The Art of the Novel

The Art of the Novel is the first textbook written by writers who are also teachers for today’s Creative Writing students as well as more experienced practitioners of the novel. The guide brings together specially-commissioned essays from well-published novelists many of whom are also prize winners.

How do you write a novel?

Practising novelists and teachers of creative writing reveal their working methods and offer practical advice. Subjects covered range from magic realism to characterisation, surrealism to historical fiction, via perspective, plot twists and avoiding being boring, among many others.

This book is for

creative writing students

writers and readers of novels

teachers of creative writing

With contributions from Leone Ross, Tom Bromley, Jenn Ashworth, AJ Dalton, Nikesh Shukla, Stella Duffy, Mark Morris, Alison Moore, Nicholas Royle, Alice Thompson, Kerry Hudson, Toby Litt, Livi Michael, Joe Stretch, James Miller, Sarah Butler, Will Wiles, Graeme Shimmin

Featuring

Eighteen specially commissioned essays

Creative writing exercises

Top tips

Lists of recommended novels