Based on the idea that no piece of fiction will work without a strong infrastructure, this book explores how writers do what they do. The book uses anecdotes, helpful examples, and imaginative exercises to build a step-by-step approach to the structure of the short story and novel, always keeping in mind beginning and improving writers. Following an introduction, the book is divided into two broad sections--The Elements of Structure and Forms and Structures. The first section contains the following chapters: (1) "Sources for Fiction"; (2) "Openings in Fiction"; (3) "Third-Person Point of View"; (4) "First-and Second-Person Points of View"; (5) "Constructing Characters"; (6) "Conflict in Fiction"; (7) "Continuing Conflict"; (8) "Endings in Fiction"; and (9) "Revision." The second section contains these chapters: (10) "Novel vs. Short Story"; (11) "Short Shorts, Novellas, Novels-in-Stories"; and (12) "Experimental Fiction." (NKA)