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How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction

How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction

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Creator: J. N. Williamson
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Category: Book

List Price: $14.99
Buy Used: $0.07
You Save: $14.92 (100%)



New (11) Used (34) Collectible (2) from $0.07

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 5 reviews
Sales Rank: 18758

Media: Paperback
Edition: Rep
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.8

ISBN: 0898794838
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.3876
EAN: 9780898794830
ASIN: 0898794838

Publication Date: July 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More.

Also Available In:

  • Hardcover - How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction
  • Paperback - How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction

Similar Items:

  • On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association
  • How to Write Horror Fiction (Genre Writing Series)
  • The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference
  • How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Elements of Writing Fiction - Characters & Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing)

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Kind of general...   August 15, 2004
 11 out of 15 found this review helpful

The book is the edited work of 26 writers, teachers and editors. The chapters are small, the details slim, the subjects bounce all over the place, and many of the rules and advice could be used by mystery or military writers. It was just too weak, telling me nothing that I couldn't guess at. If you want a solid piece of work about sci-fi/fantasy get the how-to-write books by Orson Scott Card. If you want just fantasy there are world building books by Gary Gygax. And if you want to learn about horror go to Stephen King. Go with the books that have the vision of one author, from the first page to the last.



4 out of 5 stars The parts that are good are excellent   February 11, 2002
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This wonderful book is easily the most helpful thing I've ever read for the horror author. In essence, it is a collection of essays from various writers about writing speculative fiction and dark fantasy, with chapters by the likes of Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch and Charles Grant. Much of the lessons do apply to Sci-Fi/Fantasy as well, although if that's your concentration I would recommend Orson Scott Card's "How to Write Science Fiction" before this.

The book is a brisk read right up until the chapter on the psychology of horror fiction which, frankly, reads like it was written by a psychologist. It was boring, tedious and felt very out of place among so many good essays.

The only other problem is the chapter at the end that supposedly helps you get published. While I'm sure it was quite helpful at the time it was written (in the mid-1980s), many of the publications it lists are now defunct and many of the practices have changed. It's not a bad section, it is simply past its time.

Regardless, for those who want to learn how to write horror from those who have done it, this book is well worth reading.


2 out of 5 stars More for the fantasy/horror writer than the SF writer   January 24, 2000
 6 out of 10 found this review helpful

Science fiction gets the short shrift in this treatment, and the essays that do address science fiction in particular are too superficial. The tone of the other essays I read before returning the book is more self-congratulatory than helpful.


5 out of 5 stars The best how-to book ever written   February 6, 1999
 8 out of 13 found this review helpful

This is the best how-to book ever written. I got this book for Christmas back in 1989. I've read the chapter on how to write sword and sorcery fantasy many times. I highly recommend it to all aspiring authors. I want to tell those who are just starting out not to give up. However, if you're still unpublished ten years after you should have been, then consider it.


5 out of 5 stars Excellant   January 5, 1998
 8 out of 10 found this review helpful

THE book on genre writing. Filled with pertinent and insightful information. Features writing advice from the likes of Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Marion Zimmerman Bradley and Charles L. Grant. Buy it with Mort Castle's "Writing Horror" and Stanley Wiater's "Dark Thoughts On Writing". An inspirational book. Buy it you won't be sorry.

 

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