zatch. See for yourself."

George Garrett

"Frank and friendly talk about the approach to and the craft of fiction…a welcome companion."

Ron Carlson

Finally, a truly creative—and hilarious—guide to creative writing, full of encouragement and sound advice. Provocative and reassuring, nurturing and wise, The Lie That Tells a Truth is essential to writers in general, fiction writers in particular, beginning writers, serious writers, and anyone facing a blank page.

Nikki Vanry - Bookriot.com

With uncommon candor, grace, insight, and clarity, Dufresne unmasks the Writer's Muse, allowing...a vivid and rich exploration of the creative process.

Connie May Flower

Dufresne's literary intelligence shines through every line....I'll be directing people to this book for years to come. It's wonderful.

Steve Yarbrough

This is the writing guide I've been waiting for.

Lewis Nordan

I used to think that the only books of this kind worth reading were John Gardner's and Janet Burroway's. I've made room on my shelf for Dufresne's.

Alan Cheuse

A novelist and teacher, Dufresne (Deep in the Shade of Paradise) shares his blunt views on writing in this instruction book, which draws heavily on the tenets of realist fiction and method acting. Divided into two main sections-"The Process" focuses on habits and emotions; "The Product" emphasizes narrative mechanics-Dufresne's manual often adopts the tone of a fiery professor advising a group of wide-eyed young freshmen. "Fiction writing is arrested development," he declares. "Just know that you should quit right now if you can." Readers may sometimes feel lectured by his many stern instructions-"Thou Shalt Not Be Obscure," "Thou Shalt Show and Not Tell," "Thou Shalt Steal"-but the author hits his stride when he covers the mechanics of story. Particularly valuable is his advice on choosing character names, occupations, and points of view. A principle of acting teachers Konstantin Stanislavsky and Michael Chekhov-that exterior movement leads to interior feeling-forms the basis of one of Defresne's two chapters on characterization. Elsewhere, he skillfully analyzes the work of his favorite writers Anton Chekhov, Frank O'Connor and Eudora Welty. (Dufresne also mines his own work for examples of process and technique.) Each chapter closes with a set of writing exercises. Although this volume is unlikely to displace classic fiction guides like E.M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel, many readers may respond to the author's encouraging, exhorting tone. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publisher's Weekly