Read Like A Writer

There are two ways to learn how to write fiction: by reading it and by writing it. Yes, you can learn lots about writing stories in workshops, in writing classes and writing groups, at writers' conferences. You can learn technique and process by reading the dozens of books like this one on fiction writing and by reading articles in writers' magazines. But the best teachers of fiction are the great works of fiction themselves. You can learn more about the structure of a short story by reading Anton Chekhov's 'Heartache' than you can in a semester of Creative Writing 101. If you read like a writer, that is, which means you have to read everything twice, at least. When you read a story or novel the first time, just let it happen. Enjoy the journey. When you've finished, you know where the story took you, and now you can go back and reread, and this time notice how the writer reached that destination. Notice the choices he made at each chapter, each sentence, each word. (Every word is a choice.) You see now how the transitions work, how a character gets across a room. All this time you're learning. You loved the central character in the story, and now you can see how the writer presented the character and rendered her worthy of your love and attention. The first reading is creative—you collaborate with the writer in making the story. The second reading is critical.


John Dufresne, from his book, The Lie That Tells A Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction

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Tuesday, April 12, 2022

LibriVox’s Short Story Collection Vol. 009 (Audio Book)

 

LibriVox’s Short Story Collection Vol. 009 (Audio Book)

 LibriVox’s Short Story Collection Vol. 009 (Audio Book)

 

LibriVox’s Short Story Collection 009: a collection of 10 short works of fiction in the public domain read by a variety of LibriVox members.

Genre(s): Short Stories

Language: English

Group: Short Story Collection

 

CONTENTS 

  1. The  Adventure  of  the  Dying  Detective  by  Sir  Arthur  Conan  Doyle  (1859-1930),  read  by Brian  J.  Callaghan  -  00:44:14
  2. The  Butterfly  by  Hans  Christian  Andersen  (1805-1875),  read  by Westwindsl2  -  00:06:40 
  3. The  Garden  of  Paradise   by  Hans  Chistian  Andersen   (1805-1875),   read  by Westwindsl2 - 00:33:10 
  4.  In  the  Year  2889  by  Jules  Verne  (1828-1905),  read  by  Esther  -  00:37:39
  5. Love  of  Life  by  Jack  London  (1876-1916),  read  by  John  Taylor,  Southeast  Missouri  - 00:52:00 
  6. The  Nice  People  by  Henry  Cuyler  Bunner  (1855-1896),  read  by  Ana  Simao  -  00:23:12 
  7.  An  Old  Mate  of  Your  Father's  by  Henry  Lawson  (1867-1922),  read  by  Lucy  Burgoyne  - 00:11:29 
  8. The  Sun-Dog  Trail  by  Jack  London  (1876-1916),  read  by  John  Taylor,  Southeast Missouri -00:51:09 
  9. Under  the  Knife  by  H.  G.  Wells  (1866-1946),  read  by  William  Coon  -  00:34:59 
  10. A  White  Heron  by  Sarah  Orne  Jewett  (1849-1909),  read  by  Arctura  -  00:30:17



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