Proclaimed by Barnes & Noble "the number-one practical choice for fiction and nonfiction writers of all experience levels. Fresh, useful, and fun to read."

Library Journal gave the book its highest rating, "Highly recommended for all writing collections."

Praise from Distinguished Authors:

"[Sol Stein] went over my manuscript with an infallible eye for the soft spots in my prose, giving me one of the best editorial reading I've ever had." --Lionel Trilling

"My publisher Sol Stein was my producer, and my editor Sol Stein was my director. Sol saw what I didn't think possible."--Elia Kazan

Customer comments on Amazon.com:

"Immensely practical, with hundreds of pithy examples, this book is for the author who writes books readers cannot put down. Stein knows from long experience: exciting writing sells. Even non-fiction must excite to sell. For what sells and exactly how to write it, get Stein's modern classic."

"'Stein' is the best, most comprehensive book on writing. I'm unusual as a literary agent in that I try to give feedback to writers, and refer them to various sources to improve their writing. Never before have I been able to say, "This one book covers it all." If you can buy only one writing reference book, buy 'Stein.' You won't regret it!"

"I have read several books on writing, and this is the best by far."

The above are excerpts from reviews on amazon.com. Stein on Writing is available from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com at a 30% discount. Also see the following Table of Contents:

"Stein on Writing" by Sol Stein

Published by St. Martin's Press, December, 1995. Third printing.

Chapters marked with * contain material not available in any other book.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Essentials

Foreword

Chapter 1: The Writer's Job May Be Different Than You Think

Chapter 2: Come Right In: First Sentences, First Paragraphs

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Twentieth Century

Part II: Fiction

Chapter 4: Competing with God: Making Fascinating People

Chapter 5: Markers: The Key to Swift Characterization *

Chapter 6: Thwarting Desire: The Basics of Plotting

Chapter 7: The Actors Studio Method for Developing Drama in Plots *

Chapter 8: The Crucible: A Key to Successful Plotting

Chapter 9: Suspense: Keeping the Reader Reading

Chapter 10: The Adrenaline Pump: Creating Tension

Chapter 11: The Secrets of Good Dialogue *

Chapter 12: How to Show Instead of Tell

Chapter 13: Choosing a Point of View

Chapter 14: Flashbacks: How to Bring Background into the Foreground *

Chapter 15: The Key to Credibility

Chapter 16: The Secret Snapshot Technique *

Chapter 17: How to Use All Six of your Senses

Chapter 18: Love scenes

Chapter 19: Creating the Envelope

Part III: Fiction and Nonfiction

Chapter 20: Amphetamines for Speeding Up Pace

Chapter 21: Liposuctioning Flab

Chapter 22: Tapping Your Originality *

Chapter 23: The Door to Your Book: Titles that Attract *

Part IV: Nonfiction

Chapter 24: Using the Techniques of Fiction to Enhance Nonfiction

Chapter 25: Conflict, Suspense, and Tension in Nonfiction

Chapter 26: Quoting What They Say

Chapter 27: Guts: The Decisive Ingredient

Part V: Literary Values in Fiction and Nonfiction

Chapter 28: Commercial? Popular? Literary?

Chapter 29: Particularity *

Chapter 30: Similes and Metaphors

Chapter 31: Increasing the Effect on the Reader through Resonance *

Part VI: Revision

Chapter 32: Triage: A Better Way of Revising Fiction *

Chapter 33: Reprieve: Revising Nonfiction

Part VII: Where to Get Help

Chapter 34: Where to Get Help

Chapter 45: A Final Word

A Glossary of Terms Used by Writers and Editors *