The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young WritersThis classic guide, from the renowned novelist and professor, has helped transform generations of aspiring writers into masterful writers—and will continue to do so for many years to come. John Gardner was almost as famous as a teacher of creative writing as he was for his own works. In this practical, instructive handbook, based on the courses and seminars that he gave, he explains, simply and cogently, the principles and techniques of good writing. Gardner’s lessons, exemplified with detailed excerpts from classic works of literature, sweep across a complete range of topics—from the nature of aesthetics to the shape of a refined sentence. Written with passion, precision, and a deep respect for the art of writing, Gardner’s book serves by turns as a critic, mentor, and friend. Anyone who has ever thought of taking the step from reader to writer should begin here. |
Contents
Aesthetic Law and Artistic Mystery | 3 |
Basic Skills Genre and Fiction as Dream 17 | 17 |
Interest and Truth 39 | 39 |
Metafiction Deconstruction and Jazzing Around 82 | 82 |
Common Errors 97 | 97 |
Exercises 195 | 195 |
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Common terms and phrases
achieve action aesthetic artist basic become beginning believe called character choice choose close comes common conventional course create critical discover distract dream effect elements emotion example exercise experience fact feel fiction force give given hand happens Helen human idea imitation important instance interest kind leads least less limited literary look means metafiction mind moved narrative narrator nature never notice novel objective once opening perhaps person play plot point of view possible present question reader realistic reality reason rhythm rules scene seems sense sentence serious short simply situation sometimes story style symbolic tale teacher technique tell things thought tion traditional treat true truth trying turn understand usually values voice writer young