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Elizabeth Lyon
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Writing Subtext: How to craft subtext that develops characters, boosts suspense, and reinforces theme (Elizabeth Lyon on writing craft Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Lyon (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 123 ratings
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Subtext is one of the most elusive and powerful elements of craft. Literally meaning what lies beneath the text, it is an undercurrent, a hidden agenda, a vibe, a reinforcement of theme—and it exists in what is implied but not explicitly spelled out. It has impact because what you don’t say is often more powerful than what you do say.

Elizabeth Lyon, editor and author, demystifies the techniques involved in writing subtext, and offers examples and excerpts from multiple genres. Lyon uses the same incisive and clear instruction that she is so well known for in Manuscript Makeover. For many writers, adding subtext is the missing link to writing powerful prose.
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  1. Print length
    59 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2013
  5. File size
    438 KB
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CNGKDYW
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 438 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 59 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 123 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Lyon

Elizabeth Lyon

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

In addition to Elizabeth's books on how to write and publish, she has launched a booklet series for novelists that treats one subject at a time in depth. WRITING SUBTEXT tackles an important and often under-developed technique. FIND YOUR NOVEL'S BEST TITLE leads writers through a a systematic process to find the best title that hooks readers and impresses publishers. You may think you've already found your best title, but most likely you can discover a far better one.

The author of six books for writers, Elizabeth's best-selling book MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER was featured in "The Writer" magazine as one of the "8 Great Writing Books of 2008," and described it as "perhaps the most comprehensive book on revising fiction."

Elizabeth Lyon is an independent book editor, literary consultant, and author. She began her full-time career in 1988, teaching dozens of community ed writing and publishing classes and workshops in Eugene, Oregon. Several dozen writing conferences in the United States and British Columbia welcomed her as a workshop teacher and speaker.

She has helped over one hundred writers fulfill their dreams of publishing, and she hopes many thousands have succeeded after reading her books on writing, revising, and publishing. Through her editing business, Editing International, she edits whole or partial books, queries, synopses, and proposals.

Elizabeth lives in Eugene, Oregon. For details about editing services, literary agent contacts, and client successes, see: www.elizabethlyon.com.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
123 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ashish Kaul
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful, as usual
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2013
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I had earlier read Eizabeth Lyon's 'Manuscript Makeover' and that opened a world of insights on writing. And yet again, she does it with this simple, highly readable and lucid treasure trove of information on what might well be the most important element in the writing craft.

My mind went straight to Jhumpa Lahiri's writings when I read what Elizabeth had to say. Subtext is what makes a great writer and this is something we usually miss. The examples are fantastic and drive home the point clearly. An easy and cryptic read, one will remember the advice, forever.

I am looking forward to more from Elizabeth. It seems, just when you think you got it all, she pulls out another remarkable one which we missed.

A vital book for any writer who wishes to excel.
2 people found this helpful
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Donald Hunt
4.0 out of 5 stars Story Beneath the Story....
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2018
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I write a lot of reviews and also write pulp fiction.
Therefore I tend to look at books a wee bit differently than most
readers.
I don't give 5 stars, for reasons you can probably figure out.
Even though, Writing Subtext, is a short (50 page) booklet, I gave
it 4 stars.
It is packed with good, thought provoking information, which after
all is one of the tenets of subtext.
Subtext is another tool all writers need in their toolbox.
And, the only way to get better at it, is to write, rewrite, revise, edit, and
write some more.
One person found this helpful
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I_Am_Mae
3.0 out of 5 stars A short, descent resource worth checking out
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2014
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Writing Subtext is a good overview on subtext and offers some common sense tips on application. I gave it three stars, because I felt it fell short of nailing down how to really craft subtext. With Jungian psychology and a plethora Campbell-ian roads to go down, I was surprised the author skipped past these roads.
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Mimzi Schradi
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything You Want to Know About Subtext in This Little Book!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2018
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I found this book extremely valuable and plan to share it with my writers group next week. Great read. Makes understanding subtext a piece of cake. Thank you, Ms. Lyon. Like the examples and suggestions. A great little workbook and reference to have handy and a great read as well.
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Ariele M. Huff
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and helpful as Lyon's books always are!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2014
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Beginners to successfully published writers will delight at the clear explanation of a daunting element in written work. Subtext is taken to a newly understandable place by Elizabeth Lyon in this quickly absorbed handbook that will become a great reference to be used again and again. The numerous examples of how to insert subtext are part of what makes all of Lyon's writing instruction books so helpful.
It's a great adjunct to her The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit and Manuscript Makeover books, even adding depth to her presentation of the topic in A Writer's Guide to Fiction.
Written with Lyon's combination of relaxed wit and Border Collie-like determination to keep things going the right way, Writing Subtext is fun and useful. Something that should adorn every writer's book shelf (or e-book collection).
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Mona Ingram
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2013
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A concise, clearly-worded booklet explaining subtext in all its variations. Thanks to books like this, authors such as myself can continue to grow and improve their skills. I'll be reading it several times. Thanks.
2 people found this helpful
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Ronald ArturiAmazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential text for fiction writers
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2014
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Just as I thought Elizabeth Lyon had written all there is to be said on writing from her published biblical primer, Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford To Ignore, she now presents the booklet, Writing Subtext: How to craft subtext that develops characters boosts suspense, and reinforces theme.

Again, Ms. Lyon has proven her expertise on fiction writing for the aspiring and career writer. She has an enthusiastic optimism to help the writer who employs the techniques of mood, tone, setting, characterization, dialogue, foreshadow, symbolism and others by presenting many ideas for developing subtext. She cuts through pages of collegial textbook pages with succinctness and presents vivid examples with each discussed section.

One of the many statements imbedded in my mind is: “Communicating social commentary through subtext allows an author to escape a soapbox lecture using a character as a mouthpiece.” To avoid overdoing of the same is this observation: “. . . dialogue gets loaded up with an 'info dump'.”

This booklet now sits beside her other books on my bookcase along with John Gardner, R, V. Cassell, Booth, Uland, Brand, Pannwitt, Dietrich and other books on writing.

RJ Arturi
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Mitch
3.0 out of 5 stars Quick to Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2014
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This is a short booklet. That's the source of its major flaw. This booklet is too superficial for a stronger recommendation. For a volume specifically on the subject of subtext, I recommend "The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot" by Charles Baxter or "Writing Subtext: What Lies Beneath" by Linda Seger. Both provide better instruction on foreshadowing and subtext.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

lara
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2013
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This booklet's a gem! Subtext had always been a difficult subject for me to get my head around but the explanations here are beautifully clear and there's lots of great examples. This book has improved my writing.
One person found this helpful
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Cat Owner
2.0 out of 5 stars Not good !
Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2019
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I am disappointed with the book. It felt more like a rushed article than a detailed how-to book. The author explains what subtext is but never gets to explaining how to achieve subtext in your writing. She mentions examples of how established authors have used subtext, but does not dwell further into how these techniques can be applied in our own writing. I really wanted this book to help my understanding and application of subtext, considering that there aren't many books on subtext as an element of fiction, but it did not meet my standard. :(
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James Cormier-Chisholm
3.0 out of 5 stars A good review, but way to short
Reviewed in Canada on October 7, 2014
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A good review, but way to short: more a short "story" on how to use subtext, rather than an extensive review of the subject.
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