by Mike Klaassen

Created on: March 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

Book Review of
DARE TO BE A GREAT WRITER: 329 Keys to Powerful Fiction
By Leonard Bishop
1988, Writer's Digest Books

Dare to be a Great Writer, by Leonard Bishop, was one of the first "how-to" books I read when I first started writing novels, and it's still one of my favorites. Much like Robert Masello's Robert's Rules of Writing, this is a collection of writing tips presented in no particular order. Many of the ideas offer practical help; others provide thought-provoking insight. You can enjoy this one again and again.

The subject matter covered by Bishop's "keys" include style, character, plot, setting, theme, process, and the writer's life. Some keys are as short as a paragraph, some as long as two pages. Unlike, Robert's Rules of Writing, this one provides an index for easy reference.

Critics of the book may find fault in the jumbled format. I don't agree with every entry, but I still find plenty of solid material in the book.

Because of the format, I wouldn't recommend this one as the first "how-to" book for a novice. But the scrambled format works well for me when I'm looking for a quick read during TV commercials or a "writing tip of the day" to get the mental wheels turning.

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