Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go

by Les Edgerton
Writer's Digest Books, 2007, 256 pages

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Les Edgerton at Phoenix College for the Apr. 17, 2010, Microburst mini creative writing conference. The conference was an intersection of his craft book, Hooked, and a structural film analysis of Thelma & Louise.

In Hooked, Edgerton examines the elements necessary for a great opening in modern literature. He stresses that modern audiences no longer want to immerse themselves in fifteen or twenty pages of setting and back story before meeting the characters and their current dilemmas. Edgerton incorporates many literary and film examples to clearly demonstrate how to do things right. Thelma & Louise is one of his favorite examples, and one that many readers have experienced, making it a good common ground for examining a great opening.

At the Microburst conference, participants viewed the entire Thelma & Louise film, while Edgerton frequently paused and explained the structural elements that worked, much as he laid them out in Hooked. Because we watched the entire film, the audience listened to structural analysis even beyond that in Hooked, because Hooked only looks at literary openings.

It was refreshing to see that the author said in person, what he said in the book, in equally understandable language, with useful examples. I felt like I learned a thing or two reading Hooked before the conference, and a live lecture with Edgerton only reinforced my appreciation of his insight and clear instruction.

I would recommend Hooked to any writer looking to update his/her opening strategies. And if you want more Edgerton, he will be teaching two online courses for Phoenix College: CRW 271 in summer and CRW 272 in fall 2010.

Les Edgerton's website is here.







Readers- What's your favorite story opening?

Writing to Change the World

by Mary Pipher
Riverhead, 2006, 256 pages

I'm currently taking a class called Writer as Witness, and I thought Writing to Change the World might offer me more insight into ways writers can witness the world in order to help change the world.  This book is geared towards people interested in writing nonfiction as a form of activism.

Mary Pipher is a therapist known for writing nonfiction books to help bring attention to important issues.  A few of her other titles include: Hunger Pains: the Modern Woman's Tragic Quest for Thinness (1997), The Middle of Everywhere: The World's Refugees Come to Our Town (2002), Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls (2005), and Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World (2009), amongst others.

Pipher is a licensed and practicing therapist, and she uses writing as a tool to inform the public about issues she sees with her clients and in the community.  Writing to Change the World is her call to arms, in the form of the pen.  Pipher encourages all people, not just people who identify as writers, to speak out about their passionate causes.  She reminds us all that we have important, unique perspectives and that we have a responsibility to use our experiences to try and change the world for the better.  Pipher firmly believes that writing to inform and educate can change the world.

Within this book, Pipher includes a few stories about her own background as examples of how perspective and experience can inform an individual's decision to write.  She also includes a creative nonfiction piece she wrote as a therapy case file where the United States was personified shortly after the Sept. 11th attacks.  The piece is both funny (the US has some serious emotional problems) and sad (Uncle Sam is in a lot of denial).  Pipher's examples clearly demonstrate how someone can draw readers' attention to important issues.

Pipher also includes information about writing craft.  Voice gets particular attention, as she is trying to help people use their voices in activism.  The craft elements are a good introduction for novice writers, but more experienced writers might want something with more depth or more complex examples.

If you care passionately about a subject and want to write nonfiction, Writing to Change the World will inspire you to draw your pen in defense of your cause.

You can find Dr. Mary Pipher's website here.

And here is an interesting article about Dr. Pipher returning her APA award in protest of torture techniques.


Readers:  What topics do you care passionately about?  How will you address them in your writing?

BIRD BY BIRD: SOME INSTRUCTIONS ON WRITING AND LIFE

by Anne Lamott
Anchor, 1994, 238 Pages

Bird by Bird is a delight to read. Lamott offers writing advice that would work for both fiction and creative non-fiction writing while interspersing personal stories (mini-memoirs) about how writing has figured in her life. Lamott is a likable narrator, with a funny, sometimes self-deprecating voice, who shows readers that she is human in the face of her overwhelmingly successful writing and teaching career.

The book is organized into five major sections: Writing, The Writing Frame of Mind, Help Along the Way, and Publication- And Other Reasons to Write, and The Last Class. The short chapters within each section are stand alone pieces and can be read in any order. This is a feature that proves useful if a reader only wants to review how Lamott suggests using index cards in keeping track of ideas and observations or how Lamott suggests starting writing with short assignments in mind instead of being overwhelmed by novel length projects. A few essays do build upon concepts introduced in the previous chapters, but there is enough context provided that a reader understands what Lamott is trying to say without having to go read or re-read a previous section.

My favorite part of the book is the chapter “Plot Treatment,” where Lamott recalls a grueling experience trying to get her second novel to work. Lamott had a deep love for her characters, and everyone who read excerpts said the characters were great. Lamott’s editor, however, twice delivered the bad news that the story, the plot wasn’t working.

