The Writing of Fiction

Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937)

Edith Wharton, a successful author of fiction herself, gives us some in-depth analysis of the writing of short stories and novels. Then she offers practical suggestions on how to get started writing fiction, with liberal references to Arthur Quiller-Couch. She appears to prefer a list of scenes over an outline. The overall outline of a novel is painted in broad strokes, almost like a step-by-step fill in the blanks recipe. if someone were to call it a How-To book it wouldn't be far off. The last chapter, on Proust seemed a little strange to me as it doesn't tie back much to the previous commandments. (Summary by William Jones)

Proof-listeners: were Rita Boutros, Michele Eaton, & TriciaG

Genre(s): Literary Criticism, Writing & Linguistics

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 In General BettyB
00:33:08
Play 02 Telling a Short Story Inkell
00:26:13
Play 03 Constructing a Novel, Part 1 Winnifred Assmann
00:43:07
Play 04 Constructing a Novel, Part 2 William Allan Jones
00:31:43
Play 05 Character and Situation in the Novel William Allan Jones
00:28:59
Play 06 Marcel Proust William Allan Jones
00:37:20