Narrative Design

Focusingonthebigpictureaswellasthecrucialdetails,Bellexaminestwelvestoriesbybothestablishedwriters(includingPeterTaylor,MaryGaitskill,andCarolynChute)andhisownformerstudents.Astory'suseoftime,plot,character,andotherelementsoffictionareanalyzed,andreadersarechallengedtoseeeachstory'sflawsandstrengths.Carefulendnotesbringattentiontothewaysinwhichvariouswritersuselanguage.Bellurgeswriterstodevelopthehabitofthinkingaboutformandfindingtheformthatbestsuitstheirsubjectmatterandstyle.Hisdirectandpracticaladviceallowswriterstofindtheirownvoiceandimagination.