Art and Craft of Fiction A Writer’s Guide 2nd Edition By Michael Kardos

The Art and Craft of Fiction: A Writer's Guide 2nd Edition by Michael Kardos is a practical and widely used textbook on fiction writing, focusing on technique and process. The book offers aspiring writers guidance on all stages of the writing process, from generating ideas to final revision. Book Details

• Author: Michael Kardos
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's
• Publication Date (approx): September 30, 2016 (copyright 2017)
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Print ISBN: 978-1319030421, 1319030424
• eTextbook ISBN: 978-1319032937, 1319032931 

Content OverviewThe book is structured around methods and process rather than traditional literary elements, making it a practical guide for students. It includes a brief fiction anthology of 15 stories that the author draws on in his instruction. Key topics covered, according to the table of contents from Macmillan Learning, include: 

• Thinking, Reading, and Writing Like a Writer: Covers finding ideas and the "rules of the road" for writing.
• The Extreme Importance of Relevant Detail: Discusses "showing and telling," research, and the use of details for believability.
• Starting Your Story: Strategies for beginnings, establishing stakes, and choosing a perspective.
• Working with the Elements of Fiction: Character, plot, setting, point of view (POV), voice, and theme.
• Creating Scenes: A Nuts & Bolts Approach: Dialogue, narration, description, exposition, and interiority.
• Organizing Your Story: Form & Structure: Classic story structure, conflict, climax, conclusion, and scene/summary.
• Writing a Compelling Story: Focuses on high stakes, character desire, active protagonists, and originality.
• Ending Your Story: Strategies for endings and common pitfalls.
• The Power of Clarity: Addressing vagueness versus ambiguity and clear writing.
• Revising Your Story: Strategies for revision and knowing when a story is done.
• The Mechanics of Fiction: A Writers Boot Camp: Formatting dialogue, punctuation, and common grammar issues. 

Reviews and UsagesReviewers and instructors praise the book for its friendly, readable tone and practical, hands-on approach. It is frequently adopted for college-level creative writing courses due to its pedagogical effectiveness and conciseness (under 400 pages). One reviewer on Amazon UK noted, "I got this book for a class in college and I still go back to this book anytime I am writing or revising my short stories".