The Secret Miracle

The Novelist's Handbook


Cover of the book The Secret Miracle by Daniel Alarcon, St. Martin's Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Daniel Alarcon ISBN: 9781429935838
Publisher: St. Martin's Press Publication: April 13, 2010
Imprint: St. Martin's Griffin Language: English
Author: Daniel Alarcon
ISBN: 9781429935838
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication: April 13, 2010
Imprint: St. Martin's Griffin
Language: English

The world's best contemporary writers—from Michael Chabon and Claire Messud to Jonathan Lethem and Amy Tan—engage in a wide-ranging, insightful, and oft- surprising roundtable discussion on the art of writing fiction

Drawing back the curtain on the mysterious process of writing novels, The Secret Miracle brings together the foremost practitioners of the craft to discuss how they write. Paul Auster, Roddy Doyle, Allegra Goodman, Aleksandar Hemon, Mario Vargas Llosa, Susan Minot, Rick Moody, Haruki Murakami, George Pelecanos, Gary Shteyngart, Daniel Alarcón, and others take us step by step through the alchemy of writing fiction, answering everything from nuts-and-bolts queries—"Do you outline?"—to perennial questions posed by writers and readers alike: "What makes a character compelling?"

From Stephen King's deadpan distinction between novels and short stories ("Novels are longer and have more s**t in them") to Colm Toibin's anti-romanticized take on his characters ("They are just words") to José Manuel Prieto's mature perspective on the anxieties of influence ("Influences are felt or weigh you down more when young"), every page contains insights found nowhere else.

With honesty, humor, and elegance, The Secret Miracle gives both aspiring writers and lovers of literature a master class in the art of writing.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The world's best contemporary writers—from Michael Chabon and Claire Messud to Jonathan Lethem and Amy Tan—engage in a wide-ranging, insightful, and oft- surprising roundtable discussion on the art of writing fiction

Drawing back the curtain on the mysterious process of writing novels, The Secret Miracle brings together the foremost practitioners of the craft to discuss how they write. Paul Auster, Roddy Doyle, Allegra Goodman, Aleksandar Hemon, Mario Vargas Llosa, Susan Minot, Rick Moody, Haruki Murakami, George Pelecanos, Gary Shteyngart, Daniel Alarcón, and others take us step by step through the alchemy of writing fiction, answering everything from nuts-and-bolts queries—"Do you outline?"—to perennial questions posed by writers and readers alike: "What makes a character compelling?"

From Stephen King's deadpan distinction between novels and short stories ("Novels are longer and have more s**t in them") to Colm Toibin's anti-romanticized take on his characters ("They are just words") to José Manuel Prieto's mature perspective on the anxieties of influence ("Influences are felt or weigh you down more when young"), every page contains insights found nowhere else.

With honesty, humor, and elegance, The Secret Miracle gives both aspiring writers and lovers of literature a master class in the art of writing.

More books from St. Martin's Press

Cover of the book I've Got Sand In All the Wrong Places by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book The Gap-Year Advantage by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book A Boy Made of Blocks by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Artistic License by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Godless Country by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book The Demon You Know by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Nights of Ice by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Expect a Miracle by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Getting Up When Life Knocks You Down by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book The Only Good Priest by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Twitter is Not a Strategy by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book The Gentleman and the Lamplighter by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Hidden in Havana by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Black Magic Woman by Daniel Alarcon
Cover of the book Atonement of Blood by Daniel Alarcon
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy