Spider, Spin Me A Web

The craft of writing is a lot like spinning a web: You take threads and weave them skillfully together, and only you know where this intricate network of twists and turns begin and how it will end. Now, with Lawrence Block's expert advice, you can learn this art of entrapping your reader in a maze of fascinating fiction. Spider, Spin Me a Web is the perfect companion volume to Block's previous book on writing, Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, which Sue Grafton noted "should be a permanent part of every writer's library." As helpful and supportive as always, Block shares what he's learned over the course of writing over one hundred published books: techniques to help you to write a solid piece of fiction; strategies for getting a reader (or editor) to read—and buy—your book; ideas for increasing your creativity and developing an environment that will nourish you and your craft. Spider, Spin Me a Web is a complete guide to achieving your full potential as a writer. Drawing from a lifetime of experience, this classic collection of writing advice explores every aspect of the craft: Organic Writing: Learn to trust your intuition and allow your story to grow as it goes, from the first seed of an idea to its natural conclusion. Story Structure: Discover how to build your web, weaving plot threads and key details together to entrap your reader from the first page to the last. Character Development: Move beyond flat descriptions to populate your stories with real, memorable people—including how to handle famous figures in your fiction. Surviving the Writer’s Life: Tackle the challenges of a writing career with practical strategies for surviving rejection, overcoming procrastination, and navigating the path to publication.