Write Away by
Elizabeth George
hbk out February 04
Published by Hodder
at £18.99
Sub-titled 'One novelist's approach to fiction and the writing life', this book provides plenty
of thought-provoking insight into the task of making readers desperate to keep turning the
page. A brave and unusual feature is that Elizabeth George actually gives away the basic plot
of one of her novels (perhaps those who have yet to read Missing Joseph might wish to skip
pages 56-7 until they have done so), but it is all in a good cause: the example she gives of
plot-structuring is illuminating. She quotes copiously and usefully from the work of other
writers as well as from her own novels and each chapter begins with a relevant extract from
her own journal. I found what she had to say about characterisation and voice particularly
convincing; no real surprise since these aspects of her own work are notable strengths. The
advice she gives is not just geared to the would-be crime novelist; any aspiring author is
likely to find it useful. She wryly admits that her books are not fast-paced and, indeed, 'pace'
does not appear in the index, although 'suspense' does and there is a good deal of material
about setting and the process of writing. There are plenty of books on the market which offer
advice to aspiring novelists, but this is one of the best to have appeared for some time.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
Write Away by
Elizabeth George
