CONTENTS

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

BY ALEXANDER STEELE

CHAPTER 2
CHARACTER: CASTING SHADOWS

BY BRANDI REISSENWEBER

CHAPTER 3
PLOT: A QUESTION OF FOCUS

BY DAVID HARRIS EBENBACH

CHAPTER 4
POINT OF VIEW: THE COMPLETE MENU

BY VALERIE VOGRIN

CHAPTER 5
DESCRIPTION: TO PICTURE IN WORDS

BY CHRIS LOMBARDI

CHAPTER 6
DIALOGUE: TALKING IT UP

BY ALLISON AMEND

CHAPTER 7
SETTING AND PACING: I’M HERE THEREFORE I AM

BY CAREN GUSSOFF

CHAPTER 8
VOICE: THE SOUND OF A STORY

BY HARDY GRIFFIN

CHAPTER 9
THEME: SO WHAT’S YOUR STORY REALLY ABOUT?

BY TERRY BAIN

CHAPTER 10
REVISION: REAL WRITERS REVISE

BY PETER SELGIN

CHAPTER 11
THE BUSINESS OF WRITING: DRIVING YOURSELF NUTS FOR FUN AND PROFIT

BY CORENE LEMAITRE


CHEAT SHEET

APPENDIX: “CATHEDRAL”

BY RAYMOND CARVER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CONTRIBUTORS