Read Like A Writer

There are two ways to learn how to write fiction: by reading it and by writing it. Yes, you can learn lots about writing stories in workshops, in writing classes and writing groups, at writers' conferences. You can learn technique and process by reading the dozens of books like this one on fiction writing and by reading articles in writers' magazines. But the best teachers of fiction are the great works of fiction themselves. You can learn more about the structure of a short story by reading Anton Chekhov's 'Heartache' than you can in a semester of Creative Writing 101. If you read like a writer, that is, which means you have to read everything twice, at least. When you read a story or novel the first time, just let it happen. Enjoy the journey. When you've finished, you know where the story took you, and now you can go back and reread, and this time notice how the writer reached that destination. Notice the choices he made at each chapter, each sentence, each word. (Every word is a choice.) You see now how the transitions work, how a character gets across a room. All this time you're learning. You loved the central character in the story, and now you can see how the writer presented the character and rendered her worthy of your love and attention. The first reading is creative—you collaborate with the writer in making the story. The second reading is critical.


John Dufresne, from his book, The Lie That Tells A Truth: A Guide to Writing Fiction

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Writer's Digest: How to Write Short Stories (1921)


Writer's Digest: How to Write Short Stories (1921)

 
Chapter I. Common Sense in Viewing One's Work. 
Chapter II. The Necessary Mental Equipment. 
Chapter III. Finding Time and Material. 
Chapter IV. Hints for Equipping The Shop. 
Chapter V. Common Business Sense in Meeting the Market. 
Chapter. VI. The Great Art of Story Writing: Construction. 
Chapter VII. The Great Art of Story Writing : Style. 
Chapter VIII. The Great Art of Story Writing: Adaption of Style to Material. 
Chapter IX. The Great Art of Story Writing: The Element of Suspense — Viewpoint. 
Chapter X. The Great Art of Story Writing: Characterization. 
Chapter XI. The Great Art of Story Writing : Plots. 
Chapter XII. Using Acquaintance as Material. 
Chapter XIII. The Author's Personal Responsibility. 
Chapter XIV. The Editors. 
 Chapter XV. Criticism. 
Chapter XVI. Help from Other Writers. 
Chapter XVII. When You're Tempted to Shut Up Shop. 
Chapter XVIII. The Business of Writing — A Summing Up.

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