Good Reads: On Becoming a Novelist

John Gardner taught writing in the 70s and early 80s, and died before age 50. I never knew him, except through this book: On Becoming a Novelist. If you write fiction, read this book. He teaches the writer's craft, and he teaches the writer's values. He tells you what qualities it takes to be a writer worth reading, how to educate yourself, how to persevere in spite of mortal blows to your writer's ego. His voice is very, very clear: confident, opinionated, passionate.

A corollary is On Moral Fiction, also by Gardner. Another excellent read.