The basic idea for The Art Of Fiction by John Gardner seems to be that writers should not do "things that distract the reader's mind from the fictional dream."

Gardner does not believe in a secret formula to writing a good work of fiction, thus he explains common errors, technique, and plotting. He also explains different forms of fiction writing: the novel, novella, and short story; and discusses a few different types of stories one can write: the energeic novel, lyrical novel, and architectonic novel. He examines the limitations to different points of view, such as the first-person, third-person, and third-person limited point of view. There were also several group and individual exercises at the back. I fount that what was stated was quite helpful, much more than what many other writing books offer.

The following are a few points that I found useful:

-Fiction that ends up nowhere, with no win or loss, makes us think we are in a hurry, and later we discover that there was nothing to be in a hurry about.
-Fiction cannot have any real interest "if the central character is not an agent struggling for his or her own goals but a victim, subject to the will of others." (65) This is a common mistake for beginners. It is important for the central character to act because the readers then care about what will happen, the character's desires, and their values.
-To make the character's motives convincing, the origins must be shown throughout the plot. Thus, a lot of what goes into a story is because the writer needs it there to justify a later action, show the source of motivation, or to reveal a character trait.
-Don't use 'that' or 'which' to stretch out your sentence because it causes the sentence to have an anticlimactic ending.
-"Dig out the fundamental meaning of events by organizing the imitation of reality around some primary question or theme suggested by character's concern." (176)
-"Theme ... is not imposed on the story, but evoked from within it-initially an intuitive but finally and intellectual act on the part of the writer." (177)
-Research the theme to make fiction a serious thought. For example, if nakedness is the theme, then discuss if openness is a virtue or defect, what is said in Christianity and pagan myth about it, and how naked should people be. Search for connections between images.
-Create connections: our minds return to images and events, thus if the hero meets a person in the graveyard, then that "character's next appearance will carry with it some residue of the graveyard setting." (192)

3.5/5

This book really helps someone who wants to write fiction. It is very helpful and provides some exercises to accelerate anyone's skill to their maximum skill.

I'm not so young. I'm not a writer. Why did I like this book so much? If you are thinking of writing fiction, this is an excellent resource. So much better than the ubiquitous "10 Steps to Story That Sells", it really helps you appreciate the Art of writing, without being snooty or pedantic. If you are interested in reading fiction, this is an excellent reference. It really helps you appreciate the Art in writing. I think that I can better appreciate the work that a good writer puts into his/her writing now, and I have a better idea of why some stories work for me.
Gardner provides plenty of examples to help you understand the concepts,and he often refers to writers and their works to further illuminate his points. (Although my 14-year-old son did have some trouble understanding the section on rhythm -- yes, rhythm in a book about prose! -- but it's hard to write about an aural phenomenon.) I found that The Art of Fiction has made me more confident in myself as a reader; now I not only know what I like or don't like, but I know why, too.