Elements of Fiction, Walter Mosley
Elements of Fiction, Walter Mosley
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Elements of Fiction

Author: Walter Mosley

Narrator: Ron Butler

Unabridged: 2 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/31/2026


Synopsis

Following his essential writing guide, This Year You Write Your Novel, award- winning author Walter Mosley delivers an eloquent treatise on the craft of fiction writing—part writing guide, part study of the mechanics of the genre.

In his essential writing guide, This Year You Write Your Novel, Walter Mosley supplied aspiring writers with the basic tools to write a novel in one year. In this complementary follow up, Mosley guides the writer through the elements of not just any fiction writing, but the kind of writing that transcends convention and truly stands out. How does one approach the genius of writers like Melville, Dickens, or Twain? In The Elements of Fiction, Walter Mosley contemplates the answer.

In a series of instructive and conversational chapters, Mosley demonstrates how to master fiction's most essential elements: character and character development, plot and story, voice and narrative, context and description, and more. The result is a vivid depiction of the writing process, from the blank page to the first draft to rewriting, and rewriting again. Throughout, The Elements of Fiction is enriched by brilliant demonstrative examples that Mosley himself has written here for the first time.

Inspiring, accessible, and told in a voice both trustworthy and wise, The Elements of Fiction writing will intrigue and encourage writers and readers alike.

About Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley is the author of over sixty critically acclaimed books of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and plays. His work has been translated into twenty-five languages. He is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, The Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, a Grammy, several NAACP Image Awards, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, he was named the recipient of the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and was awarded the Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award from the National Book Foundation. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mosley now lives between Brooklyn and Los Angeles.


Reviews

Goodreads review by ♑︎♑︎♑︎ on June 14, 2020

Who is this book good for? For a writer who struggles to make her fiction conform to its original intention, or to follow the outline--only to discover that she's throttled the life out of it. It's also for those writers who are too interested in idea, and in thesis, even when writing fiction, and f......more

Goodreads review by Kimmylongtime on January 27, 2022

College books hold no joy 🥲. Even if a book was actually enjoyable you know that it will lead to a paper, discussion or quiz. Why do the feel the need to try to mess with the reading experience is beyond me. With all that being said this was still very well written and a very quick read.......more

Goodreads review by Murat on December 26, 2020

Yazmak, özellikle roman yazmak konusunda kısa, kolay okunan, altı çizilebilecek önemli ayrıntılar barındıran güzel bir kitap. Hali hazırda bu tip nice kitap okumuş ya da yazan insanlar için birincil önerim olmaz ama yazmayı planlıyorsanız son derece samimi bir dille, bazı temel noktalara değindiğini......more

Goodreads review by Ginger on December 03, 2020

Here Mosley talks about the characteristics that make fine fiction. I would venture to say this is more a philosophy of writing than a "how to" book, although there is plenty to help a writer ponder and improve. For instance, he discusses what good fiction can have in common with jazz and poetry, an......more

Goodreads review by Rami on July 08, 2020

Easy read especially with font size 16. Yet nothing new, no takeaways to mention.......more