The Writing of Fiction

Book Description

Learn how to craft stories and create works that will still be celebrated 100 years after publication!

She was the first woman ever to win a Pulitzer Prize in Literature. Her work is studied in universities and enjoyed across the world over 100 years later! 

Her name is Edith Wharton, and you can learn how to write timeless fiction using the methods she outlined in this book. 

On the 100th anniversary of her Pulitzer Prize win, The Writing of Fiction has been meticulously and uniquely re-edited and annotated to provide the modern reader with the finest version of Edith Wharton's enduring advice. You'll find valuable insights into the roots of modern fiction, the various methods you can use to plan and write your fiction, and how to develop your own form and style. You will learn about the art of telling of a short story, ways to construct a novel, and how you can use character and situation to frame the narrative of your novel.

A bonus short story is appended to this Special Edition. The short story is The Omnibus. It's an extract from the book Noughts and Crosses: Stories, Studies and Sketches (1898) written by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch - a publication Edith Wharton recommends the reader study as a classic example of storytelling technique. As per the original publication, the book includes a section outlining the lessons that can be learned from the work of a classic Author (Marcel Proust).

Discover, or rediscover, the genius of Edith Wharton in this rare literary treasure.

Editing Method

In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature. 

Her works are still studied internationally and celebrated one hundred years later!

You may ask, “How can I create such timeless works of engaging fiction?”

The good news is that Edith Wharton didn’t just write 15 novels, seven novellas, eighty-five short stories and numerous other works of fiction. 

She also wrote this book. In this book, you will learn how she created incredible works of fiction.

Sadly, the original edition contained a true tragedy!

When Edith sought publication, in 1925, her text would only be accepted if she referred to authors and readers as follows:

“No writer — especially at the beginning of his career — can help being influenced by the quality of the audience that awaits him...”, and

“When the reader’s confidence is gained the next rule of the game is to avoid distracting and splintering up his attention.”

That’s right — his, him, and he only. 

She was a Pulitzer Prize winning Author, but Edith Wharton’s own book would have been rejected by publishers if she had used language that didn’t exclude her own gender.

This Special Edition has been edited to address this relic of jarring misogyny. I hope you enjoy this priceless literary advice delivered with gender inclusive language, dear reader, along with an example of short-story writing that Edith Wharton admired plus numerous helpful annotations.

First Publication

The book has been submitted for publication on 1st March 2021, and has been relased via Amazon Kindle.

I'll update this post to add additional links if I list the book with other distributors.

Watch this space. 😸

 xox Penelope