Here's what I tell mystudents on the first day when I teach one of my creative writing courses: Youwill be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, anddiscipline. In Write Away, NewYork Times bestsellingauthor Elizabeth George offers would-be writers exactly what they need to knowabout how to construct a novel. She provides a detailed overview of the craftand gives helpful instruction on all elements of writing, from setting and plotto technique and process. To illustrate her points, George presents excerptsfrom a number of well-known writers, including Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Lee, E. M. Forster, John Irving, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, andAlice Hoffman. In addition to being aclear and concise guide to fiction writing, Write Away also opens awindow into the life of Elizabeth George. It reveals the inspiring personalstory of how the distinguished author came to be published and how shemeticulously researches and crafts her novels. I have a love-haterelationship with the writing life. I wouldn't wish to have any other kind oflife . . . and on the other hand, I wish it were easier. And it never is. Thereward comes sentence by sentence. The reward comes in the unexpectedinspiration. The reward comes from creating a character who lives and breathesand is perfectly real. But such effort it takes to attain the reward! I wouldnever have believed it would take such effort. George's solidunderstanding of the craft is conveyed in the enticing manner of a truestoryteller, making Write Away not only amarvelous, interesting, and informative book but also a glimpse inside the worldof a beloved writer. | Write Away by Elizabeth George, Paperback | Indigo Chapters