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lpineo's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat helpful advice but I don't like the layout and format of the book at all. I wish it was just written with regular chapters in a start to finish format. It's so hard to find up-to-date/in-print books on writing historical fiction so I was hoping this one would be my go-to book. I'm disappointed it won't be.
barbarahowe's review
5.0
This is the best book of advice for aspiring writers that I've read yet, and I've read a few. The focus is, of course, on historical fiction, with some useful exercises and particular advice on that genre, but there is a lot of solid advice on core aspects of storytelling that are applicable across all genres. The examples, from physic distance to free indirect style to the pros and cons of past vs present tense, are clear and easy to understand. I'm keeping it within easy reach on my desk, along with several other indispensable reference books.
And now, having gone through it once, I will have to go through it again, and make notes of all the novels she quoted bits from, to hunt them down and read them myself.
And now, having gone through it once, I will have to go through it again, and make notes of all the novels she quoted bits from, to hunt them down and read them myself.
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