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Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew
Steering the Craft Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
One of the great writers of the twentieth century offers an exhilarating workout for writers of narrative fiction or nonfiction. With her sharp mind and wit and a delightful sense of playfulness, Le Guin has turned a successful workshop into a self-guided voyage of discovery for a writer working alone, a writing group, or a class. Steering t...  more » is concerned with the basic elements of narrative: how a story is told, what moves it and what clogs it. This book does not plod through plot, character, beginning-middle-and-end. Nor does it discuss writing as self-expression, as therapy, or as spiritual adventure. Each topic includes examples that clarify and exercises that intensify awareness of the techniques of storytelling.
ISBN-13: 9780933377462
ISBN-10: 0933377460
Publication Date: 4/1998
Pages: 173
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 11

3.7 stars, based on 11 ratings
Publisher: Eighth Mountain Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 4
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

jeffp avatar reviewed Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew on + 201 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've read a few books on writing over the years. Some were just too silly (write words and draw arrows between them) or were focused on things I honestly don't care about (writing as therapy, or finding my inner whatever).

The things that interest me are:

* How do I make my writing better?

* What are the ways that various writers find that let the be effective at it?

Steering the Craft falls squarely and wonderfully into the first camp.

Le Guin presents a series of exercises along with supporting text and descriptions that drive home specific points about writing well. In addition, she discusses some of her own opinions about a few things in the writing field. It turns out she's simply a practical writer with both a great feel for language and an excellent ability to distil that knowledge into usable tools and techniques.

This isn't a long book, but it is quite clear to me that if you follow though on it by doing the exercises and evaluating the results honestly - possibly with a group of like minded people - you have a good shot at becoming a better writer.

I've begun that process, and I look forward to following it all the way through.

I expect Steering the Craft will be an excellent resource.
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reviewed Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew on + 9 more book reviews
A great resource for writers, writing groups and classrooms, focusing not much on grammar and syntax but on the advantages and disadvantages of the various POVs, the use of adjectives and adverbs, dialogue and exposition.


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