Comments on: Revising Fiction by David Madden: Leading by Example (and with TOC Checklist)

By: Ken Sabey

Ken Sabey — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:26:11 +0000

I wrote my first novel this last year. My wife just happen to run across this “bible” at a thrift store. It is amazing. I can understand how I’ll be reviewing its contents on a regular basis as my skills continue to grow. I’ve been researching the internet to find a way to contact Mr. Madden, but to no avail. I guess he is in his early 70s now. Anyone know how to reach him or if he is still with us?

By: Lisabee

Lisabee — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:30:41 +0000

Your review was so compelling I had to order a copy. This book is the kind of thing that would have made my head swim when I was younger; as it is, there’s a lot to take in. It’s really a book about thinking about your own writing in a profound way. Thanks for the recommendation.

By: Trent Jamieson

Trent Jamieson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:43:17 +0000

What a brilliant book, Jeff. And one I will have to hunt down.

By: Corey Redekop

Corey Redekop — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:20:32 +0000

I’ll definitely have to pick this up. I just pretty much scrapped my second novel, and now am jumping ahead to the third. Probably could use a little help.

By: Jeff VanderMeer

Jeff VanderMeer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:21:29 +0000

I have a ton set out and described in my forthcoming writing book, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer. Just too lazy to copy and paste that right now. Do recommend Carol Bly’s The Passionate, Accurate Story, though.

By: Justin A.

Justin A. — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:56:58 +0000

Yeah…I bought this a couple years ago! Great book. Can you recommend any other good books for writers? There is so much crap out there…

By: Els

Els — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:08:29 +0000

This looks like an extremely useful tome, though I did feel reprimanded after having read through the checklist above. I reckon I’ve failed, neglected, limited, assumed, overindulged, lacked and drifted on an epic level of stylistic naughtiness…Whoops.

Seriously though, I will seek this book out. Thanks. Looking forward to ‘Booklife’ too!

By: James

James — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:26:16 +0000

This sounds eminently practical. I must say, Jeff, I find most writing how-tos fairly annoying and repetitive, but the ones you’ve posted have always wound up on my wish list. Which explains why I have high hopes for Booklife and its followup.

By: Aidan

Aidan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:31:06 +0000

I’m just in the middle of reading Revising Fiction at the moment. Finding it very useful.

By: Bryan Russell

Bryan Russell — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:55:14 +0000

I love this book. So few good books on revision, and this has been my favourite for quite some time. Everyone kept recommending the Browne and King book (Self Editing for Fiction Writers – I think that’s the title, anyhow), but I was not impressed. Seemed like all the basic How To books except under the pretense of revision. Madden’s was far more interesting, and far more interested in digging deep into the process (that is, delving past the basics where most of the other books stop). And I’ve never heard anyone else talk about (or recommend) Revising Fiction, so this is nice. Good to know there’s another admirer out there. I remember having to do a lot of ferreting to find a copy…

Should note, too, that I did like Susan Bell’s The Artful Edit. If I could choose only two books on revision… you know the old saying.