(Don't) Stop Me if You've Heard This Before
And Other Essays on Writing Fiction
For creative souls who yearn to achieve greatness in their work, the insights shared throughout Peter Turchi’s (Don’t) Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before will be game-changing.
Turchi’s essays push past the solid but limited advice of 101 workshops (“show, don’t tell;” kill your darlings) to advocate for greater awareness in the construction and revision of one’s stories: “There is value in thinking the process through, in examining every part of what we do.” Deconstructing notable novels and stories (and even personal anecdotes) to highlight instances wherein greatness arises, Turchi walks aspiring authors through the nuances of factors like imagery, narrative perspectives, character relationships, and even the dreaded first line. The upside to being so meticulous, he suggests, is that care enables storytellers to create works that don’t only hold attention in the moment, but that last in people’s memories––whose sharpest bits burrow into readers’ beings.
“I encourage you to at least consider being a little more scheming, even a little devious,” Turchi winks. Those daring writers who rise to the challenge will find their work enriched by (Don’t) Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before, the most valuable (and cost effective) creative writing course you’ll ever take.
Reviewed by
Michelle Anne Schingler
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
