Overview

Superhero violence and graphic action sequences are prevalent on the screen and on the page, but this book takes an alternative route with practical guidance, frameworks, and tools for incorporating the principles of peacebuilding and nonviolence into compelling fiction. By mapping a path less travelled but just as vital in divisive times, Gabriel Ertsgaard shows writers how they can enact nonviolent heroism in their characters, model civil resistance in their stories, and create worlds around a mythos that champions redemptive nonviolence. With concepts applicable to writing for fiction, drama, the screen, and narrative poetry, A Fiction Writer's Guide to Peace deconstructs the necessity for violence in popular works, explores key concepts in peace studies, and helps writers establish their own peace poetics. Focused around the narrative craft techniques of character arcs, campaigns, duels, and worldbuilding, the book features numerous creative writing prompts and examples from key works. These include films such as Trading Places, Selma, Lage Raho Munna Bai, and Frozen and literature ranging from Shakespeare's plays to Dickens' A Christmas Carol to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton novels. A timely and important expansion to any writer's toolkit, A Fiction Writer's Guide to Peace allows storytellers to understand the complex dynamics of, and the damage caused by, violent perspectives and actions, giving them a way into considering nonviolence as powerful and preferable.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dr Gabriel Ertsgaard (Adjunct Lecturer, Kean University, USA)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions:   Width: 14.20cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 21.80cm
Weight:   0.340kg
ISBN:  

9781350473942

ISBN 10:   1350473944
Pages:   184
Publication Date:   26 June 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Is There Really an Imbalance? Is Nonviolent Action Effective? Are Stories of Nonviolent Heroism Compelling? 2. From Peace Studies to Peace Poetics Peace Education Civil Resistance Case Study: For the Snake of Power Conflict Transformation Case Study: Big Rural 3. Character Arcs Egri’s dialectical approach Power and Love Case study: Trading Places Creating Character Arcs Getting to Yes Conclusion Writing exercises 4. Campaigns What is a caper story? Underdogs versus powerful figure/force Initial situation Scheme Preparation Execution Aftermath Conclusion Writing exercises 5. Duels Substitution Intervention Nonresistance Conclusion Writing Exercises 6. Worldbuilding Mythos and worldbuilding Love Persuasion Reconciliation Conclusion Writing exercises 7. Peace Poetics for Activists Creative Literacy Counternarrative Narratology 8. Conclusion Against purity Future directions for peace poetics Bibliography Index

Reviews

A very interesting premise to explore for fiction writing and one deftly handled by Gabriel. He takes the reader/writer logically through the process of nonviolent heroism in fiction and how to make it an active part of a narrative. * Todd Sanders, Publisher, Air and Nothingness Press *

Author Information

Gabriel Ertsgaard is Interviews Editor for the Peace Chronicle and Copy Editor for the poetry journal Drifting Sands Haibun. He also serves on the board of directors for the Quaker magazine Western Friend. He has taught university English courses for the past decade, and is the author of numerous poems, short stories, and nonfiction articles. He holds a Doctor of Letters with a concentration in Global Studies from Drew University, USA.

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