The Formulas of Popular Fiction

The Formulas of Popular Fiction
Author: Anna Faktorovich
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2014-09-22
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0786474130

This book creates a taxonomy for the major bestselling fictional genres: romance (e.g., authors Heyer, Cartland, Woodiwiss and Roberts), religious and inspirational (Corelli and Douglas), mystery and detective (Conan Doyle, Christie and Mankell), and science fiction, horror and fantasy (Wells, Tolkien, Orwell, Niven, King and Rowling). Chapters look at a genre from its roots to its most recent works. The structural patterns in the plot, characters and setting of these genres are then explained. The book also provides a critique of currently popular hyper-formulaic, hack, unliterary writings that have multiplied in recent decades. Special topics such as the publishing oligopoly and the resulting homogeneity among bestselling works and the steady movement from literary to unliterary fiction are also examined.

The fantasy fiction formula

The fantasy fiction formula
Author: Deborah Chester
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Total Pages: 325
Release: 2016-01-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 178499605X

There's more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing new magic. How exactly is a plot put together? How do you know if your idea will support an entire novel? How do you grab reader attention and keep it? How do you create dynamic, multi-dimensional characters? What is viewpoint and do you handle it differently in urban fantasy than in traditional epics? What should you do if you're lost in the middle? How do you make your plot end up where you intend it to go? From the writing of strong, action-packed scenes to the handling of emotions, let award-winning fantasy author Deborah Chester guide you through the process of putting a book together. Convinced there's no need to shroud the writing process under a veil of mystery, Chester supplies tips that are both practical and proven. They are exactly what she uses in writing her own novels and what she teaches in her writing courses at the University of Oklahoma. Along with explaining story construction step-by-step, Chester illustrates each technique with examples drawn from both traditional and urban fantasy. The technique chapters include exercises to assist novices in mastering the craft of writing fantasy as well as suggestions for avoiding or solving plot problems. More experienced writers will find tips for taking their work to the next level. With an introduction by author Jim Butcher, The fantasy fiction formula provides the information you need to gain skill and proficiency in writing fantasy like a pro.

Adventure, Mystery, and Romance

Adventure, Mystery, and Romance
Author: John G. Cawelt
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2014-02-07
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 022614870X

In this first general theory for the analysis of popular literary formulas, John G. Cawelti reveals the artistry that underlies the best in formulaic literature. Cawelti discusses such seemingly diverse works as Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Dorothy Sayers's The Nine Tailors, and Owen Wister's The Virginian in the light of his hypotheses about the cultural function of formula literature. He describes the most important artistic characteristics of popular formula stories and the differences between this literature and that commonly labeled "high" or "serious" literature. He also defines the archetypal patterns of adventure, mystery, romance, melodrama, and fantasy, and offers a tentative account of their basis in human psychology.

Shikitei Sanba and the Comic Tradition in Edo Fiction

Shikitei Sanba and the Comic Tradition in Edo Fiction
Author: Robert W. Leutner
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2020-10-26
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 168417001X

The last decades of the eighteenth century gave rise to an explosion of literary activity in Edo (now Tokyo) that lasted until the mid-nineteenth century, with an army of writers producing prodigious quantities of fiction. This study traces the life and literary career of Shikitei Sanba (1776-1882), a writer in the mainstream of that generation, the author of more than one hundred works of fiction, many in comic veins. This book-length critical treatment of a major writer of gesaku(playful compositions) is a welcome breakthrough, since Samba's life, his era of literary activity, and the popular genres in which he worked have received scant treatment in English. Robert Leutner describes Sanba as a representative writer within a literary scene shifting from amateur to professional and becoming increasingly commercial. The text is enhanced by Leutner's translations of excerpts from Sanba's various writings and culminates in two long passages in original translations, fully annotated, of Ukiyoburo, "The Bathhouse of the Floating World," one of Sanba's best-known works. In "The Men's Bath" and "The Women's Bath" readers will encounter an array of Edo types. Their informal conversations convey the qualities of humor, the sociological characteristics, and much of the flavor of life in Sanba's Edo.

Mastering the Art of Suspense

Mastering the Art of Suspense
Author: Andrea J. Johnson
Publisher: Andrea J. Johnson
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2022-08-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1737688026

Everything you need to know about SUSPENSE in one comprehensive guide. Write your book from start to finish. We often hear the term “suspense” used as a wholesale description for thriller novels, but it’s actually a literary convention that can be used in all types of fiction — from legal and political fare to crime and noir. In fact, the excitement and exhilaration that properly executed suspense can manifest is an essential tool for every writer’s arsenal. Invest in this guide to learn a myriad of techniques that will help you draft your book from start to finish. · Crafting plot twists and plot reveals · Developing unreliable narrators · Learning the difference between suspense and tension · Recognizing the difference between antiheroes and villains (and how to develop them) · Creating red herrings, MacGuffins, and other elements of misdirection · Writing action and chase scenes · Understanding the do’s and don’ts of prologues · Raising the stakes through compelling dialogue · Building a solid pacing to create a powerful plot · Hooking readers with a riveting opening We will also cover some of the coveted suspense techniques made famous by Alfred Hitchcock, Patricia Highsmith, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle. SPECIAL BONUS: This book contains an extensive ★GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS★ as well as classic and contemporary examples of suspense at its best. Plus, every chapter ends with either a checklist, grow tip, start-up exercise, or frequently asked question to help you complete your suspense story in half the time. So whether you’re drafting your first novel or polishing your twentieth, Mastering the Art of Suspense: How to Write Legal Thrillers, Medical Mysteries, & Crime Fiction is a must-have for your keeper shelf. From the author of How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery and Poetic Justice!