Stein is not one to disguise the fact that writing is hard work. Chapters focus on crucial "how to's"--hooking the reader, creating suspense, cultivating eccentricity, successfully employing literary devices--along with all the essential nuts and bolts. Copious examples enhance the overall effectiveness of his advice. For instance, in "Come Right In: First Sentences, First Paragraphs," he presents a dozen or more first lines from some of the 20th century's best fiction, then shows how an off-putting opener might be improved.

Stern has no easy fixes or magic pills. But if you want practical suggestions for firming flabby prose, you're sure to dog-ear this handy, informative book. --Martha Silano --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished professional, whether your field is fiction, non-fiction or journalism, you will find in this book a wealth of helpful guidance from one of the century's master editors, unavailable anywhere else. No high-flown theory, just usefull solutions that will show you how to rework writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place. After reading this book you will be able to: grab your readers with your opening sentence - sk