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The Art of Creative Writing

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The Art of Creative Writing

By: Lajos Egri
Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
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About this listen

Thousands of books have been written on the subject of writing and how to do it better. Among them are a few select classics that reveal the essential elements of good storytelling. The Art of Creative Writing is such a classic. As in the best-selling The Art of Dramatic Writing, still considered one of the most essential books on playwriting more than 75 years after publication, the author outlines in detail his highly acclaimed Egri method of creative writing and shows how to apply it to all fiction formats - novels, short stories, and screenplays.

Grounded in Egri's assertion that "Every type of creative writing depends upon the credibility of a character", here is concise, clear advice on the most important element of good writing: characterization. Step by step, Egri shows writers how to probe the secrets of human motivation to create flesh-and-blood characters who create suspense and conflict and who grow emotionally under stress and strain.

As practical as it is inspiring, The Art of Creative Writing remains a timeless, illuminating guide that teaches every writer, and aspiring writer, how to create works that are both compelling and enduring.

©1965, 1993 Lajos Egri (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Fiction Creative Writing
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It is an excellent book for the aspiring writing for motivations and purpose for your characters, however, the chapter on love was a bit over the top and beaten to death. While I felt the rest of the book was quite unbiased, there seemed to be a bit more behind that chapter.

Almost perfect, but got way too preachy about Love.

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I understand this book was originally published decades ago and maybe its method of instruction was more appropriate at another time.
Overall I found it rather silly. The author provides a bunch of pseudo psychological reasonings by which writers should motivate their characters, providing an ongoing commentary on humanity that was unsought and unappreciated by this listener.
The narrator has an excellent voice and they were very enjoyable to listen to despite the content.

Mostly pseudo-psychological babble

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