Editing The Writing of Fiction

In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature. 

Her works are still studied internationally and celebrated one hundred years later!

You may ask, “How can I create such timeless works of engaging fiction?”

The good news is that Edith Wharton didn’t just write 15 novels, seven novellas, eighty-five short stories and numerous other works of fiction. 

She also wrote this book. In this book, you will learn how she created incredible works of fiction.

Sadly, the original edition contained a true tragedy!

When Edith sought publication, in 1925, her text would only be accepted if she referred to authors and readers as follows:

“No writer — especially at the beginning of his career — can help being influenced by the quality of the audience that awaits him...”, and

“When the reader’s confidence is gained the next rule of the game is to avoid distracting and splintering up his attention.”

That’s right — his, him, and he only. 

She was a Pulitzer Prize winning Author, but Edith Wharton’s own book would have been rejected by publishers if she had used language that didn’t exclude her own gender.

This Special Edition has been edited to address this relic of jarring misogyny. I hope you enjoy this priceless literary advice delivered with gender inclusive language, dear reader, along with an example of short-story writing that Edith Wharton admired plus numerous helpful annotations.

First Publication

The book has been published and is available via Amazon Kindle.

I'll update this post if I add additional distributors.

Watch this space. 😸

 xox Penelope