So you’re writing that sweeping historical novel full of war and political intrigue, and you maybe need some inspiration. Where better to turn than to history books? Only problem is that they can be a bit dry, and at times the forced impartiality (“I must present this as facts uncoloured by my opinion!”) can make the prose frustratingly ambiguous. Then there’s the whole “history is written by the victor” thing. The phrase reveals the difficulties readers […]
Tag Archives | Nonfiction
Guest Post: Shifting from Nonfiction to Fiction
Giveaways, Guest Post, Inspiration, Writing Life
In high school and the first part of college I used to justify bad, outrageous, or downright dangerous behavior by quipping that I was simply collecting material for my novel. Hitchhiking by myself through the south of France, going into Ed Koch-era Central Park at night to make out with a boy, riding an untrained horse, drinking way too much grain alcohol and Kool-Aid—surely I’d be able to put those experiences to good fictional use […]
Book Recommendation – Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Book Recommendations
Over the years, I’ve read my share of writing guides, most of which have been helpful in one way or another. None of them have made me laugh out loud, however, until I read On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This book took me completely by surprise. Unlike traditional writing manuals, it’s as engaging as a novel. As the title suggests, the book blends writing advice with memoir. The writer (or […]