title: author: publisher: isbn10 | asin: print isbn13: ebook isbn13: language: subject publication date: lcc: ddc: subject: Page 1 Creative Writing Page 2 A selection of other How To Books Achieving Personal Well-Being Thriving on Stress Awakening the Writer Within Unlocking Your Potential Building Self-Esteem Using the Internet Buying a Personal Computer Writing a CV that Works Copyright & Law for Writers Writing a Non-Fiction Book Creating a Twist in the Tale Writing a Pantomime Freelance Teaching & Tutoring Writing a Report Getting into Films & Television Writing a Textbook How to Do Your Own Writing about Travel Advertising How to Do Your Own PR Writing an Assignment How to Get into Radio Writing an Essay How to Start Word Processing Writing & Publishing Poetry How to Study & Learn Writing & Selling a Novel How to Work from Home Writing Business Letters How to Write a Newsletter Writing Erotic Fiction How to Write a Press Release Writing Features & Interviews Improving Your Written EnglishWriting for Publication Making Money from Writing Writing for Radio Managing Your First Computer Writing for Television Managing Your Personal Writing Historical Fiction Finances Managing Your Time Writing Humour Mastering Business English Writing Reviews Maximising Your Memory Writing Romantic Fiction Publishing a Book Writing Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Research Methods Researching for Writers Writing Short Stories & Articles Starting to Write Writing Your Dissertation Other titles in preparation The How To series now contains nearly 250 titles in the following categories: Business & Management Personal Finance Computer Basics Self-Development General Reference Small Business Jobs & Careers Student Handbooks Living & Working Abroad Successful Writing Please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue for full details (see back cover for address). Page 3 Creative Writing How to develop successful writing skills for fiction and non-fiction publication Adèle Ramet 2nd edition How To Books Page 4 By the same author in this series Creating a Twist in the Tale Writing Short Stories and Articles Cartoons by Simon Ramet British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. © Copyright 1999 Adèle Ramet. Published by How To Books Ltd, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 793806. Fax: (01865) 248780. email: [email protected] www: howtobooks.co.uk First published 1997 Second edition 1999 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the express permission of the Publisher in writing. Note: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can he accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in the book. The laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements. Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions. Typeset by PDQ Typesetting, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Printed and bound by The Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Page 5 Contents List of illustrations 8 Preface 9 Acknowledgements 10 1 11 Getting started Making time to write 11 Where do you get your ideas? 13 Writing aurally and visually 14 Drawing on your own experiences 14 Looking back into your past 15 Read, read, read 16 Checklist 18 Assignment 18 2 19 Writing non-fiction Writing about what you know 19 Letting off steam 19 Changing work into leisure 20 Relating your life-story 23 Telling travellers' tales 26 Finding funny moments 28 Following where your ideas lead you 29 Case studies 29 Checklist 30 Assignment 30 3 31 Creating fictional characters Basing characters on real people 31 Visualising backgrounds 34 Involving yourself in your characters' lives 35 Changing the character 39 Relating to your character 40 How would you react if they approached you? 41 Creating conflict 43 Page 6 Case studies 44 Checklist 44 Assignment 45 4 46 Setting and atmosphere Getting a feel of place and time 46 Visiting locations 48 Imagining what it would be like to be there 53 Wearing different clothes and costumes 54 Case studies 56 Checklist 56 Assignment 57 5 58 Showing not telling Reacting and interacting with people and surroundings 58 Feeling the heat 60 Shivering against the cold 61 Revealing emotions 62 Expressing feelings 63 Moving your characters around the room 64 Speeding and slowing the pace with vocabulary 65 Flashing back and forth in time 66