From Publishers Weekly
The faculty of the Gotham Writers' Workshop-which now has 6,000 students not only in New York City but around the world (with online classes)-use an original approach in this how-to: Raymond Carver's classic story "Cathedral" (reprinted in the book) serves as a basis for their discussion of technique. The contributors are not household names, but all are published authors of fiction. Chapters touch on all the essentials: character development, pacing, dialogue and revision ("Real Writers Revise" the chapter title exhorts). All expand on the idea that "good writing comes down to craft far more than most people realize," while also reminding aspiring authors that "rules are made to be broken." The writing is fresh and full of concrete advice (e.g., "Desire is in the heart of every dimensional character"), and exercises allow students to explore what they have learned. This is an excellent starting place for someone exploring the art and craft of writing fiction.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Michael Ray, Senior Editor, Zoetrope: All-Story
"It's an incredible book, not just for the aspiring writer but for the ardent reader as well."


Review
"Here is an honest, engaging guide with lessons every writer, at any stage, willl benefit from. I read it just after I'd finished writing my second book. Now I'm inspired to begin a third."


Jonathan Ames, author of The Extra Man
"A valuable book for aspiring writers and aspiring teachers...I highly recommend this text."


Katherine Hall Page, author of the Faith Fairchild mystery series
"Writing Fiction is a boon for established and aspiring writers alike..."


Jhumpa Lahiri, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies
"Here is an honest, engaging guide with lessons every writer, at any stage, will benefit from."


The Writer Magazine, April 2004
"The strength of this book is its accessibility: It explains the basics of writing fiction in a simple, easy-to-understand manner"


Book Description
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.



From the Publisher
Writing Fiction is the first in a series of writing guides by New York's acclaimed Gotham Writers' Workshop to be published by Bloomsbury.


From the Inside Flap
"Here is an honest, engaging guide with lessons every writer, at any stage, will benefit from. I read it just after I'd finished writing my second book. Now I'm inspired to begin a third." – Jhumpa Lahiri Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies


About the Author
Gotham Writers' Workshop is America's leading private creative writing school, offering classes in New York City and on the web at WritingClasses.com. The school's interactive online classes, selected "Best of the Web" by Forbes, have attracted thousands of aspiring writers from across the United States and more than sixty countries.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Writing Fiction is the first in a series of writing guides by New York's acclaimed Gotham Writers' Workshop to be published by Bloomsbury.  The book was written by Alexander Steele, Dean of Faculty and the following Gotham Writers' Workshop faculty members: Brandi Reissenweber, David Harris Ebenbach, Valerie Vogrin, Chris Lombardi, Allison Amend, Caren Gussoff, Hardy Griffin, Terry Bain, Peter Selgin, and Corene Lemaitre.

About the Author: Gotham Writers￯﾿ﾽ Workshop is America￯﾿ﾽs leading private creative writing school, offering classes in New York City and on the web at WritingClasses.com. The school￯﾿ﾽs interactive online classes, selected ￯﾿ﾽBest of the Web￯﾿ﾽ by Forbes, have attracted thousands of aspiring writers from across the United States and more than sixty countries

SYNOPSIS

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 Writing Fiction. Written for the aspiring and experienced writer alike, the book includes: * 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 many of 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.

FROM THE CRITICS

Michael Ray - Senior Editor, Zoetrope: All- Story

It's an incredible book, not just for the aspiring writer but for the ardent reader as well.

Chuck Kinder - Writing Program Director, University of Pittsburgh

I've clearly found a new book to use in my own writing classes. This is a fine guide.

Publishers Weekly

The faculty of the Gotham Writers' Workshop-which now has 6,000 students not only in New York City but around the world (with online classes)-use an original approach in this how-to: Raymond Carver's classic story "Cathedral" (reprinted in the book) serves as a basis for their discussion of technique. The contributors are not household names, but all are published authors of fiction. Chapters touch on all the essentials: character development, pacing, dialogue and revision ("Real Writers Revise" the chapter title exhorts). All expand on the idea that "[g]ood writing comes down to craft far more than most people realize," while also reminding aspiring authors that "rules are made to be broken." The writing is fresh and full of concrete advice (e.g., "Desire is in the heart of every dimensional character"), and exercises allow students to explore what they have learned. This is an excellent starting place for someone exploring the art and craft of writing fiction. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Jhumpa Lahiri

Here is an honest, engaging guide with lessons every writer, at any stage, will benefit from. I read it just after I'd finished writing my second book. Now I'm inspired to begin a third. — Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies

Jonathan Ames

A valuable book for aspiring writers and aspiring teachers...I highly recommend this text. — author of The Extra Man

Katherine Hall Page

Writing Fiction is a boon for established and aspiring writers alike... — author of the Faith Fairchild mystery series

The Writer Magazine