Write Away

Here's what I tell my

students on the first day when I teach one of my creative writing courses: You

will be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, and

discipline.

In Write Away, New

York Times bestselling

author Elizabeth George offers would-be writers exactly what they need to know

about how to construct a novel. She provides a detailed overview of the craft

and gives helpful instruction on all elements of writing, from setting and plot

to technique and process. To illustrate her points, George presents excerpts

from a number of well-known writers, including Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Lee,

E. M. Forster, John Irving, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, and

Alice Hoffman.

In addition to being a

clear and concise guide to fiction writing, Write Away also opens a

window into the life of Elizabeth George. It reveals the inspiring personal

story of how the distinguished author came to be published and how she

meticulously researches and crafts her novels.

I have a love-hate

relationship with the writing life. I wouldn't wish to have any other kind of

life . . . and on the other hand, I wish it were easier. And it never is. The

reward comes sentence by sentence. The reward comes in the unexpected

inspiration. The reward comes from creating a character who lives and breathes

and is perfectly real. But such effort it takes to attain the reward! I would

never have believed it would take such effort.

George's solid

understanding of the craft is conveyed in the enticing manner of a true

storyteller, making Write Away not only a

marvelous, interesting, and informative book but also a glimpse inside the world

of a beloved writer.