The Art of Creative Writing

This book should be a must not only for any writer who wants to succeed in the quest of character description, but also for the reader who feels that human behaviour is an intriguing topic.

Very good book about the importance and creation of character.

Lajos Egri knows people and what motivates them. He could have made a wonderful psychologist (aren't all good writers therapists to a degree?) and this book will give you wonderful insites into what motivates people and what people like to read about. This is one of the best books on creative writing I've ever read. It doesn't teach about grammer or sentence structure, just about people and stories. You will learn more about how to generate story ideas in this little book then in a whole library of lesser books.

It's sad that Lajos Egri's books don't seem to be in print any more. I've read two so far - this one and Art of Dramatic Writing. Although the author seems to be mostly inclined towards plays, don't let that stop you from devouring this book. It was absolutely invaluable in teaching me how to motivate my characters. Although a lot of the things he says seem self-evident upon reflection, seeing them in print drives them home all the more. It helped me figure out why my stories stalled and didn't seem to go anywhere.

Not only will this book provide you with a insightful guide to writing, it also will fill you with profound insight into the nature of human beings.