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The Eight Crafts of Writing

By Stefan Emunds

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A handy guide for all writers. Must-have on your bookshelf! This is a writing masterclass in a book

Synopsis

Jane was an aspiring writer, who, like everyone else before her, parachuted fearlessly into the writing jungle. And, like everybody else, she got hung up on a tree with her parachute.
She cuts the parachute lines, drops to the ground, makes a summersault forward, and jumps to her feet. Around her, writers of all ages are cutting paths through the thicket.
“Help?” She calls out.
Well-meant answers arrive from all directions.
”Create an interesting character and give her a great goal."
"Write what you want to read."
"Create a sense of wonder."
"The more conflict, the better."
"Don’t write to get published."
"Don’t worry about being a good writer, just write."
"Grab the reader."
"Be captivating. Or memorable."
"Create an emotional connection."
"Keep the reader turning pages."
"Be unpredictable."
"Keep the reader curious."
Jane scans the area. She can't see more than ten meters into the thicket. How she wishes she had a map and a navigation system.
Most books about writing specialize in one or few crafts, but none focuses on the overview (yep that's a paradox). Until now. The map is finally here: The Eight Crafts of Writing.

As a writer, this book grabbed my attention with its title. The Eight Crafts of Writing by Stefan Emunds is a must-have on the bookshelf for anyone who wants a succinct reckoner for basic principles of good writing.


Presented in a crisp format, the book provides a comprehensive map to navigate the writing jungle. Writers are often distracted by the tools of the trade, the multitude of best writing practices, advice on, and criticism of the styles. They tend to miss the overall picture. They forget the joy of creating art.


Nuggets of wisdom, easy to recall definitions, and a simplistic view of concepts are the cornerstone of this guidebook. It brings forth brief comprehension of elements of creative writing that we think we know but may not have clarity on. For instance, defining a story as a genre or distinguishing a fictional piece from a nonfictional one. It talks about the techniques to convert big ideas into a masterpiece.


I realized the value of this book as I delved deeper. This is not a one-time read. It is reference material; a textbook. Highlight the nuances, make notes in the margins, view the online material, and memorize the definitions. I recommend it as a must-have for every student and pursuer of the craft of writing. Simple diagrams support the narrative. Links to external material like videos and articles enhance the reference power of the content. 


Each page will draw you in, as you consume it. It's virtually a tome because not a word is wasted; not a sentence is vagrant. It's packed with a punch, a solid dose of learning in every single line. Read the whole book in a go or pick up a section and ruminate. You must also access the website - https://www.eightcrafts.com for additional learning through maps and articles. This is a masterclass in a book!

Reviewed by
Aneesha Shewani

I am a technical writer and editor by profession and a creative writer in my free time. My poetry and fiction are published in various anthologies. I like to explore the world of words. I express my perspective on books, art, and life on my blog: https://www.bluepenstrokes.com

The Eight Crafts of Writing

Written by Stefan Emunds

Buy it nowBuy nowBuy
Read preview
Synopsis

Jane was an aspiring writer, who, like everyone else before her, parachuted fearlessly into the writing jungle. And, like everybody else, she got hung up on a tree with her parachute.
She cuts the parachute lines, drops to the ground, makes a summersault forward, and jumps to her feet. Around her, writers of all ages are cutting paths through the thicket.
“Help?” She calls out.
Well-meant answers arrive from all directions.
”Create an interesting character and give her a great goal."
"Write what you want to read."
"Create a sense of wonder."
"The more conflict, the better."
"Don’t write to get published."
"Don’t worry about being a good writer, just write."
"Grab the reader."
"Be captivating. Or memorable."
"Create an emotional connection."
"Keep the reader turning pages."
"Be unpredictable."
"Keep the reader curious."
Jane scans the area. She can't see more than ten meters into the thicket. How she wishes she had a map and a navigation system.
Most books about writing specialize in one or few crafts, but none focuses on the overview (yep that's a paradox). Until now. The map is finally here: The Eight Crafts of Writing.

The Writing Jungle

Create an interesting character and give her a great goal. Write what you want to read. Create a sense of wonder. The more conflict, the better. Write with intention. Sit at the typewriter and bleed (Ernest Hemmingway). Don’t write to get published. Focus on characters’ struggles for objects of desire. Don’t worry about being a good writer, just write. Grab the reader. Unfold your story organically. Be captivating. Or memorable. Write originally. Create authenticity. Create an emotional connection. Keep the reader turning pages. Be unpredictable. Keep the reader curious. Writing serves the reader, not the writer. You can find a hundred more writing tips like this on the Internet. Which one to prioritize? Which one to apply when? Which one to ignore when?
Learning how to write feels like getting to know a jungle. We can only see a few meters into the tangled thicket that teems with cunning predators, yucky leeches, poisonous plants, and sucky swamps. In short, we can’t see the art for tools. 


That’s where Eight Crafts comes in. It gives you a structured drone view.


Drone view = overview. Structured overview = map.


What are Stories?


Life is all about experiencing, one could even make the point that experiencing is life’s purpose. 


Our lives are strings of pleasant and challenging experiences, so-called good and bad times. Pleasant experiences, like a nice dinner or a happy vacation, are anecdotes. Only challenging experiences are stories.


No challenge, no story. 


Challenges can be exciting, for example, climbing a mountain. But most challenges have an adverse ring to them, for example, a stone in a shoe. Or a storm. Climbing out of a hole is challenging too, for example, recovering from an accident or the loss of a loved one.  


Challenging experiences are adventures. Both adventure and adversity start with adv.


Fictional stories are never as realistic as real-life experiences. Writers make up for that by dramatizing and exaggerating stories. This leads to the basic definition of story:


Stories are dramatized virtual adventures. 


That busts the myth that stories are about change. Stories need to emulate change in order to feel real (life always changes), but stories are really about adventures, i. e. inspiring struggles with adversity. 


Adventures have to do with advancement too. Life bombards living beings with challenges, kinda forcing them to learn all the time. Adversity and advancement are inseparable and therefore indispensable ingredients of stories. Who advances and struggles with adversity? The protagonist.

The Eight Crafts of Writing

Written by Stefan Emunds

Buy it nowBuy nowBuy
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About the author

I author and write enlightenment non-fiction, visionary fiction (the enlightenment fiction genre), and run an online enlightenment workshop. Enlightenment and storytelling have interesting parallels, which prompted me to write a book about storytelling - The Eight Crafts of Writing. view profile

Published on August 06, 2021

40000 words

Genre:Writing & Publishing

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