How To Write Like Tolstoy: A Journey into the Minds of Our Greatest Authors

These 12 essays are like 12 perfect university lectures on the craft of writing fiction. The professor—or, in this case, author—succeeds in being not only knowledgeable but also interesting, charming, and engaging. Cohen (By the Sword) inspires us to read what he has read and to write…like Tolstoy. Each essay takes up a particular technique, including, not surprisingly, character, dialog, and point of view. He also considers topics that have received comparatively less study: plagiarism and issues of originality, irony, and writing about sex. These chapters are what set this book apart from other classic guides such as John Gardner's The Art of Fiction and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. Cohen doesn't suggest one "right" approach, but instead poses crucial questions, which he reflects upon and responds to with caution. For every example, the author presents a counterexample, an exception to the rule. Through this comparative exercise, he shows why there can be no hard and fast rules when it comes to crafting fiction.