I’ve finally finished reading yet another book on writing. It takes me a while because I tend to read bits of it in the fifteen or so minutes that I have to wait for class.
I enjoyed Writing the Block Buster Novel by Albert Zuckerman. It was truly interesting, if somewhat difficult for me to apply.
See, it’s clear from Mr. Zuckerman’s words that he favors plotting. Which is all very good and well. Except that I can’t plot. The few times I tried all ended in failure.
Anyway, the one thing that I am glad for is the fact that I finished drafting Doorways before I started reading this book, because it was full of ways to help me focus what I have written.
That was probably the one thing that I learned from the book. The need to commit the reader to the story with interesting and not wholly unlikeable characters. The need for there to be an over-arching plot question. The need for rhythm in the plot.
And so on. Although I already knew some of those things instinctively, it was nice to actually read someone else’s feelings about them in words.
Have you ever read Writing the Block Buster Novel? What did you think of it?
The Five Year Project 