Lit from Within: Contemporary Masters on the Art and Craft of Writing - Softcover

"The pieces in Lit from Within can be laugh-out-loud funny or seriously contemplative; either way, they all contain nuggets of wisdom that will speak to anyone who sits down to write." "Representing widely diverse approaches, the result is a useful book containing a wealth of creative writing wisdom." "Reading Lit From Within reminded me of the best of the genre, including Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird, Nancie Atwell's In the Middle and Stephen Koch's The Modern Library Writer's Workshop. "The essays are detailed and sophisticated enough to appeal to writers, particularly novice writers, yet general enough to appeal to readers who are not necessarily writers." "This collection of 15 essays, written by literary luminaries such as poet Billy Collins, novelist Francine Prose and nonfiction author Rick Bass, offers wonderful insight into the working habits of some of America's most celebrated authors.... Smart, concise and thought-provoking, this collection is a treasure for writers looking to improve their craft."

Lit from Within offers creative writers a window into the minds of some of America's most celebrated contemporary authors. Witty, direct, and thought-provoking, these essays offer something to creative writers of all backgrounds and experience. With contributions from fiction writers, poets, and nonfiction writers, this is a collection of unusual breadth and quality. Contributors: Lee K. Abbott, Rick Bass, Claire Bateman, Charles Baxter, Ron Carlson, Billy Collins, Peter Ho Davies, Carl Dennis, Stephen Dunn, Robin Hemley, Tony Hoagland, David Kirby, Maggie Nelson, Francine Prose, Mary Ruefle