The Art of Fiction

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1958, and again in 1969, Ayn Rand gathered a small group of her friends and acquaintances and gave an informal course on writing. At once a fascinating philosophical discourse on the art of creation and an invaluable guide for the aspiring writer, these edited transcripts are a treasure that will challenge, edify, and illuminate the way to more powerful writing.

Ayn Rand discusses how a writer combines abstract ideas with concrete action and description to achieve a unity of theme, plot, characterization, and style, the four essential elements of fiction. Here, too, are Rand's illuminating analyses of passages from famous writers, rewrites of scenes from her own works, and fascinating rules for building dramatic plots and characters with depth.

Also, listen to the companion text, Ayn Rand's The Art of Nonfiction.

©2000 Estate of Ayn Rand (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Ayn Rand is a writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly." (The New York Times Book Review)

Ayn Rand is always bold

This is a concise set of instructions for the thoughtful writer. Rand offers instructions for writing and living an objectivist life.

Chock Loaded

Another must for anyone with an interest in writing and Rand, truly one of the densest and most stimulating writers to this day. Just glance at the love and hate she inspires. While you will not be made into a little Ayn, you will gain insights into how she structures approaching writing fiction. Some of the text even delves into the motivations for writing. Her advice is poignant and delivered in her standard direct style. I highly recommend.

Pure Joy

I was thrilled to have stumbled upon this. To actually hear Ayn Rand's words as she expresses her thoughts about the art of writing. I'm not saying that I agree completely with everything that she says or that what used to work for a writer decades ago still applies today but definitely still amazingly powerful and valuable to be able to hear her thoughts and opinions. Loved every minute of it and will undoubtedly listen to it again.

Educational

Some have shared their distaste for Ayn's self-esteem, but she was a truly great woman who simply knew her own value. There's nothing wrong with accurate self-appraisal.

I found the information she presented to be helpfully instructive as both a reader and a writer.

Ayn Rand on plot structure

If you've ever struggled with writing plot structure in a novel, you will find Ayn Rand's discussion of plot structure most valuable. In this classic "period" piece, her comments on story structure still hold true. AR's discussion of selfishness-as-virtue is a little hard to take, but whether or not you agree with the philosophy of selfishness, the woman knows her craft as a writer. This is a discussion you'll want to hear over and over, as it is fascinating for writers and readers alike.

Nonwriters: The book will make you a better reader

The Art of Fiction gives writers (and readers) tools for thinking about how writing is done, and specially how Ms. Rand wrote. If you read her books, you will particularly find her insights to her own works very helpful. She is speaking of "romantic" literature as opposed to "naturalistic" literature, and shows the differences in the purposes of these types of literature. Much of the criticisms leveled at a book such as "Atlas Shrugged" can be understood in light of the specific type of literature that Ms. Rand wrote, and the purposes of such a type.

I read the reviews before I purchased the book, and find the criticism to be a bit strange. Yes, Arn Rand thinks she is a good writer, and shows examples of other writings that she deemed require improvement - one would expect as much given the purpose of the personal talks that she gave to a group of friends and interested acquaintances that were later edited into this book. The book is short and rather episodic, rather than flowing - again a product of the converting informal lectures into a book.

In any case, as someone who wanted to use the book to become a better reader, I found it very insightful as a reader in general, and specifically as a reader of Ms. Rand.

Arn Rand versus Sol Stein-Listen and Take Notes

I had to get past her ego as a great (if not the greatest) writer as she offered advice on how to write better by using examples of what she considered bad writing. They are really good examples of awful writing that somehow got published. I've already listened to Sol Stein on Writing and they do differ on opinions in certain areas, but they offer the same essential advice. I'm not a fan of either of her novels but she is knowledgeable about her field. I prefer Sol Stein as my writing instructor, but this is a decent and worthwhile listen. I listened a second time with pen and paper in hand to take notes.

Talk about self-centered - MAN!!!

Gees, I guess according to A. Rand there's hardly anybody else out there that can write like she can. Yes she's good but she would be the type of teacher where every student would turn out a book strangely similar to hers. Sorry, but that's not releasing the imagination to run with good and individualized stories in my understanding of the process.

Yes

I highly recommend this book to authors. I've been struggling with writer's block and the advice that Rand gives is very helpful in that regard. She talks about writing purposefully and explains the psychology of writing.

If you want to learn how to write, whether you are a beginner or an expert, I highly recommend this video.

Get Stein on Writing

First, let me say there are very good nuggets of information in this book. The problem is that the nuggets are hard to hear over her huge ego. 90% of this book is her tearing apart other people's work and never giving any examples of how it could have been done better. The book also gets political from out of nowhere. I'm sure there is good information here, but I struggled to finish listening to this book. If you want to listen to a book on techniques and strategies, I would suggest listening to Stein in Writing. Yes, Sol Stein has the huge ego too, but at least he gives examples to help the listener.