A comprehensive writing guide that mixes conventional wisdom with some original notions.
Klaassen adds to his series of writing manuals with this new guide, aimed at would-be authors of gripping novels.
Sometimes a writer needs to think like a reader. “The writer must understand that readers are not just a passive audience; they are critical participants,” explains Klaassen in his introduction. “Reader involvement can range from unengaged to highly engaged, depending on the skill of the writer.” To foster that engagement, Klaassen uses what he calls “third-person possessed,” an intimate form of third-person narration that feels as urgent and compelling as first-person. Designed for beginners, Klaassen’s text walks readers through the basics of story, character, and scene, with particular emphasis placed on point-of-view strategies. He then offers tips for troubleshooting a fiction manuscript that isn’t quite working, including notes about structure and revision, using a version of the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” as a sample text. Klaassen incorporates many original ideas from his two previous writing manuals, including 11 modes of fiction writing and the scene-sequel structure. With these lessons and more, Klaassen hopes to turn the aspiring writers of today into the bestselling novelists of tomorrow. The prose here is direct and easy to follow, gradually building up the reader’s knowledge of craft jargon: “A character’s voice may be revealed in several ways. The most obvious is through dialogue. A character’s unspoken words, his thoughts, may also reveal his voice, especially when those thoughts are expressed through direct introspection.” His choice to use a public domain fairy tale as his primary example is perhaps an odd one, however, given the many stylistic differences between a fairy tale and contemporary adult fiction. Klaassen does not quite deliver on his rather ambitious claims. The eponymous and supposedly new narrative perspective doesn’t ultimately sound all too revolutionary. But his guidelines are by and large good ones that will help his readers improve their stories. While it should probably not be the final resource consulted by an aspiring writer, the book works well as an introductory fiction guide.
A comprehensive writing guide that mixes conventional wisdom with some original notions.Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73448-873-9
Page Count: 196
Publisher: BookBaby
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An uplifting ode to the power of taking small steps to make big changes.
Manbeck offers direction for life’s journeys in his children’s book debut.
Using just one or two pithy sentences per page, the text encourages readers to bravely forge their own paths in the world. Whatever one hopes to accomplish or whatever one’s destination in life, the starting point is “here,” a point of view that suggests that there is power and wisdom in embracing the present moment. Manbeck assures readers that “you can go anywhere!” and includes all-caps imperatives on almost every double-page spread: “Begin”; “Take your time”; “Keep going”; “Be patient”; etc. A major thrust of the narrative is the futility of comparing oneself to others since every person is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all formula for how life should unfold. The whimsical illustrations, rendered in gouache and mixed media with digital editing, show sprightly children and their childlike anthropomorphic animal companions romping on giant fantastical play structures that recall Rube Goldberg machines. Some spreads feature a montage of the characters adventurously exploring a range of fun activities: butterfly watching, rollerblading, riding a penny-farthing, etc. Flowers and butterflies—with their associated meanings of transformation, hope, courage, success, and new beginnings—are used liberally as motifs throughout the colorful artwork. The characters have various skin tones, and one of them uses a wheelchair. Many wear party hats, conveying a mood of celebration; indeed, this book would make a good baby-shower or graduation gift.
An uplifting ode to the power of taking small steps to make big changes. (Gift book. 0-5, adult)Pub Date: May 10, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-79721-010-0
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Has heart but lacks craft and efficiency.
In Ferguson’s debut novel based on a true story, a driven businesswoman takes extreme and innovative measures to combat prejudice and propel her career.
Though qualified and proactive as a real estate manager, Rhoda, an African-American, finds herself frequently shut out of high-level positions due to racism even in 21st-century Manhattan. In one instance, she’s hired during a phone interview only to be told once she arrives at the Upper East Side office that the broker position has been filled. Yet when she returns disguised with a blond wig and lightened skin, calling herself GeeGee, she’s hired on the spot. In a similar fashion, Rhoda ignites her struggling hair extension side-business. Following advice from a peer that she will need to have a white “face” of the company, Rhoda calls on GeeGee. Eventually, with the support of the NAACP, she testifies and wins a victory affirming that companies are forbidden to ask for race identification when hiring and they may not look outside of skill and experience to fill a position. The conceit of this novelized “true story” is intriguing, although which parts are based in fact and which in fiction is unclear. The dialogue-heavy prose doesn’t have much fluidity, often due to preceding dialogue tags in which a sentence ending with a comma introduces a paragraphlong quote. There’s a similar problem in the novel’s exposition, particularly due to the use of passive voice, which slows scenes down. Toward the end, Rhoda falls in love with a white man who initially knows her only as GeeGee. Once that episode is resolved, Ferguson describes the wedding night with the sensual expertise of a seasoned erotica pulp writer. For the preceding pages, though, another edit could help shape the spirited tale.
Has heart but lacks craft and efficiency.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1481744447
Page Count: 240
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: Jan. 7, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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