On Teaching and Writing Fiction

Wallace Stegner founded the acclaimed Stanford Writing Program-a program whose alumni include such literary luminaries as Larry McMurtry, Robert Stone, and Raymond Carver. Here Lynn Stegner brings together eight of Stegner's previously uncollected essays-including four never-before-published pieces -on writing fiction and teaching creative writing. In this unique collection he addresses every aspect of fiction writing-from the writer's vision to his or her audience, from the use of symbolism to swear words, from the mystery of the creative process to the recognizable truth it seeks finally to reveal. His insights will benefit anyone interested in writing fiction or exploring ideas about fiction's role in the broader culture. This Unique Collection Of Previously Uncollected Work Addresses Every Aspect Of Fiction Writing, From The Writer's Vision To His Or Her Audience; From The Use Of Symbolism To Swear Words; From The Mystery Of The Creative Process To The Recognizable Truth It Seeks Finally To Reveal. Stegner Explores The Process Of Composition As It Relates To The Writer's Evolving Character, What Demands He Makes On Himself Both As A Member Of The Species And As A Citizen Of Culture, His Responsibilities As A Serious Artist And The Spiritual Rigors Of The Life It Describes.--jacket. Fiction : A Lens On Life -- Creative Writing -- On The Teaching Of Creative Writing -- To A Young Writer -- Good-bye To All T---t! -- The Writer's Audience -- A Note On Technique -- Goin' To Town : An Object Lesson. Wallace Stegner ; Edited And With A Foreword By Lynn Stegner. "This unique collection of previously uncollected work addresses every aspect of fiction writing, from the writer's vision to his or her audience; from the use of symbolism to swear words; from the mystery of the creative process to the recognizable truth it seeks finally to reveal. Stegner explores the process of composition as it relates to the writer's evolving character, what demands he makes on himself both as a member of the species and as a citizen of culture, his responsibilities as a serious artist and the spiritual rigors of the life it describes."--BOOK JACKET.