Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them

A distinguished novelist and critic inspires readers and writers with this inside look at how the professionals read—and write

Long before there were creative writing workshops and degrees, how did aspiring writers learn to write? By reading the work of their predecessors and contemporaries, says Francine Prose.

As she takes us on a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters—Dostoyevsky, Flaubert, Kafka, Austen, Dickens, Woolf, Chekhov—Prose discovers why these writers endure. She takes pleasure in the signature elements of such outstanding writers as Philip Roth, Isaac Babel, John Le Carré, James Joyce, and Katherine Mansfield. Throughout, she champions the art of close reading, cautioning readers to slow down and pay attention to words, the raw material out of which literature is crafted. Written with passion, humor, and wisdom, Reading Like a Writer will inspire readers to return to literature with a fresh eye and an eager heart.

In this indispensable guide for writers and book lovers, you’ll discover:

• A Writer’s Toolkit: Unpack the signature tools and tricks of literary greats, from mastering narration and dialogue to crafting unforgettable characters.
• Learn from the Masters: Go beyond standard creative writing workshops and learn directly from the sentences of Dostoyevsky, Flaubert, Woolf, and Chekhov.
• Word-by-Word Analysis: See how every word choice, every sentence, and every paragraph is a deliberate decision that brings a piece of literature to life.
• Read with a Fresh Eye: Whether you’re an aspiring novelist or a passionate reader, find a new, more profound way to appreciate the books you love.