The art of writing made simple / Geoffrey Ashe.

Bibliographyp.253-256. _ Includes index.

Incldues bibliographical references (253-256) and index.

Part One. -- The Writer in his World. -1. Yourself: The first question. What can a book on writing do for you? -2. English and what has happened to it: the art of writing as it was. How English has changed in the twentieth century. -3. Communication and Feedback: you and your audience, the value of criticism, the influences at work, Television, Advertising, Drama, Writing and Speaking, The value of involvement, Talking in Public, Sources of Feedback. What to Read and How to Read it. -4. The way you should be going, two abilities that matter. Six Basic Principles. -- Part Two. -- 5. The Practice of Writing, achieving the basic objects. Writing and Thinking. The crucial differences between writing and speech. -6. The Invisible Reader. -7. Logic before Rules: three kinds of criticism to apply. -8. The Cutting Edges of Prose. - 9. Towards Mastery: the higher virtues of style, the wealth of English. --Part Three-- Writing as a Vocation. -10. The Anatomy of Compulsion. Are you a born Author? -11. Novels. The Growth of a Literary Form. Presenting 'Truth of Human Life' in Fiction. -12. Short Stories. The Difference, the plot and where it comes from. -13. Plays: the technical medium, Origins of drama, A social art. -14. Poetry. Attempting the impossible, Poetic Spontaneity, The poetic Experience, why poetry goes beyond verse. -15. Non- Fiction. -- Part Four-- Writing in Prescribed Patterns, A Definition of Terms. -16. Journalistic Writing, the instant impact, adapting to the press. -17. Radio. -18. Television, the TV public and its response, different kinds of viewer and their attitudes. -19. Report Writing. -- Part Five-- Counsel in Parting. -20. The Birth of a Book, Orientations, Publishers: narrowing the field, approaching a publisher.