This is such an interesting and helpful book for writers.
About the Book
For over 2000 years, dramatic writers have relied on Aristotelian principles to write their stories for the screen and stage. But now for the first time ever, these same timeless principles from Aristotle’s esteemed Poetics have been adapted for novelists.
With succinct clarity, novelist Douglas Vigliotti shows you exactly how to write a novel using tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories. These timeless principles are the foundation on which any story can be written. Whether you are writing your first or tenth novel, Aristotle for Novelists has something to offer any serious writer of fiction. It is both a challenge to writers to simplify their craft and a no-frills, impassioned outcry for novelists everywhere.
My Thoughts
I have definitely heard of Aristotle. I’ve heard of the comedy, the tragedy, and many of his ideas. This is the first I’ve heard of it being focused on novels. It’s such an interesting concept, and it offers a ton of great advice for writers like me. I’ve really decided to buckle down and focus on getting my work published this year, so this book can’t have come at a better time for me.
As you can see from the picture on the first slide, I found tons of useful information in the pages. As a fellow writer, I’ll definitely come back to this book again and again to mine it for bits of wisdom. The author is himself a writer. Obviously, he wrote this book, but he’s also written others. It’s really clever to me that he mined the Poetics for useful tidbits to help us write better novels. I’ve never heard of anything like that, but, of course, I haven’t read all the books – so don’t quote me on that.
I’m also impressed he managed to make this book so interesting. Sometimes, books like this can be boring. It’s just a fact of life, but this one had plenty of entertaining information and was written with a sense of humor.
I want to leave everything out so that I will stay within the information, but it includes 14 principles to help make you a better writer. My favorite is No. 15, though, which is a little bonus. It says Novelists must write, read, and have courage. It really resonated with me, and this author at least agrees that authors need to read and practice! Some argue against that, and I’ll never understand why!
I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour.
About the Author
DOUGLAS VIGLIOTTI is the author of three books, including his first work of fiction, Tom Collins: A ‘Slightly Crooked’ Novel, which is available to listen to (gratis) on the podcast, Slightly Crooked: Good Stories, Told Well. He is also the host of Books for Men, a podcast to inspire (more) men to read and bring together men who do. He currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
Links
Amazon US: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221032818-aristotle-for-novelists
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/bFiemZp
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781737548232
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221032818-aristotle-for-novelists
Author’s Website: https://douglasvigliotti.com/
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Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.