Three Genres

Appropriate for undergraduate courses in creative writing. This time-tested, hands-on introduction to poetry, fiction, and drama writing addresses the dynamics of the creative process while providing a non-technical analysis of each genre. It also encourages writers to find their own voice and provides advice on how to begin writing creatively.

Preface for Students

vii

(3)

Preface for Teachers

x

PART ONE: THE WRITING OF POETRY

1

(138)

1 What Makes a Poem a Poem?

1

(12)

2 Read These Poems!

13

(27)

3 Where Poems Come From

40

(10)

4 Right Phrase/Wrong Phrase

50

(8)

5 The Impact of Images

58

(11)

6 The Sound of Words

69

(13)

7 Traditional Rhythms

82

(12)

8 Fixed Forms

94

(8)

9 Unique Rhythms

102

(12)

10 A Sense of Order

114

(9)

11 Varieties of Tone

123

(11)

12 Four Essentials for Growth

134

(5)

PART TWO: THE WRITING OF FICTION

139

(142)

13 Facts, Falsehoods, and Fiction

139

(9)

14 The Sources of Fiction

148

(11)

15 A Story by Stephen Minot: "Sausage and Beer"

159

(8)

16 The Making of a Story: A Case History

167

(6)

17 A Story by Deborah Joy Corey: "Three Hearts"

173

(7)

18 Viewpoint: Who's Seeing This?

180

(10)

19 Structure: From Scenes to Plot

190

(10)

20 A Story by Ursula Hegi: "Acts of Violence"

200

(5)

21 Creating Tension

205

(8)

22 Setting: Where Are We?

213

(11)

23 A Story by Sharon Solwitz: "Obst Vw"

224

(9)

24 Characterization: The Art of Creating People

233

25 A Story by Marian Ury: "The Cat That Had the Power of Speech"

26 Liberating the Imagination

247

(6)

27 Heightened Meaning: Metaphor, Symbol, and Theme

253

(10)

28 Style and Tone

263

(11)

29 Reading, Writing, and Revising

274

(7)

PART THREE: THE WRITING OF DRAMA

281

(98)

30 Theater: A Dramatic Art

281

(5)

31 A Play by William Saroyan: "Hello Out There"

286

(13)

32 The Dramatic Plot

299

(9)

33 Conflict: The Driving Force of Drama

308

(7)

34 Dramatic Characterization

315

(8)

35 A Play by Glenn Alterman: "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda"

323

(5)

36 The Nonrealistic Play

328

(9)

37 A Play by David LeMaster: "The Assassination and Persecution of Abraham Lincoln"

337

(6)

38 Visual Impact

343

(13)

39 Dramatic Themes

356

(10)

40 The Voices of Comedy

366

(7)

41 Achieving Dramatic Growth

373

(6)

APPENDICES

379

(18)

A Submitting Work for Publication

379

(9)

B Resources for Writers

388

(9)

Index of Authors and Titles

397

(2)

Credits

399

(4)

Glossary-Index

403

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