The Art of Fiction (Kapnick Foundation Distinguished Writer-in-Residence Lectures)

LIke other books about writing (e.g., E.M. Forster, John Gardner, Julian Barnes, Paul Auster and James Wood), I've already forgotten what James Salter said about writing. Of course no one should prescribe how to go about the task of writing. Everyone approaches it differently. The idea, of course, is to hear from those at the top of their craft how they go about doing it (sort of like eavesdropping at a confessional). Yet I can't remember a single sentence I would consider a gem or a pearl.

There are dream catchers. Salter might say, it's all a dream, too wide and deep for catching. He might say, throw a net into the unconscious, and pull up something, and wrap that something in writing. Give that something boundaries, memory, and meaning. Writers do this. Salter did this. This book is a glimpse of what he caught in the net.

A pretty little book and worthwhile for Salter aficionados, though the introduction takes up almost a third of this slim volume and Salter's own words repeat a number of stories that will be familiar to his most ardent fans.

An exceptional book, both the introductions and the brilliant lectures.James Salter's writing is the best of the best.It's wonderful to have this final collection as a reminder of his great talent.

Ordered for a friend, who’s already read it twice.

A thin, slightly disappointing collection of lectures from a great writer.

Engrossing for those of us who write fiction.

If you enjoy the writing of James Salter you will love this collection.

James Salter was handicapped by being classified as "a writer's writer". He was that and more, but this probably prevented him from being assessed as fully and as admirably as he deserved. This book is not, IMO, for beginning writers. Instead, it's for serious authors and wanna-bes as well as readers who are fascinated by the mechanics of writing and what it takes to achieve greatness as a writer. The man's talent and sensitivity shines through, and the book itself is about as successful as it is possible to be without Salter himself standing at your shoulder, reading your text.

I am interested in Salter and his views on writing.