Lamb - The Art And Craft Of Storytelling : a Comprehensive Guide To Classic Writing Techniques

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR

The Art and Craft of

STORYTELLING

Nancy Lamb is at her usual high standard. Of the more than two hundred books about writing on my shelves, this is the best single reference I have. Read this book. Use it. Your writing will be better for it.

Charles Connor, Founding Director, The Harriette
Austin Writing Program, The University of Georgia

Ive written for television for many years, functioning like the piano player who can play anything but cant read music. Nancy Lambs book taught me how read the music of writing. If you want to write, read this book. If you already write but want to read the music, read this bookand keep it handy.

Joe Halderman, Producer/Writer, CBS News
and 48 HOURS MYSTERY

The essential guidebook for anyone who wants to write a book. Comprehensive and clear, it is a must read for new authors embarking on their writing journey.

Peter Guber, Chairman and CEO,
Mandalay Entertainment Group

Nancy Lambs experience and instruction informs, excites, and shows me how to do it! Shes on my side, rooting for me, investing all that shes learned in writing her books so can I tackle my own projects. She knows the storytelling process inside and out, and she makes teaching it not only a story in itself, but a story you want to live.

Sheila Bender, author and publisher of
WritingItReal.com

From her comprehensive breakdown of genres to her eight approaches to story structure to her process for creating unforgettable characters, Nancy Lambs book overflows with incredibly useful advice, tips, and techniques. Her tone is inspirational, gently encouraging, and filled with warm good-humorreading it is like being led to the secret well of creativity by your best friend.

Eric Elfman, author, screenwriter, writing coach

The Art and Craft of Storytelling is articulate, cohesive, insightful, and comprehensive. It takes every question Ive been asked by a student or have discussed with fellow writers and answers itnot just summarily, but in depth and with valuable examples. A writing book of this caliber is a rare find, and I recommend it for all aspiring writers, as well as established writers looking for an excellent refresher course.

Dale Griffiths Stamos, playwright
and SBWC workshop leader

NANCY LAMB

The Art and Craft of

STORYTELLING

A Comprehensive Guide to
Classic Writing Techniques

Cincinnati, Ohio
www.writersdigest.com

The Art and Craft of Storytelling 2008 by Nancy Lamb. Manufactured in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Writers Digest Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

For more fine books from F+W Media, visit www.fwmedia.com.

12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1

Distributed in Canada by Fraser Direct, 100 Armstrong Avenue, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 5S4, Tel: (905) 877-4411. Distributed in the U.K. and Europe by David & Charles, Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4PU, England, Tel: (+44) 1626-323200, Fax: (+44) 1626-323319, E-mail: postmaster@davidandcharles.co.uk. Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link, P.O. Box 704, Windsor, NSW 2756 Australia, Tel: (02) 4577-3555.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lamb, Nancy.

The art and craft of storytelling : a comprehensive guide to classic writing techniques / by Nancy Lamb. -- 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-58297-559-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Fiction--Technique. 2. Narration (Rhetoric) I. Title.

PN3383.N35L36 2008

808.3--dc22 2008032177

Edited by LAUREN MOSKO
Designed by TERRI WOESNER
Cover Designed by CLAUDEAN WHEELER
Production coordinated by MARK GRIFFIN

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all the writers out there who toil in the fields, fueled by little except passion, creativity, and a belief in the dream.

Without artistswithout their ability to celebrate life, invent realities, and reveal truthswe would all be diminished. And without art, we would lose our connection to magic.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My gratitude to Terry Baker and Lia Keyes for their patience in answering my endless questions; and to Ron Alexander, Heather Brown, Max Diamond, Eric Elfman, George Emerson, Troy Fuss, Mary Goodfader, Ethel Gullette, Marianne Jas, Damon Kirsche, Mary Main, Greg Paul Malone, Andrew Martin, Brad Miskell, Ann Paul, Jan Silverstrom-Elfman, and Janet Zarem for their help and insight leavened by humor and intelligence.

I also offer my thanks to the amazing Lauren Mosko, an extraordinary editor whose hard work, sharp eye, and keen intellect made this a better book; and to Jane Friedman, whose open mind made this book possible.

My special thanks to Charles Connor, a stranger who gave me a boost when I needed it most.

Finally, in this electronic age, I must acknowledge Google, Wikipedia, Amazon.com, and Barnesandnoble.com. All four sites offered me a feast of information for my research.

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

PART I
BUILDING PLANS

PART II
FOUNDATION AND STRUCTURE

PART III
STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS

PART IV
INTERIOR DESIGNS

PART V
FINISHING TOUCHES

PART I

BUILDING PLANS

1