Creative Writing For Dummies

Creative writing, from short stories to novels, travel writing to memoirs, is an imaginative outlet that relieves tensions and creates new worlds. This book is essential reading for all those who have aspirations to write novels, poetry, plays, travel writing and everything in between, but lack the confidence or expertise to get started.

Learn to:

• Choose the writing genre that's best for you
• Develop believable characters and engaging stories
• Cherry-pick your life's material for non-fiction writing
• Find a publisher and make your way as a professional writer

Develop the writing know-how that will keep your readers hooked

Do you have an idea for a novel (or a poem, or an article, or a play…) that you'd love to finally get down on paper? Whatever your aim, inside you'll find the advice and support to get you started and keep you going. From preparing a writing work-space to marshalling your material into both fiction and non-fiction genres, Creative Writing For Dummies has everything you need to help you unlock your creativity and make your writing sparkle.

• So, you want to be a writer – pick and choose between genres, gather the materials you need and develop the right routines
• He said what? When? – discover how to fit character, voice, dialogue and plot together
• Telling tales – differentiate between novels, novellas and short stories, write plays for the stage or screen, wax lyrical in poetry or dip into children's writing
• Matters of fact – blog about anything and everything, break into journalism, and let life stories, narrative non-fiction and travel writing leap off the page
• From pastime to profession – crack the world of publishing and go professional with your hobby

'Learn from one of the best editors and teachers in the business. She pushed my writing to award-winning status.'
– Dreda Say Mitchell, author of Running Hot, winner of the CWA John Creasey Dagger Award in 2005.

Open the book and find:

• Exactly where your writing talents lie
• Why you need to be a good reader to become a good writer
• What turns words on a page into sparkling conversation
• Ways to weave character, plot and structure together
• All the different sub-genres of novel-writing – from thrillers to chick-lit
• The secrets of successful blogging
• Editing tips that all writers can benefit from
• The inner workings of agencies and publishing houses

Unlock your creativity and choose the genre of writing that suits you best

Do you have an idea that you’re burning to get down on paper? Do you want to document your travels to far-flung places, or write a few stanzas of poetry? Whether you dream of being a novelist, a travel writer, a poet, a playwright or a columnist, Creative Writing For Dummies shows you how to unlock your creativity and choose the genre of writing that suits you best. Walking you through characterisation, setting, dialogue and plot, as well as giving expert insights into both fiction and non-fiction, it’s the ideal launching pad to the world of creative writing.

Creative Writing For Dummies covers:

Part I: Getting started

• Chapter 1: Can Everyone Write?
• Chapter 2: Getting into the Write Mind
• Chapter 3: Finding the Material to work with

Part II: The Elements of Creative Writing

• Chapter 4: Creating Characters
• Chapter 5: Discovering Dialogue
• Chapter 6: Who is telling the story?
• Chapter 7: Creating your own world
• Chapter 8: Plotting your way
• Chapter 9: Creating a Structure
• Chapter 10: Rewriting and editing

Part III: Different Kinds of Fiction Writing

• Chapter 11: Short stories
• Chapter 12: Novels
• Chapter 13: Writing for children
• Chapter 14: Plays
• Chapter 15: Screenplays
• Chapter 16: Poetry

Part IV: Different kinds of Non-fiction writing

• Chapter 17: Breaking into journalism - Writing articles/ magazine writing
• Chapter 18: Writing from life and autobiography
• Chapter 19: Embroidering the facts: Narrative non-fiction
• Chapter 20: Exploring the world from your armchair - Travel writing
• Chapter 21: Blogging – the new big thing

Part V: Finding an audience

• Chapter 22: Finding editors/ publishers/ agents
• Chapter 23: Becoming a professional

Part VI: Part of Tens

• Chapter 24: Ten top tips for writers
• Chapter 25: Ten ways to get noticed