The Writer's Notebook

The Writer's Notebook offers aspiring authors the most enlightening and engaging seminars and essays from some of Tin House's favorite writers. Jim Shepard, Aimee Bender, Steve Almond, Antonya Nelson and others break down specific elements of craft and share insights into the joys and pains of their own writing.

The Writer's Notebook: Craft Essays from Tin House combines the best craft seminars in the history of the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop with a variety of essays written by some of Tin House's favorite authors, offering aspiring writers insight into the craft of writing. Dorothy Allison, Jim Shepard, Aimee Bender, Steve Almond, D. A. Powell, and others break down elements of craft and share insights into the joys and pains of their own writing. This cast of deeply respected poets and prose writers explore topics that vary from writing dialogue to the dos and don'ts of writing about sex. With how-tos, close readings, and personal anecdotes,The Writer's Notebook offers future scribes advice and inspiration.Dorothy Allison, Steve Almond, Aimee Bender, Pinckney Benedict, David Benioff, Amy Bloom, Robert Olen Butler, Deborah Eisenberg, Ryan Harty, Howard Hunt, Frances Hwang, Denis Johnson, Marshall N. Klimasewiski, Ellen Litman, Howard Luxenberg, Martha McPhee, Steven Millhauser, Lucia Nevai, Mark Jude Poirier, Natasha Radojcic, Stacey Richter, James Salter, Jim Shepard, Anthony Swofford, Julia Slavin, Elizabeth Tallent, Amanda Eyre Ward, Jung H. Yun

Jim Shepard is the author of seven novels, including most recently The Book of Aron, five story collections, including Like You’d Understand, Anyway—a finalist for the National Book Award and won The Story Prize—and editor of the anthology Writers at the Movies. He lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with his wife, three children, and three beagles. He teaches at Williams College.