4 May 2014

The craft of novel-writing (by Dianne Doubtfire)

The craft of novel-writing by Dianne Doubtfire
(Amazon UK link)
This is one of those books that has appeared on my shelves at some point - although I've no idea where it came from. I have no idea who Dianne Doubtfire is, as I can't find anything about her online. 

I don't think I had ever previously read this book. But I am determined to work my way through several of my books about writing this year. So I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and have read a chapter or two each day.

'The craft of novel-writing' is a short book, less than 100 pages in all. It's clearly and succinctly written, giving some essential suggestions and guidelines for writers who want to embark on a novel. Each chapter manages to cover one aspect - such as viewpoint, dialogue, plot, construction, and so on - in just a few pages.

There's nothing which stood out as new or particularly inspirational to me. But then I've read a lot of books, magazines and websites about writing over the years. Even so, there are plenty of useful reminders. I liked the style very much. The tone is friendly, and while the advice about typewriters is obviously out-of-date in the 21st century, the majority of the contents is still relevant, thirty-five years after publication.

Recommended to anyone considering novel-writing. It makes a great introduction that covers just about everything necessary to know, other than what is related to technology. Several more recent editions have been produced and it's often available second-hand, though not currently in print.


Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

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