Whether it's the simplest of prohibitions (don't use too many adjectives), or a cherished writing maxim (show, don't tell), all writers have a rule of thumb that guides their work. In this book, more than 70 contemporary writers share their own insight and revelations, offering insider tips and advice. Writers include:

Jiro Adachi
Steve Almond
John Barth
Steven Barthelme
Janet Burroway
Robert Olen Butler
Lydia Davis
Stephen Dixon
Molly Giles
Robin Hemley
Brian Kiteley
Bret Lott
Paul Maliszewski
Erin McGraw
Pablo Medina
Ander Monson
Rick Moody
Stewart O'Nan
Gina Ochsner
Thisbe Nissen
Scott Russell Sanders
Barb Shoup
Joan Silber
Joseph Skibell
Melanie Rae Thom
Steve Tomasula
Jane Yolen