The Lie That Tells a Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction

I procrastinated writing this review for weeks because it meant so much to me. The great gift this book offers is its infinite passion for writing. You feel it from the author and from all the great authors whose quotes are included. Being immersed in this love of literature for the time it took me to read and reread this book was a pleasure. The book also provides great insights into creating characters, starting stories, writing dialogue, "borrowing from other writers", and common mistakes made by authors. The following two points helped me the most. First, don't be discouraged by flawed first drafts and scenes that don't match the images you had in your head when you decided to write them. All writers experience this. Rewriting is where the magic occurs. Second, only include writing that advances the story or reveals something important about the charactor. No matter how much you love a scene you wrote, remove it if it doesn't meet this criteria. I can't recommend this book enough.

For any student of fiction(i.e. writer), John Dufresne's The Lie that Tells a Truth is simply indispensable. In Dufresne's book, you will find valuable information about pre-writing, writing, and revision along with the thoughts of writers such as Flannery O'Connor, John Gardner, and Caryll Phillips. Read especially "Sitting Alone In a Quiet Room" and his "Ten Commandments of Writing Fiction." He has also included a "Writer's Toolbox" at the end of the book. All of the things you've ever done as a writer--the cameras, the writing on napkins, hanging around the self-help section of the bookstore for snippets of conversation for your next short story or novel--are unmasked by a writer with a great sense of humor and generosity. If you want to be a writer, read this book first, and then--if you must--read the others.

Each evening for the past two weeks, it has been my great joy to end the day by reading a chapter or two of John Dufresne's sensible, sensitive, and sometimes funny book. Dufresne, a novelist and college teacher, has written a wonderful volume about writing well. I went through two containers of Post-It flags in order to mark the wise and witty spots that I want to reflect upon further for my own writing and use in teaching my classes. But this book is not necessarily a book for teachers. It's a guide for writing fiction that writers at all levels would benefit by reading. Dufresne has split the book into two major sections: The Process and The Product, with a follow-up section containing advice about reading and craft, and a bibliography as well. Using common sense and a breadth of knowledge about the life and writing of authors throughout the ages, the author gives solid advice and often laugh-out-loud observations. Each section provides wonderful exercises--some of the best ideas for prompting writing that I have ever encountered. Dufresne approaches fiction--the "lies" we write that tell the truth--by focusing on the importance of the story and of the characters who people our stories. He tells us we "crave a person's story. You want meaning, but not answers. Fiction writers understand that there are no answers, simple or otherwise. The point is not to answer, but to question, not to solve, but to seek, not to preach, but to explore, not to assure, but to agitate" (p. 61). In the Introduction, when Dufresne says, "Well the _idea_ of writing is overwhelming; the act of writing, however, is simplicity itself," he is right on. And everything he tells us throughout the rest of the book is aimed toward encouraging each writer to get past being overwhelmed to focus on the act of writing. I loved this book! It is one to which I will return again and again, both as a writer and as a teacher. John Dufresne does a marvelous job making the process and experience of writing understandable. His sage take on things and his witty, educated style make this volume a joy to read. Whether you are already an author or are contemplating writing, this lively, clever, and entertaining book will speak to you. This one gets my highest recommendation. ~Lori L. Lake, (...)

According to writer/teacher Dufresne, those who buy this book have the desire to write. In keeping with that premise, the author wastes no time and the reader is given specific directions, immediately assigned a writing exercise. Although geared toward the fiction writer, most of Dufresne's suggestions are applicable to any style. The following chapters are sprinkled with quotes, each of which can serve as the basis for another exercise and it is in the actual exercise, pushing past "the burn" that one becomes a focused writer, able to sit for long periods without exhaustion. Specific daily writing tasks serve to clear away emotional detritus and concerns, eventually allowing the writer to compose on a moment's notice. Two procedures are suggested for the first two weeks of the writing regimen and are non-negotiable: three pages of "morning" writing and fifteen minutes of writing by appointment (with yourself). These practices teach how to write, and, in the process, how to be a writer. The following are but a few observations, valuable notes that define the process: create powerful emotional moments to draw the reader into active participation; be comfortable with ambiguity; understand that writing demands limits and nothing paralyzes the imagination like too much freedom; don't break the seam in the reader's mind with bad technique; never use the words "once upon a time" or "they all lived happily ever after". This is no brief treatise on the art of writing. It is a thoughtfully structured lesson plan, fine-tuned to meet every situation, where the writer will experience by doing, each phase honing more skills, more refinement in the process. If you trust this successful author, and I do, by virtue of his simple approach, following direction will allow the writing experience to evolve. Peruse the chapter headings, which clearly lay out the path ahead into two main categories, the process and the product. Under the section dealing with the process, Dufresne walks the writer through the beginning pangs, the pitfalls and the too-easy solutions, stressing the importance of rewriting. The product section moves into the next important phase, the actual creation of plot, characters, dialog and point of view. The entire book, replete with quotes and writing exercises, is clearly a map toward successful, self-fulfilling creativity. Not to be taken lightly, this book is not a quick read, nor is it intended to be. The learning is in the doing and the author has taken the time to lay it all out, demystifying and personalizing an intimate process. Of all the books on writing I own, this is one of the few that has piqued my curiosity and awakened my interest. I plan on putting in my two weeks, one day (three pages plus fifteen minutes) at a time, with an eye toward finally reaching my goal. For anyone who has been intimidated by that blank page, this is the place to begin, with Dufresne as an encouraging, accessible guide. Time to get started. Luan G

John Dufresne's "The Lie That Tells A Truth" is one of the best books on writing that I own, rivaling even Steven King's "On Writing." From the start, TLTTAT gets you writing, the most obvious and ironically overlooked aspect of being a writer.The introduction starts, "I'll assume that if you're reading this introduction, then you must want to write. Why else would you be loitering around the Writing/Publishing section of the bookstore when all the really interesting and dangerous people are over in the Self-Help/Addiction aisle?" The book is laden with a self-aware humor, knowing writers are in a desperate state, completely miserable when they are not writing yet so prone to finding other things to fill their time.TLTTAT is divided into three main sections that logically break the writing process down. The first section, "The Process," covers the basics of getting it in gear and writing a story. He repeats again and again that a writer writes, and if you're not writing every day then you are "inviting madness." I could relate to this deeply. There's nothing more frustrating than wanting to write but for some reason not doing it. Dufresne's solution is simple - just do it. And he gives you plenty of exercises to get you going. In this first section he also discusses rewriting, clearly driving the point home that rewriting is the essence of writing. In fact, he's able to show, in what might be the only book I know of that does this, the real process of writing a novel or screenplay or short story or poem, or any work of creativity. He tells you to disallow your critical self to sit down at the desk with you while writing the first draft, to write from the heart. Get to know your characters and then allow them to lead you through their story (and he provides exercises to encourage this). Then, discussing the revision process, he specifically outlines several steps you can take to produce stronger writing, such as eliminating adverbs, eliminating most adjectives, avoiding the passive voice. These things may seem obvious, but he presents them in a lucid way, with actual examples of revision, that will improve your overall writing quality. The second section deals with the specifics of plot development, dialogue, character growth, point of view, beginnings and endings, and settings. Taking what you know from how the writing of a story actually occurs (from the first section) you now learn the mechanics of developing that story.The last section is primarily about how to glean the most from the work of others.I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you are an aspiring writer, buy this book today, along with Steven King's "On Writing" and Linda Seger's "Making a Good Writer Great." In a library full of writing books, "The Lie That Tells a Truth" shines brightly.