A Creative Writing Handbook: Developing Dramatic Technique, Individual Style and Voice

(Paperback, 2nd edition)

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Description

[Final copy to be sent over by the OU]
An essential guide for writers of fiction, poetry, life writing and scripts, this book offers a practical understanding of the core writing genres and how dramatic techniques can be used to powerful effect in each. Expanded and updated throughout, this second edition features new chapters on biography and autobiography, world building in the speculative genres and discussions on podcasting and audio dramas. Designed to encourage writers to cultivate a sophisticated and distinctive voice and style, it combines writing, research and editing activities with rich and varied examples from contemporary and classic texts to help develop the skills and techniques a writer needs. The hands-on approach examines scriptwriting for different media and how this might cross over into other forms of writing: How does a story become a film How is film influenced by fiction The book also explores the fruitful relationship between life writing and other genres.
For writers workshops, writing groups and courses, and for writers working alone, it offers:

- Innovative approaches to writing fiction
- Detailed introductions to stage, radio and film writing
- Inspiring explorations of how poetic language and form operate
- Practical guidance on layour and adaptions techniques for different media
- Exciting activities which develop a writers own voice
- Advice on exploring outlets and preparing work for publishers and producers

Written by 9 published authors who all teach on the Open Universitys prestigious creative writing programme with experience at the UKs top universities for the subject, A Creative Writing Handbook, 2nd edition is a valuable and stimulating resource for all writers.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
The teaching of the book works by reproducing extracts of successful published material, examining how and why it works, and giving exercises that will help you improve your own style by using the lessons from these examples

* Writing Magazine *
Provides a valuable course in how to think about the art and craft of writing * Writers Services (December 2009) *
What is beguiling about the writing is the style - these are not academic propositions: they are translations from experience and practice * David Morley, Professor in Creative Writing, Warwick University, UK *

Author Bio

Derek Neale is Professor of Creative Writing at the Open University, UK. He is the author of the novel The Book of Guardians (2012) and is a script and short story writer. He taught both script and fiction writing at UEA before joining The Open University. He edited and co-wrote A Creative Writing Handbook: Developing dramatic technique, individual style and voice (A&C Black/Bloomsbury, 2009); co-authored Writing Fiction and Life Writing (2009) and was a principle author in Creative Writing: a workbook with readings (2006). Derek is lead educator on the OU/FutureLearn Start Writing Fiction which attracts thousands of writers. His volume Writing Talk collected interviews with novelists, playwrights, screenwriters and life writers - was published in 2020.

Heather Richardson is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the Open University, UK She has published two novels: Magdeburg (2010) and Doubting Thomas (2017). Her poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction have appeared in journals and anthologies in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and she is a former winner of the Brian Moore Short Story Award. She has a particular interest in multi-modal writing, with recent projects combining textiles, digital art and flash fiction. Her textile art has been exhibited at the International Linen Biennale (Lisburn, 2018) and at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery (Banbridge, 2019).