First published 1988
Renowned author Wallace Stegner shares hard-won wisdom from a lifetime of teaching creative writing. With a no-nonsense style, he skewers professors who value conformity over creativity, and those who coddle students without merit. But Stegner also offers a positive vision, advocating for classroom environments that challenge and inspire young writers to find their unique voices. In the end, his battle-tested advice distills into a passionate defense of the art of storytelling, and the vital role it plays in our shared human experience.
Genres: literary-criticism, american-fiction, education, writing, non-fiction, biography-memoir, academic
Vibes: intimate, passionate, thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-advice, personal-experience
Setting: United States
72 pages · Paperback · Dartmouth College