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Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques

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Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques

By: James Hynes, The Great Courses
Narrated by: James Hynes
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About this listen

Whether you're huddled around the campfire, composing an email to a friend, or sitting down to write a novel, storytelling is fundamental to human nature. But as any writer can tell you, the blank page can be daunting. It's tough to know where to get started, what details to include in each scene, and how to move from the kernel of an idea to a completed manuscript.

Writing great fiction isn't a gift reserved for the talented few. There is a craft to storytelling that can be learned, and studying writing techniques can be incredibly rewarding - both personally and professionally. Even if you don’t have ambitions of penning the next Moby-Dick, you'll find value in exploring all the elements of fiction.

From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft. Get tips for developing believable and memorable characters, explore how to craft plausible dialogue that serves the purposes of your narrative, compare the advantages of different points of view, and more. A wealth of exercises will inspire you to practice the many techniques you learn. Professor Hynes is an able guide, showing you what has worked for him and other novelists, and pointing out pitfalls to avoid. Writing Great Fiction is truly an exceptional course for anyone interested in storytelling.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses
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What listeners say about Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques

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Great advice and examples for writers

Equally useful and enjoyable. Well recommended to writers. I wish I had read it before writing my first novel. James is helpful, encouraging and doesn't take himself too seriously.

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Incredibly useful

A very useful and informative guide to writing fiction. Also comes with pdf document that you can refer to and lots of helpful exercises to get you started.

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Interesting and useful

It was quite detailed and very helpful for me to learn where I went wrong in the novel i am writing and to understand the novels I am reading.

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made my mind pop and crackle

made my mind pop and crackle... a bit intimidating at first but then I loved it. will return to this text. thanks!

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Great insight

Really enjoyed this podcast. Have just started in a creative writing degree. Your podcast gave me a great insight told through the eyes of an established writer. Thank you

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Like a gift to me

Wonderful step by step guide for writing a book. I was looking for some help with writing a dialogue for my story but learned a lot more from this tutorial. Truly fascinating lecture.

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Useful for anyone interested in fiction writing

What was one of the most memorable moments of Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques?

The example in the last chapter when he used different draft versions of his own book 'The Lecturer's Tale' to demonstrate how the techniques from the previous chapters can help hone the helpless initial draft into a fine piece of prose fiction.

What about Professor James Hynes’s performance did you like?

Everything. Very good pace of narration. Down-to-earth, feels like somebody who really tries his best to help you understand fiction writing.

Any additional comments?

Author combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience as a writer very well. Contains a lot of useful advice. Has a lot of examples. It also inspires to write. Gives you confidence on how to approach it in a structural manner without being too prescriptive. I can strongly recommend this series for anyone even remotely interested in writing fiction.

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5 people found this helpful

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Elements of writing

Loved it. Explored in depth and detail. Left with a greater understanding of the structure

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Could not put down this great book about a book!

Everything a great book needs is presented here and showcased!
You get homework - so there is participation to keep one engaged!!
The advice is candid and to the point...very inspirational. A must read for those fictional storytellers venturing out...!!!

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Interesting & Inspiring

A handy manual that lays out a plethora of thought-provoking tricks and tips for writers.

Ranging from scene setting and building believable characters to the low down on how to get published, this set of lectures is perfect for anyone feeling a little lost in their capabilities. Placing you firmly back on track, Hynes draws from personal analogies and published fiction to depict a detailed yet concise image of storytelling.

I'll be re-listening when it comes to putting pen to paper. 5/5

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