Writing Fiction, on the other hand, is very much a textbook. Elements of Style comes close because before White got involved, Strunk used the original version as a manual for students in his classes but even then it’s more of a reference or guide than a textbook. I imagine a lot of professors use On Writing not just because it’s a useful text on the craft of writing but also because students will recognize Stephen King’s name.īut even though these books get used in classrooms, they aren’t necessarily textbooks, per se. I remember first encountering Bird by Bird in a fiction writing workshop during my time as an undergraduate. So I’m guessing that a lot of the books on this list are the type of books that get used as texts in courses on creative writing. If you’re familiar with the book and you do spot some differences, I’d be interested to hear about them.
I make note of it only because there might be some content differences between the various editions that I’m unaware of since I only read the one. For this project, I was able to get a hold of the eighth edition, which is not the most recent one. There is a very good chance that one of your favorite authors learned the craft with Writing Fiction.Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway (with Elizabeth Stuckey-French and Ned Stuckey-French) was number six on t he list of Goodreads’ popular creative writing books.īecause Writing Fiction is more of a textbook by nature (see below), it has more editions than other books on this list. This book is a master class in creative writing that also calls on us to renew our love of storytelling and celebrate the skill of writing well. And the examples and quotations throughout the book feature a wide and diverse range of today's best and best-known creators of both novels and short stories. It includes new topics and writing prompts, and each chapter now ends with a list of recommended readings that exemplify the craft elements discussed, allowing for further study. Moving from freewriting to final revision, the book addresses "showing not telling," characterization, dialogue, atmosphere, plot, imagery, and point of view.
Burroway's tone is personal and nonprescriptive, welcoming learning writers into the community of practiced storytellers. This new edition continues to provide advice that is practical, comprehensive, and flexible. Now in its tenth edition, Writing Fiction is more accessible than ever for writers of all levels-inside or outside the classroom. Janet Burroway's best-selling classic is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and for more than three decades it has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn the craft. Description More than 250,000 copies sold!Ī creative writer's shelf should hold at least three essential books: a dictionary, a style guide, and Writing Fiction.
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