How To Write A Page-Turner

Craft a Story Your Readers Can't Put Down

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Pub Date Mar 19 2019 | Archive Date Apr 26 2019
F+W Media | Writer's Digest Books

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Description

Infuse Your Fiction with the Powerful Tug of Tension!

Tension is the heart of conflict, the backbone of uncertainty, the hallmark of danger. It keeps readers guessing and characters on their toes. When you've got tension in place, stories leave readers breathless and wanting more. When it's missing, scenes feel inconsequential, plots drag, and characters meander.

Learning the craft of writing can sometimes feel like a paint by numbers approach--connect compelling character A to plot event B. To avoid writing that's formulaic, predictable, and slow, How to Write a Page Turner will help you sew the threads of tension tight for an unforgettable story. You'll learn how to:Recognize the essential tension elements of danger, conflict, uncertainty, and withholding, and add them to your fictionCreate levels of tension in your characters through flaws, dialogue, power struggles, and moreBuild tension at energetic markers throughout the plotUse intimate imagery, strong sentences, and well-chosen words to build tension in expositionWhile this book walks you through the key areas that need tension building, from character to plot, it also delves deeper, analyzing exceptional examples from contemporary fiction's most gripping page-turners. So as you dive into the inner conflicts of a character's deepest psyche, to the mechanics of how you reveal information to the reader, you'll also discover how to craft a story your readers can't put down!
Infuse Your Fiction with the Powerful Tug of Tension!

Tension is the heart of conflict, the backbone of uncertainty, the hallmark of danger. It keeps readers guessing and characters on their toes...

A Note From the Publisher

Jordan Rosenfeld is the author of Writing the Intimate Character, Writing Deep Scenes (with Martha Alderson), A Writer's Guide to Persistence, Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time, all Writer's Digest books, as well as Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life (BeijaFlor Press, with Rebecca Lawton) and the novels Women in Red (Booktrope), Forged in Grace, and Night Oracle. She is a former contributing editor to Writer's Digest magazine and her many publications include The Atlantic, Mental Floss, the New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, Salon, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, The Writer magazine and many more. Her book commentaries have been featured on NPR-Affiliate KQED's radio magazine, "The California Report." Jordan won an NEA chairman's grant for the radio program she created and hosted, "Word by Word: Conversations with Writers" on KRCB radio, in 2004, where she interviewed such writers as TC Boyle, Louise Erdrich, Aimee Bloom and more (it continues under a new host).

Jordan holds an MFA in creative writing and literature from Bennington College, and has worked as an editor and writing coach for more than 15 years through her business "Write Livelihood." She considers herself the "Writer's Cheerleader"-always pushing her students and clients to find joy in their work and keep at it. She also edits for Writer's Digest's editing and critique service, Second Draft.

Jordan presents and speaks annually at writer's conferences and clubs.

Jordan Rosenfeld is the author of Writing the Intimate Character, Writing Deep Scenes (with Martha Alderson), A Writer's Guide to Persistence, Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene...


Marketing Plan

For marketing/publicity inquiries, please contact publicity [at] fwmedia.com.

For marketing/publicity inquiries, please contact publicity [at] fwmedia.com.


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781440354342
PRICE £12.99 (GBP)
PAGES 240

Average rating from 57 members


Featured Reviews

Not only is this the perfect plan for writers, it would do well for GCSE students to help them with their English Literature. While not an approach teacher’s take, understanding how a writer approaches the craft might help some understand themes and characters a little more.

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If you have any desire to write a book, I would highly recommend this book! I found it broke down the process of idea generation and writing into manageable steps. I run a writing workshop in my library and I'm certainly going to be recommending it to the people who attend the workshop. Will also be requesting that the library purchase a few copies as it's on a topic that is always popular!

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I wanted to include How To Write A Page Turner by Jordan Rosenfeld in my write up today. Though I have written several books, I am always eager to learn more and get better with my storytelling. This is a book I will read slowly and take notes from. If you are interested in writing or improving your skills, I suggest you get this one when it comes out in March.

Here is what you can look forward to learning-

Tension is the heart of conflict, the backbone of uncertainty, the hallmark of danger. It keeps readers guessing and characters on their toes. When you’ve got tension in place, stories leave readers breathless and wanting more. When it’s missing, scenes feel inconsequential, plots drag, and characters meander.

Learning the craft of writing can sometimes feel like a paint by numbers approach–connect compelling character A to plot event B. To avoid writing that’s formulaic, predictable, and slow, How to Write a Page Turner will help you sew the threads of tension tight for an unforgettable story.

You’ll learn how to:
Recognize the essential tension elements of danger, conflict, uncertainty, and withholding, and add them to your fiction
Create levels of tension in your characters through flaws, dialogue, power struggles, and more
Build tension at energetic markers throughout the plot
Use intimate imagery, strong sentences, and well-chosen words to build tension in exposition
While this book walks you through the key areas that need tension building, from character to plot, it also delves deeper, analyzing exceptional examples from contemporary fiction’s most gripping page-turners. So as you dive into the inner conflicts of a character’s deepest psyche, to the mechanics of how you reveal information to the reader, you’ll also discover how to craft a story your readers can’t put down!

So many people have often remarked to me that they would love to write a book but don’t know where to start. There are so many amazing books on writing that you can get to help like this one! I am excited to keep learning.

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In a world with so many "how to write" books, it is refreshing to see a bit different advice. This book is not groundbreaking, but it does tackle some important points by offering explanations and writing prompts. It really goes into advice on how to write conflict, how to up the stakes and how to take advantage of withholding, pacing and conflict.

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