Table of Contents
Preface to the Paperback Edition xv
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Advice for Everyone on Writing Anything 11
Chapter 2 About Writing Fiction 41
Chapter 3 The Prime Mover 45
Chapter 4 Detonring Forward 55
Chapter 5 Dead Ahead 65
Chapter 6 Breakthrough 73
Chapter 7 Fear of Finding a Worthy Subject or A Dearth of Death 79
Chapter 8 The Last Word on the Prime Mover or Fear Not 87
Chapter 9 Soul Growth 91
Chapter 10 Sanctuary 107
Chapter 11 What Makes Great Art or Art and Soul 111
Chapter 12 Agents of Change 115
Chapter 13 Writers as Teachers or The Noblest Profession 127
Chapter 14 Vonnegut in Class 139
Chapter 15 Heft and Comfort 149
Chapter 16 Talent 157
Chapter 17 Diligence 163
Chapter 18 Pitfalls 167
Chapter 19 Methodologism 171
Chapter 20 Materializations 175
Chapter 21 Propagation 181
Chapter 22 Regeneration 185
Chapter 23 The Mother of All Pearls 189
Chapter 24 Beginnings 193
Chapter 25 Plot 201
Chapter 26 Character 217
Chapter 27 Prose, the Audial 233
Chapter 28 Prose, the Visual 249
Chapter 29 The Joke Biz 259
Chapter 30 Black Humor 267
Chapter 31 Much Better Stories: Re-vision and Revision 279
Chapter 32 Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Moe or Choice 297
Chapter 33 Making a Living 303
Chapter 34 Caring for Your Piece in the Game 323
Chapter 35 Farting Around in Life and Art 345
Chapter 36 Love, Marriage, and Baby Carriage 353
Chapter 37 Better Together or Community 365
Practices 385
Acknowledgments 403
Permissions 409
Bibliography 411
Notes 417