{"product_id":"9780061742705","title":"The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eA tribute to the brilliant craftsmanship of one of our most distinguished writers, providing valuable insight into her inspiration and her method\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e Joyce Carol Oates is widely regarded as one of America's greatest contemporary literary figures. Having written in a number of genres -- prose, poetry, personal and critical essays, as well as plays -- she is an artist ideally suited to answer essential questions about what makes a story striking, a novel come alive, a writer an artist as well as a craftsman.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In \u003cem\u003eThe Faith of a Writer, \u003c\/em\u003eOates discusses the subjects most important to the narrative craft, touching on topics such as inspiration, memory, self-criticism, and \"the unique power of the unconscious.\" On a more personal note, she speaks of childhood inspirations, offers advice to young writers, and discusses the wildly varying states of mind of a writer at work. Oates also pays homage to those she calls her \"significant predecessors\" and discusses the importance of reading in the life of a writer. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Oates claims, \"Inspiration and energy and even genius are rarely enough to make 'art': for prose fiction is also a craft, and craft must be learned, whether by accident or design.\" In fourteen succinct chapters, \u003cem\u003eThe Faith of a Writer\u003c\/em\u003e provides valuable lessons on how language, ideas, and experience are assembled to create art.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47078361530608,"sku":"9780061742705","price":7.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780061742705_p0.jpg?v=1763622267","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780061742705","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}