This is one of the best craft books I’ve read. It covers everything from what makes a good story to how to learn about your characters to what to do when you get stuck. It isn’t as technical as some more focused books I’ve read, but his down to earth style resonated with me and the exercises he suggests are something I will be considering as I move forward with my next round of stories. It is a bit dated… the last chapter discusses typewriters, waiting by the mailbox for rejection letters, and the use of an encyclopedia (“now available online, though the cost is high”) but aside from a very few obvious anachronisms, this book gave me a lot of things to think about and a lot of good advice I will follow. Highly recommend.
Creating Short Fiction — Damon Knight
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