An older, wiser Lamott tells how her 28 year old, less experienced writing self went on a near hysterical rant with the editor, defending why her characters were outstanding and why things were happening the way they were happening in the novel. The older Lamott voice explains that this verbal deluge uncovered a great deal of plot and motivation that was not written anywhere on paper. The editor told Lamott to write a plot treatment based on the rant, and Lamott was able to restructure her writing, filling in the gaps that existed in the text. This story demonstrates how frustrating the writing process can be, but it also shows that if a writer has faith in his/her characters and storyline and enough persistence, that fabulous writing can eventually emerge. It is a story of struggle and hope that many writers will find inspiring.

I would definitely recommend Bird by Bird. Lamott has useful writing advice as well as interesting, funny anecdotes about how she learned the writing lessons she is imparting. I’m sure that I will use some of the writing tips Lamott suggests, and that I will re-read parts of this book many times.

You can find an Anne Lamott fan page here.

WRITING BEGINS WITH THE BREATH: EMBODYING YOUR AUTHENTIC VOICE

by Laraine Herring
Shambhala, 2007, 211 Pages

I very much enjoyed Writing Begins with the Breath. I first picked the book up because I took several creative writing classes with Laraine Herring when she taught at Phoenix Community College a few years ago before moving to Prescott to Yavapai Community College. I recognized some of the stories and lessons in the book from class lectures, and I found myself falling into the familiar rhythms of Herring’s voice.

But even if a reader did not know Herring, her writing is interesting and informative. She alternates between discussing how the body can store memories and how the body can both help and hinder the writing process. Each chapter begins with a thoughtful or inspiring quotation whose main idea is the focus of that chapter.

Each chapter also includes a Body Break, where Herring offers a physical movement or pose that can relax a writer, wake a writer up, or help to channel oxygen or energy to a part of the body that might help the writing process. Herring explains why writers should try to practice Body Breaks, and the principles seem soundly grounded in yoga, meditation, or brain theory practices.

The end of each chapter also includes Touchstone exercises where a writer can attempt several prompts that relate to the content of that chapter. This is another useful tool for writers who need springboards for writing practice.

The book is broken into three main parts: Focusing on the Mind, The Deep Writing Process, and Embracing What and Where You Are. Within these sections, Herring explores how a writer can use his or her life experiences for both fiction and non-fiction writing, as well addressing how to reach a deeper, more authentic writing voice. Some of this advice is similar to other writing books, but Herring adds a twist here and there by returning to a more metaphysical level with the writing practices through the use of breath, body memory work, and challenging deep writing exercises. Herring is clear that hers is a process book, rather than a book that explores the finer points of craft, like grammar and shaping plot.

I would recommend Writing Begins with the Breath to a writer looking to experiment with how to access writing ideas in new ways or for someone interested in drawing more traditional meditation techniques into his or her daily writing practices.

You can follow Laraine Herring's blog here.

Other Sites to Explore

Here are a few fabulous literature and writing oriented websites to explore:

Poets & Writers   http://www.pw.org/
From their "About Us" page: "Poets & Writers, Inc., is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers." 

There is information about grants and awards, literary magazines, small presses, MFA prgrams, coferences and residencies, writing news and foreums... Everything you wanted to know about the creative writing world has a link here.

The Writing Teacher   http://www.thewritingteacher.org/ 
From their "About This Blog" page: "If you're reading this, you’re probably interested in improving the writing of your students, and you're in the right place.Our goal is to increase the quality of our students’ writing skills by sharing knowledge among experts and practitioners.

We plan to share theory, practice, and research through our articles, feedback from our readers, and a numbers of web events in the planning as we launch. We will have teachers, writing assessment experts, academics, and others write about what they’ve tried, what works, how to implement ideas, and current theories on the subject of writing. We also plan to include lots of ideas regarding ways to get students writing more, since that’s the surest way to improve writing."

If you teach any kind of writing, you can find writing news, suggestions, and lessons here.

The Cuckleburr Times   http://www.cuckleburr.com/
From their "About Us" page: "The Cuckleburr Times is an online magazine created by writers for writers. Our goal is to seek out and publish articles by those wonderful but relatively unknown writers, poets and authors online that deserve more visibility. We produce a magazine with high quality, informative articles that writers no matter their niche, experience level or genre will find both useful and entertaining. We’re also glad to do book reviews and share book excerpts."

If you are looking for some off-the-beaten-path book reviews, to read new, interesting writing, or to submit some of your own work, this is the site for you.

Bookslut   http://www.bookslut.com/
From the "Contact" page: "Bookslut is a monthly web magazine and daily blog dedicated to those who love to read. We provide a constant supply of news, reviews, commentary, insight, and more than occasional opinions."

There are some great interviews, book reviews for all genres of books, and an interesting blog.

Working Writers Newsletter  http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com/
The Official Blog of FreelanceWriting.com  News, reviews and advice for freelance writers.

This blog offers links to other fantiastic writing sites, links for freelance writing jobs, and sites about software for writers.

Welcome!

Welcome to Rebecca’s Love Letters. This blog is dedicated to reviewing creative writing books.

As an English teacher and creative writing student, I’ve spent hours pouring over creative writing craft books to aid my classroom teaching and to further my own personal study. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered several books that were not worth my time and money.

By posting reviews of various creative writing books, I hope to provide writing students, accomplished authors, and classroom teachers with a means of separating quality resources from the duds.