STEIN ON WRITING

Sol Stein worked as an editor for several decades. He also authored plays and novels. In 1995, St. Martin's Press published "Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of some the most successful writers of our century shares his craft techniques and strategies." The book is for fiction and non-fiction writers, with more attention given to the former.

Stein offers his life-time of writing wisdom. Among his many gems are: Be Clear; Be Precise; Be Concise; and, Evoke Emotion in your readers. He counsels writing immediately visible scenes. He says that characters make your story.

Characters are brought into being through: Physical attributes; Clothing; Psychological traits and mannerisms; Actions; Dialogue; Contrast; and Personality, which includes disposition, temperament, individuality and eccentricity. Exaggeration, if not stretched into caricature (unless intended), may be used.

Effective plotting requires: Thwarting the desire of the character, especially the protagonist; the use of a Crucible (a context which 'drives' the story); the use of Suspense; creating Tension; Dialogue; and, Showing instead of Telling.

Good writers bring all six human senses into play. (Actually, in modern, scientific psychology there are, depending on how you define them, eleven or thirteen human senses, but no "sixth" sense.) And, good writers use detail that distinguishes, which is what Stein labels "particularity."

Throughout the book, Stein uses examples, good and bad, from famous writers, from his own works and from the works of his students (some unpublished).

There is much more in the book. I have tried to hit some of the high points and to provide a bit of the flavor. The book is one that I will keep and use on many occasions. I recommend it!