Here is a book about the craft of writing fiction that is thoroughly useful from the first to the last page whether the reader is a beginner, a seasoned writer, or a teacher of writing. You will see how a work takes form and shape once you grasp the principles of momentum, tension, and immediacy. "Tension," Stern says, "is the mother of fiction. When tension and immediacy combine, the story begins." Dialogue and action, beginnings and endings, the true meaning of "write what you know," and a memorable listing of don'ts for fiction writers are all covered. A special section features an Alphabet for Writers: entries range from Accuracy to Zigzag, with enlightening comments about such matters as Cliffhangers, Point of View, Irony, and Transitions."

Nothing was too large or too small to engage Jerome Stern's interest. Along with the mysteries of the universe, he wrote about kids versus adults, the moods of teachers, and summer camp. He wrote about chocolate, the anxieties of plane travel, and the night fantasies of husbands. And in a suite called "Patient, " broadcast for the week on "All Things Considered, " he considered his own experience of illness. All in all, these pieces, whether cautioning or celebrating or simply turning over ideas (to see wha makes them tick), add up to a freewheeling autobiography of a man who was curious about everything. Now, with this book, readers and listeners can recapture his words and the familiar musing voice.