Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
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Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
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Narrated by:
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James Hynes
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Written by:
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James Hynes
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The Great Courses
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 Library section along with the audio.
©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great CoursesYou may also enjoy...
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
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What listeners say about Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2024-08-24
Informative instruction
I stumbled upon James Hynes lecture series while perusing books on writing fiction. What a fortunate happenstance. I could easily imagine myself listening in on his real life lectures. He felt so present. The entire program is well formatted, each section detailed and beautifully articulated. He made it easy to follow along. I found myself comprehending the common sense logic it of it all as I listened to his analogies. I enjoyed them so much I plan to read some of his books. If you’re looking for writing tips, give this a whirl! You’ll be glad you stopped by.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas Reneau
- 2018-09-16
Always wanted to write... This is a must-read
Absolutely loved this book. The lecturer makes it both interesting and super motivating. Smart step by step guide... you will not regret it. I will listen to it again. Thanks #Audible1 for making it happen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- George Pickstock
- 2019-08-17
A Superb Course for Aspiring Authors
I listen to this course often. Since its purchase, I have probably listened to these lectures dozens of times. Jame Hynes is fantastic at explaining the various nuances of the writing art. I highly recommend this audiobook to any would-be author.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Bruce
- 2018-01-27
this is a book of extraordinary quality on conveyi
I truly needed to read this book it is of exceptional quality and answered many of my questions abode a craft of writing
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C.
- 2023-04-29
helpful
helped understand several things, good motivation, liked the exercises, liked the lecturer, better perspective of how to refine and push through
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dee
- 2021-01-14
A great resource for authors.
Candid and informative, this book is a great resource for fiction authors looking to make their work better, from beginning to end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Barry M
- 2022-07-30
easy and informative listen
An easy and informative listen. Nicely paced, interesting, and with numerous relevant examples and insights.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 2018-08-17
Excellent
If you are writing a non fiction book this is one you really need to listen to.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- lily_flower_girl
- 2022-05-12
Well-paced, good examples and exercises
Informative course with practical advice. I would have like more examples with more contemporary fiction, but overall I enjoyed the content; delivery was clear and well-paced.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- HotelJordan
- 2018-08-21
Great info for aspiring writers.
An easy listen full of concise information and explanation. The author demonstrates, in easy to understand language, the key principles of writing fiction.
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1 person found this helpful