How to Write

First published in 1931, this volume offers Gertrude Stein's reflections on the art and craft of writing. Although written in her distinctive experimental style, the book is remarkably accessible and easy to read. The modernist author's characteristic humor is borne out by some of the chapter titles, "Saving the Sentence," "Arthur a Grammar," "Regular Regularly in Narrative," and "Finally George a Vocabulary."
Stein's experimental style features elements such as disconnectedness, a love of refrain and rhyme, a search for rhythm and balance, a dislike of punctuation (especially the comma), and a repetition of words and phrases. Those who are unfamiliar with her Stein's work or have found it difficult to understand will discover in How to Write an excellent entrée to a unique literary voice and an imaginative approach to language that continues to inspire writers and readers.

"America is my country," declared expatriate Gertrude Stein (1879–1946), "but Paris is my hometown." In addition to writing novels, stories, plays, and poems, Stein conducted a Parisian salon that was frequented by an international array of avant-garde artists and authors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Saving the Sentence
Sentences and Paragraphs
Arthur a Grammar
A Grammarian
Sentences
Regular Regularly in Narrative
Finally George a Vocabulary
Forensics