A review by readorrot
The Art and Craft of Fiction: A Writer's Guide by Michael Kardos

4.0

I am a little biased because Michael Kardos is my thesis director, but this is probably the best basic craft book I've ever read (minding that I haven't read terribly many). It never comes across as "this is exactly what you have to do if you want to be right," which is something that I find off-putting about the craft books I've read in the past. Additionally, it isn't only focused on "do what you feel is good," as other writing/creative books I've read have preached. It's a great balance between the two that gently takes your hand and shows you all the foundations you need to understand. The core idea is that if you want to break the rules, you need to understand them, and you need to understand why so many consider them the rules. It's a fantastic introduction that is as readable as it is informative. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in writing (and maybe even reading, if you want a little scientific look at the stories you enjoy).