John Gardner on Writing: On Becoming a Novelist, On Writers & Writing, and On Moral Fiction
By John Gardner
3/5
()
About this ebook
In On Becoming a Novelist, John Gardner advises the aspiring fiction author on such topics as the value of creative writing workshops, the developmental stages of literary growth, and the inevitable experience of writer’s block. Drawn from his two decades of experience in creative writing, Gardner balances his compassion for his students with his knowledge of the publishing industry, and truthfully relates his experiences of the hardships that lie ahead for aspiring authors.
In On Writers & Writing, acclaimed novelist John Gardner discusses the craft of fiction writing, taking to task some of his best-known contemporaries in the process. Gardner criticizes some for writing disingenuous fiction, and commends others who produce literature that acts as a life-affirming force. He offers insights into and exacting critiques on such writers as Vladimir Nabokov, John Updike, Saul Bellow, and John Cheever, while addressing his personal influences and delivering broad-ranging observations on literary culture.
And in On Moral Fiction, John Gardner’s thesis is simple: “True art is by its nature moral.” Since the book’s first publication, the passion behind Gardner’s assertion has both provoked and inspired readers. In examining the work of his peers, Gardner analyzes what has gone wrong, in his view, in modern art and literature, and how shortcomings in artistic criticism have contributed to the problem. He develops his argument by showing how artists and critics can reintroduce morality and substance to their work to improve society and cultivate our morality.
John Gardner
John Gardner (1933–1982) was born in Batavia, New York. His critically acclaimed books include the novels Grendel, The Sunlight Dialogues, and October Light, for which he received the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as several works of nonfiction and criticism such as On Becoming a Novelist. He was also a professor of medieval literature and a pioneering creative writing teacher whose students included Raymond Carver and Charles Johnson.
Read more from John Gardner
On Becoming a Novelist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nickel Mountain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sunlight Dialogues Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5On Moral Fiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5October Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mickelsson's Ghosts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jason & Medeia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the Suicide Mountains Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Freddy's Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Living: & Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stillness & Shadows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDragon, Dragon: And Other Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Writers & Writing Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Revenge of Moriarty: Sherlock Holmes' Nemesis Lives Again Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Life & Times of Chaucer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The King of the Hummingbirds: And Other Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe King's Indian: Stories and Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Resurrection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gudgekin the Thistle Girl: And Other Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wreckage of Agathon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Signs and Symbols in Chaucer's Poetry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Return of Moriarty: Sherlock Holmes' Nemesis Lives Again Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to John Gardner on Writing
Related ebooks
On Becoming a Novelist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5MFA in a Box Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So You Want to Write (2nd Edition): How to Master the Craft of Writing Fiction and Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creating Short Fiction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Year of Writing Dangerously: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Write Starts: Prompts, Quotes, and Exercises to Jumpstart Your Creativity Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5You Can Write a Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming A Writer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer's Journey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Writer's Survival Guide: An Instructive, Insightful Celebration of the Writing Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Writers & Writing Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Brevity: A Flash Fiction Handbook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen in the Art of Writing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Way of the Writer: Reflections on the Art and Craft of Storytelling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaps and Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spider, Spin Me A Web: A Handbook For Fiction Writers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Writing of Fiction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Writer's Diary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ron Carlson Writes a Story: Tips from a Master of the Craft Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Immersion: A Writer's Guide to Going Deep Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Novel Ideas: Contemporary Authors Share the Creative Process Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5On Moral Fiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Composition & Creative Writing For You
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen in the Art of Writing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition): A Writer's Guide to Character Expression Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Only Writing Series You'll Ever Need - Grant Writing: A Complete Resource for Proposal Writers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Verbal Judo, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lincoln Lawyer: A Mysterious Profile Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Writing to Wake the Soul: Opening the Sacred Conversation Within Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Letters to a Young Poet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing to Learn: How to Write - and Think - Clearly About Any Subject at All Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text with Exercises Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Writer's Diary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Elements of Style: The Original Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5People, Places, Things: My Human Landmarks Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Craft of Research, Fourth Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Letters to a Young Poet (Rediscovered Books): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Creative Journal: The Art of Finding Yourself: 35th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells (4th Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Everything Writing Poetry Book: A Practical Guide To Style, Structure, Form, And Expression Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for John Gardner on Writing
1 rating0 reviews