Rewriting
by Sophy Burnham

Sometimes I think that writing is no more than rewriting, and then I scold myself that I cannot let a thing go, but keep on working and fretting it, until one day I wake up and say, “It’s done.” After that the words cannot be changed. But before that point there is only work.

I get discouraged at the constancy of revising. I get annoyed that I can’t, like Anita Brookner, just put it down the first time and have it come out right—“no drafts, no fetishes, no false starts,” she wrote, “there simply isn’t time.” (Continue reading here.)

"A valuable book for aspiring writers and aspiring teachers...I highly recommend this text." — Jonathan Ames, author of The Extra Man

"Here is an honest, engaging guide with lessons every writer, at any stage, will benefit from." — Jhumpa Lahiri, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies

Introduction
by William Wallace Cook

THE PLOTTO METHOD. Plotto achieves creative art in fiction by a new Method of plot suggestion.  Suggestion is based on Themes (or Masterplots) and Conflicts.

THEME. Every story has a Theme, or an underlying proposition that indicates its type.  The Theme may be clear-cut and distinct, or shadowy and vague; it is always in evidence, and differentiates one type of story from al the other types.  Around each Theme any number of distinctly different stories may be written.

A story may be contructed with, or without, a certain Theme in mind.  Rarely perhaps does a writer begin a story with a set Theme in front of him. (Continue reading here.)

1. Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide by Gotham Writers' Workshop
2. The Prosperous Heart: Creating a Life of "Enough" by Julia Cameron and Emma Lively
3. Vernacular Eloquence: What Speech Can Bring to Writing by Peter Elbow
4. The Story Within: New Insights and Inspiration for Writers  by Laura Oliver
5. Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again by Mignon Fogarty
6. Writing Movies: The Practical Guide by Gotham Writers' Workshop
7. The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases by Tom Heehler
8. Now Write! Mysteries: Suspense, Crime, Thriller, and Other Mystery Fiction Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson 
9. Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents 2012: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! (22nd Ed.) by Jeff Herman
10. The Art of Description: World into Word by Mark Doty

Archetype
by Mignon Fogarty

Archetype comes from a Greek word that means “an original,” in the sense of an original mold, stamp, or template from which copies are made. Archetype is pronounced like architect – with a ki sound in the middle, not a ch sound.

In literature, an archetype is a type of character who appears in stories throughout the ages. The wise wizard (e.g., Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, Dumbledore from Harry Potter) and the hero who can wield a special weapon (e.g., King Arthur and the sword Excalibur, Luke Skywalker and the Jedi sword from Star Wars) are examples of archetypes, youÂ’ll find them everywhere. (Continue reading here.)