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A Short Story Writer's Companion

Tom Bailey
ISBN13: 9780195135558ISBN10: 0195135555 Paperback, 208 pages
Dec 2000,  In Stock

Retail Price to Students:

$39.95 (04)
208 pages; 5-1/2 x 8-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-513555-8ISBN10: 0-19-513555-5

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
PART ONE: FICTIONAL TRUTH AND SIGNIFICANT DETAIL
Fictional Truth
Significant Detail
The Abstract Versus the Concrete
Student Example
PART TWO: THE ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY AND ADVICE ON TECHNIQUE
"We Are Our Desires": Character
Round Versus Flat Characters
Characterization
Dialogue
Writing Exercises
The Eye of the Story: Point of View
First Person
Second Person
Third Person
Writing Exercises
The "Why?" Behind the Power of Plot: Shaping the Short Story
Motivation
Conflict, Climax, and Resolution
Story Versus Plot
Plotting Short Stories Versus Plotting Novels
Meaning
Writing Exercises
"The Lesser Angels of Fiction": Setting and Time
Setting
Time
Writing Exercises
"The Connectedness of All Living Things": Metaphor
The Writer's Muscle
Figurative Language
A Word of Advice About the "Fancy Stuff"
Writing Exercises
The Writer's Signature: Voice
Voice
Style
Language
Sentences
Paragraphs
Writing Exercises
PART THREE: NOTS ON THE FICTION-WRITING PROCESS
Write a Short Story!
How to Begin
Drafting
Rewriting
"The Habit of Writing" by Andre Dubus
Polishing
Galleys for "Snow Dreams" by Tom Bailey
"Snow Dreams" by Tom Bailey
A Last Companionable Word
Works Consulted
Index