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Write Away Elizabeth George (Reviewer - Rebecca Brown) Publicity: HarperCollins 2004 HarperCollins ISBN:
0060560428
One Novelist's Approach to
Fiction and the Writing Life.
Elizabeth George,
best known for her London copper series featuring Thomas Lynley
& Barbara Havers, has written an engrossing, impeccable guide
to the writing life.
“Here's what I tell my students
on the first day when I teach one of my creative writing courses:
You will be published if you possess three qualities -- talent,
passion, and discipline.” (Page 253)
In Write
Away, this New York Times bestselling author
shows would-be writers exactly what they need to know about how to
construct a novel. She provides a detailed overview of the craft,
& gives helpful instruction on all its elements, from setting
& plot to technique, character development & process. To
illustrate her points, this author offers excerpts from the works
of a number of much-read writers, including her friend Jefferson
T. Parker, Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Lee, E. M. Forster, John Irving, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, P. D. James, & Alice Hoffman.
In addition to
being a clear & concise course in fiction writing, Write
Away also is a glimpse into Elizabeth George's life,
revealing her own story of getting published & read, as well
as how she researches & crafts her works.
“I have a
love-hate relationship with the writing life. I wouldn't wish to
have any other kind of life ... on the other hand, I wish it were
easier. And it never is. The reward comes sentence by sentence ...
in the unexpected inspiration ... from creating a character who
lives and breathes and is perfectly real ... I would never have
believed it would take such effort.” (Book jacket)
I
especially enjoyed the snippets of her Journal of a Novel
which start each chapter, because you can really hear Elizabeth
George's everyday voice as she thinks of what reviewers are saying
about her work, or when she evaluates her writing the day before,
or groans about her writing life, querying what on earth she think
she's doing, or to enthuse about what books she is currently
reading ... & yes, writers do read other people's books! &
inevitably make comparisons. The writer who writes in a vacuum,
will produce a vacuous tome. In some of her journal excerpts
Elizabeth George muses on the story's Voice or The Scene or The
Dialogue. & from these musings, grow the chapters to
Write Away. Imperceptibly, elegantly & with
charm.
I found myself reading Write Away for the
multi-layered adventures of this Writing Life, as well for the
instruction. Elizabeth George, & I cannot complete this review
without commenting on the power of this author's name -- two
monikers handed down by power people -- queens & kings, &
presidents too. Elizabeth George, whose portrait has gazed upon me
as I write this review, has inspired me to return to completing
those stories which have persistently churned to the surface all
my life, urging me to tell them.
Write Away is
about the journey of writing. Bon Voyage & enjoy, I
did, immensely!
More from Elizabeth George: A Place of Hiding Playing for the Ashes A Great Deliverance Well-Schooled in Murder & many,
many
more!
www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com (02/29/04)
Rebecca Read Editor
Rebecca Brown's Bio! Comments/Feedback to The Editor HERE
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