The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers

This 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.

• On Becoming a Novelist
• ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL
• On Moral Fiction (A Harper Torchbook- TB 5069)
• How Fiction Works
• From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction
• Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them (P.S.)
• Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction
• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
• Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print