By Cunning & Craft
Sound Advice and Practical Wisdom for Fiction Writers
By Peter Selgin
Writer's Digest Books, (2007) Standard Print Edition
ISBN: 1582974918
ISBN 13: 978-1582974910
Genre: Writing & Publishing
Reviewed by Auggie Moore - April 16, 2007
By Cunning & Craft: Sound Advice and Practical Wisdom for Fiction Writers is a small book with a massive amount of practice advice that is required knowledge for anyone seriously interested in writing fiction. This book was written by Peter Selgin, who teaches writing at the college level. Within the pages of this book, Selgin distills out the essential wisdom that you need to become a competent fiction writer...
The information in By Cunning & Craft is organized into ten thematic chapters entitled:
People
Point of View
Structure and Plot
Dialogue
Description
Scene, Summary, and Flashback
Voice and Style
Theme
Revision
Inspiration, Perspiration, Publication
As Selgin states in the introduction to his book, By Cunning & Craft is intended for "...serious fiction writers of all levels." I fully agree with his assessment. While this book is essential reading (and studying) for beginning writers, the advice that he proffers throughout this book is such that you can, and should, reread it often. Each time you do, you find some new tidbit of information that can be applied to your writing. In addition, the more you write you'll find that the information in this book takes on new dimensions, allowing you to continually draw sustenance from its pages.
By Cunning & Craft is an essential writer's reference that you should have on hand, and refer to often!
Related Reviews:
Story Structure Architect, by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.
A Writer's Guide to Building Dramatic Situations & Compelling Characters. This is an indispensable reference book on plotting.
The Portable Writer's Conference, edited by Stephen Blake Mettee.
This virtual writer's conference contains more than 40 in-depth, information-packed essays that offer advice on everything from the basics of fiction and nonfiction writing to the business side of the publishing industry.
