Written in clear, concise language by a highly successful professional novelist. playwright, screen-and-TV writer – and teacher – this THEORY-FREE book offers practical techniques for constructing a compelling story, developing rich characters and extraordinary dialogue.
Simply put, there is no other book on writing quite like FICTION WRITING DEMYSTIFIED.
Simply put, there is no other book on writing quite like FICTION WRITING DEMYSTIFIED.
"Chapter one begins 'Face it — We’re Entertainers'. How refreshing! If today's novelists listened to Tom Sawyer, they'd have more readers, and better zip codes." Jim Kearney – Loyola Marymount Faculty/Network TV Consultant
To listen to a sample of the audio version, click: HERE
Via lively, entertaining examples, Sawyer demonstrates that the same methods he learned and used in the high-pressure world of writing for film and series television can be applied to – and improve – storytelling of any kind, from poetry, short stories and novels to non-fiction, stage plays, movie scripts, and even sermons.
In FICTION WRITING DEMYSTIFIED, you'll find hundreds of no-nonsense, take-'em-to-the-bank nuggets that eliminate the mystery from such challenges as plotting, scene structure, building action sequences, finding conflict, avoiding clichés, and more. Also covered are problem-solving strategies for polishing the final product, all of it aimed at forcing one's readers to turn those pages – at the challenge of keeping your audience glued until The End.
In FICTION WRITING DEMYSTIFIED, you'll find hundreds of no-nonsense, take-'em-to-the-bank nuggets that eliminate the mystery from such challenges as plotting, scene structure, building action sequences, finding conflict, avoiding clichés, and more. Also covered are problem-solving strategies for polishing the final product, all of it aimed at forcing one's readers to turn those pages – at the challenge of keeping your audience glued until The End.
Read the rave reviews!
"Where was this book when I set out to write my first novel? Tom Sawyer translates his successful career as a screenwriter and novelist into a brilliantly practical primer that tells you all you need to know about every aspect of storytelling. Smart, funny, dead-on accurate – buying this book is like putting a down-payment on a ticket to the bestseller list." Linda Fairstein – bestselling novelist, author of The Bone Vault and The Deadhouse
"Absolutely devoured your book! Pages folded back, underlinings, margin notes... A treasure trove, brother. Fabulous." Jerry B. Jenkins – writer of the mega-selling Left Behind novels "Really wonderful…the most specific and helpful I’ve ever read – not only for the beginner but for the experienced writer…" Barnaby Conrad – Bestselling author of Matador
"Absolutely devoured your book! Pages folded back, underlinings, margin notes... A treasure trove, brother. Fabulous." Jerry B. Jenkins – writer of the mega-selling Left Behind novels "Really wonderful…the most specific and helpful I’ve ever read – not only for the beginner but for the experienced writer…" Barnaby Conrad – Bestselling author of Matador
"The best technique book I've seen. A here's-how-you-do-it book…fun…reads like a workshop, with Tom rolling breathlessly and enthusiastically from topic to topic. I began using it the day I got it." Pat Browning – novelist, author of Full Circle and Absinthe of Malice
"Exceptional, and not just for those who’ve thought about writing a novel…Concise, authoritative, a refresher course in basics…masterful!" Robert S. Levinson – bestselling author of Hot Paint, The John Lennon Affair and The James Dean Affair
"Sawyer’s analysis of the craft and observations on the process are not only true, they’re universal. If you use only half of what’s in this book, your writing will be twice as good!" John Wirth – Screenwriter, Executive Producer of The District
"Sawyer’s analysis of the craft and observations on the process are not only true, they’re universal. If you use only half of what’s in this book, your writing will be twice as good!" John Wirth – Screenwriter, Executive Producer of The District