I have a confession to make. I’ve never read any Easy Rawlins books. That series has always been on my to be read list, and one day at the library, I picked up what I thought was an Easy Rawlins novel. In my defense, I was in a hurry and just saw the name Walter Mosley, which is plastered all over the mystery section of bookstores and libraries. It turns out that I had picked up The Long Fall, a Leonid McGill novel. While I may not have gotten the character I wanted, I sure got the story I wanted. To me, Mosley used the best of the mystery genre’s tropes and paired them well with social commentary. Mystery novels succeed on the style, and Mosley hit all the style nails right on the head. Dialogue, scenery descriptions, and perspective all worked for me. With one book, I became a Walter Mosley fan. His writing succeeds in the translation to audiobooks as well. So, when I saw the chance to review his latest book on writing, well, how could I pass up that opportunity? In a follow-up to his This Year You Write Your Novel – which I still need to read – Mosley has decided to pass on more of his wisdom in The Elements of Fiction.
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From the Publisher
In his essential writing guide, This Year You Write Your Novel, Walter Mosley supplied aspiring writers with the basic tools to write a novel in one year. In this complementary follow up, Mosley guides the writer through the elements of not just any fiction writing, but the kind of writing that transcends convention and truly stands out. How does one approach the genius of writers like Melville, Dickens, or Twain? In The Elements of Fiction, Walter Mosley contemplates the answer.
In a series of instructive and conversational chapters, Mosley demonstrates how to master fiction’s most essential elements: character and character development, plot and story, voice and narrative, context and description, and more. The result is a vivid depiction of the writing process, from the blank page to the first draft to rewriting, and rewriting again. Throughout, The Elements of Fiction is enriched by brilliant demonstrative examples that Mosley himself has written here for the first time.
Inspiring, accessible, and told in a voice both trustworthy and wise, The Elements of Fiction will intrigue and encourage writers and readers alike.
Review: The Elements of Fiction
I’m a sucker for writing manuals. My biggest hope for this one was to get an insight into Mosley’s creative process, and he didn’t disappoint. Walter Mosley’s examples are as compelling as any of his novels.
His thesis is that novels develop from the characters. Throughout, he creates characters and develops their backstories. When he does it, it seems effortless. The conflict evolves from the character interactions. I can see how he creates his novels through this process. It explains why his novels feel full of characters. His process starts and ends with the characters.
The Elements of Fiction is a short book at just over one hundred pages. Mosley doesn’t get into the nuts and bolts of writing; his approach is much higher level, much more nebulous. At one point, he uses the phrase “…metaphysical tidal wave…” This manual touches on all aspects of writing – as expected – rewriting, reading a lot, description, etc.
He has a section on degrees in creative writing. He doesn’t seem to be a fan of these programs. Since I have a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, I disagree. Every now and again, I read similar screeds against MFAs, and all I can say is that my experience was positive and helped me improve. It’s not the route for everyone, but it helped me. While I haven’t achieved Mosley’s success, I know I wouldn’t have tried to get published without a writing program. The key is to determine what’s more important about the program: the writing or the academics? I agree with Mosley that writing must be central.
At first, I didn’t think this book would be for me, but I learned from this book. I enjoyed seeing the various examples of his methods, and this was an entertaining writing manual. It’s worth a look, and because of what I found here, I’m going to search out This Year You Write Your Novel. Based on what I’ve read here, I’d love to ask Walter Mosley questions. The book is complete, but I’d love to go deeper. The Elements of Fiction is an entertaining read, an insightful writing manual, and a look into a great author’s process. I highly recommend it.
Grove Atlantic publishes The Elements of Fiction on September 3, 2019.
8 of 10!