Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School

Gotham Writers' Workshop has mastered the art of teaching the craft of writing in a way that is practical, accessible, and entertaining. Now the techniques of this renowned school are available in this book.

Here you'll find:
- The fundamental elements of fiction craft-character, plot, point of view, etc.-explained clearly and completely
- Key concepts illustrated with passages from great works of fiction
- The complete text of "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver - a masterpiece of contemporary short fiction that is analyzed throughout the book
- Exercises that let you immediately apply what you learn to your own writing

Written by Gotham Writers' Workshop expert instructors and edited by Dean of Faculty Alexander Steele, Writing Fiction offers the same methods and exercises that have earned the school international acclaim.

Once you've read-and written-your way through this book, you'll have a command of craft that will enable you to turn your ideas into effective short stories and novels.

You will be a writer.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1
FICTION: THE WHAT, HOW, AND WHY OF IT 1
BY ALEXANDER STEELE

CHAPTER 2
CHARACTER: CASTING SHADOWS 25
BY BRANDI REISSENWEBER

CHAPTER 3
PLOT: A QUESTION OF FOCUS 52
BY DAVID HARRIS EBENBACH

CHAPTER 4
POINT OF VIEW: THE COMPLETE MENU 77
BY VALERIE VOGRIN

CHAPTER 5
DESCRIPTION: TO PICTURE IN WORDS 104
BY CHRIS LOMBARDI

CHAPTER 6
DIALOGUE: TALKING IT UP 126
BY ALLISON AMEND

CHAPTER 7
SETTING AND PACING: I'M HERE THEREFORE I AM 150
BY CAREN GUSSOFF

CHAPTER 8
VOICE: THE SOUND OF A STORY 171
BY HARDY GRIFFIN

CHAPTER 9
THEME: SO WHAT'S YOUR STORY REALLY ABOUT? 195
BY TERRY BAIN

CHAPTER 10
REVISION: REAL WRITERS REVISE 213
BY PETER SELGIN

CHAPTER 11
THE BUSINESS OF WRITING: DRIVING YOURSELF NUTS FOR FUN AND PROFIT 237
BY CORENE LEMAITRE

CHEAT SHEET 267

APPENDIX "CATHEDRAL"
BY RAYMOND CARVER 271

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 285
CONTRIBUTORS 286
INDEX 288