{"product_id":"sometimes-the-magic-works-lessons-from-a-writing-life-9780345458285","title":"Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1977  the New York Times Trade Paperback Bestseller listback then the exclusive province of self-help guides  cartoon collections  and any number of cat booksplayed host to its very first work of fiction: The Sword of Shannara  an epic quest through a mythical land  by first-time author Terry Brooks. Nineteen New York Times bestselling novels later  it would be easy enough to just say: . . . and the rest is history. But when it comes to quests  everyone knows that getting there is half the fun. Now  Terry Brooks tells the story of how he got therefrom beginner to bestselling authorand shares his secrets for creating unusual  memorable fiction.  Writing is writing  whether ones setting is a magical universe or a suburban backyard. Spanning topics from the importance of daydreaming to the necessity of writing an outline  from the fine art of showing instead of merely telling to creating believable characters who make readers care what happens to them  Brooks draws upon his own experiences  hard lessons learned  and delightful discoveries made in creating the beloved Shannara and Magic Kingdom of Landover series  The Word and The Void trilogy  and the bestselling Star Wars novel The Phantom Menace.  In addition to being a writing guide  Sometimes the Magic Works is Terry Brookss self-portrait of the artist. Here are sketches of his midwestern boyhood  when comic books  radio serials  and a vivid imagination launched a life long passion for weaving tales of wonder; recollections of the fateful collaboration with legendary editor Lester del Rey that changed not only the authors life but the course of publishing history; and an eye-opening look at the ups and downs of dealing with Hollywood  as a writer of official novels based on major movies by both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.  If you dont think there is magic in writing  you probably wont write anything magical  says Terry Brooks. This book offers a rare and wonderful opportunity to peer into the mind of (and learn a trick or two from) one of fantasy fictions preeminent magicians.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67913342287925,"sku":"ByrdShop_0345458281","price":64.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780345458285.jpg?v=1793943863","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/sometimes-the-magic-works-lessons-from-a-writing-life-9780345458285","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}