Drawing on years of classroom experience, the author provides guidance for several types of writers: beginners, writers with works in progress, those seeking other writers for critiques, and students in introductory and intermediate writing courses. A special section features three original stories by former students of the author. Accompanying materials on development offer keen insights into the writer's craft.

Using proven, group-tested materials, Writing Short Stories furnishes all the essentials needed to produce effective short fiction -- from simple guidelines to sample journal entries, from exercises to strategies -- not to mention a healthy and welcome dollop of encouragement and inspiration.