Literary Writing (2nd Edition)

干天全 / 刘迅 / 谢建英Chongqing University Press · ChinaOct 2025

Rating 3.3
Word count
300K words
Chapters
66
ISBN
9787568947893

Tags

Motivation and Growth Basic TheoryLiterary CreationWriting SkillsWriting CourseWriting MethodsPractical GuideGenre WritingCase AnalysisExpression TrainingText Structure

Summary

This textbook focuses on explaining the basic theories of literary writing and the writing techniques for various literary genres, emphasizing the relevance and applicability of professional study.

The basic theory section covers the fundamental principles of writing, the writing experience of renowned Chinese and foreign authors, topic selection and conception, structural organization, and the use of multiple modes of expression.

The genre section covers the forms, artistic characteristics, and basic writing methods of major literary genres such as prose, poetry, fiction, reportage, and film and television literature.

Each section combines model texts with analysis and explanation, and uses close reading of literary classics to help students study in connection with the knowledge they have learned. The textbook reflects the integration of theory and practice, with typical model texts and strong heuristic value, facilitating teaching interaction.

While following the general laws and basic rules of writing, it encourages students to choose expressive forms and methods they are willing to use and skilled at; it guides students to explore new forms and methods of expression and advocates creative and individualized writing.

This textbook is suitable for the required courses of undergraduate Chinese language and literature programs in higher education institutions and the elective courses of undergraduate programs in other disciplines. At the same time, it is also suitable for readers from all walks of life who love literary writing.

Editor's review

Literature Writing (2nd Edition) is a systematic and practical textbook on literary writing co-authored by three scholars: Gan Tianquan, Liu Xun, and Xie Jianying. Published by Chongqing University Press, it is a classic textbook for relevant university programs. Rather than listing superficial techniques, it delves into the core of literary creation, building a clear progression from theoretical understanding to practical operation. The book covers the writing essentials of major genres—fiction, prose, poetry, and drama—and, more valuably, focuses on how writers should cultivate observation, imagination, innovative thinking, and other core qualities, treating writing as a process of lived experience and aesthetic creation. Compared with many quick-fix writing guides on the market, this book has a more solid scholarly foundation, cites authorities, and follows a clear thread, reflecting the editors' deep academic grounding and teaching experience. For readers who wish to take literary creation seriously and build a systematic understanding of writing, this is a desk reference that offers lasting nourishment. It promises no shortcuts but points the way, guiding readers to gradually hone their own style and expression on the basis of understanding the essence of literature.

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Reading tips

  1. Read in chapter order: first build an overall theoretical framework for literary writing, then move on to genre-specific exercises.
  2. Combine reading with the reflection questions and exercises at the end of each chapter to turn theory into concrete writing practice.
  3. For the classic works cited as examples, it is best to read the original texts alongside the book to deepen understanding of the theoretical points.

About the publisher

Chongqing University Press China · Founded in 1985

Chongqing University Press is a comprehensive university press whose publishing areas span social and cultural studies, industrial technology, finance and economics, medicine, social psychology, and theory. Judging from its catalog, the press publishes both academic works and popular science titles. Representative books include E. H. Gombrich's Shadows: The Depiction of Cast Shadows in Western Art, Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Materials by Pan Fusheng et al., Research on China's Regional Spatial Development Models by Sun Jiuwen, and titles from the Gynecologic Oncology Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, such as the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Gynecologic Malignancies in China (2019) and Bipolar Disorder: What You and Your Family Need to Know. Its authors work in art history, materials science, regional economics, clinical medicine, and social research methods. Public information is limited, but its publishing profile combines academic translation, industrial technology, and practical medical guides.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 内容提要
  3. 汉语言文学专业系列教材编委会
  4. 《文学写作》编委会
  5. 总序
  6. 再版前言
  7. 前言
  8. 第一章 观察、感受与读写
  9. 第一节 观察能力的培养与方法
  10. 第二节 感受的方式
  11. 第三节 观察和感受在写作中的作用
  12. 第四节 多读与多写
  13. 第二章 作品的主题与提炼
  14. 第一节 主题的涵义与作用
  15. 第二节 主题的酝酿与提炼
  16. 第三章 写作材料的运用
  17. 第一节 写作材料的涵义及作用
  18. 第二节 选材的要求
  19. 第四章 结构的运用
  20. 第一节 结构的涵义及作用
  21. 第二节 结构的基本要求
  22. 第三节 常见结构方式的运用
  23. 第五章 叙述的运用
  24. 第一节 顺叙的表现形态
  25. 第二节 倒叙的表现形态
  26. 第三节 插叙的表现形态
  27. 第四节 补叙的表现形态
  28. 第六章 描写的运用
  29. 第一节 人物描写
  30. 第二节 环境描写
  31. 第三节 细节描写
  32. 第七章 抒情的运用
  33. 第一节 直接抒情
  34. 第二节 间接抒情
  35. 第八章 议论的运用
  36. 第一节 形象化议论
  37. 第二节 哲理性议论
  38. 第三节 抒情性议论
  39. 第九章 诗歌写作
  40. 第一节 诗歌的抒情本性
  41. 第二节 诗歌的意象及运用
  42. 第三节 诗歌意象的表现方式
  43. 第四节 诗歌的意境
  44. 第五节 诗歌的语言与节奏
  45. 第十章 散文写作
  46. 第一节 散文的涵义及特征
  47. 第二节 散文的分类
  48. 第三节 散文的写作要求
  49. 第十一章 小说写作
  50. 第一节 小说的概念及基本特征
  51. 第二节 小说的情节
  52. 第三节 小说的人物形象
  53. 第四节 小说的环境描写
  54. 第十二章 报告文学写作
  55. 第一节 报告文学的概念与特征
  56. 第二节 报告文学的社会作用
  57. 第三节 报告文学的写作
  58. 第十三章 影视剧本的写作
  59. 第一节 影视剧本的概念与种类
  60. 第二节 影视剧本的特征
  61. 第三节 影视剧的主题
  62. 第四节 影视剧的人物
  63. 第五节 影视剧的情节
  64. 第六节 影视剧的结构
  65. 第七节 影视剧作的语言艺术
  66. 后记

FAQ

Is this book suitable for complete beginners with no foundation? As a textbook, it follows a step-by-step approach, with clear theoretical explanations and case examples. Complete beginners can read it, but they need patience and active thinking, and should ideally combine it with practical exercises.
What are the main differences between this book and online writing courses or bestselling writing books? The main difference lies in its systematic and academic nature. This book focuses on building a complete body of writing knowledge, consolidating theoretical foundations, and cultivating fundamental creative qualities, rather than offering fragmented, utilitarian instant techniques.
Is the content too theoretical and lacking in practical guidance? Not at all. After theoretical exposition, the book usually provides specific genre feature analysis, writing method guidance, and practical exercises, integrating theory with practice and aiming to help readers turn knowledge into ability.

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About the author

干天全 Author

Gan Tianquan is an author about whom relatively little information is publicly available; no clear record of his life, nationality, or dates of birth and death has been found. Judging from the three works held in the collection, his writing covers a fairly wide range. New Youth Selections reflects his attention to and editorial eye for modern intellectual and cultural texts; Ancient Chinese Fables shows his familiarity with folk literature and traditional cultural resources, as well as his ability to organize and retell such material for general readers; and Literary Writing (2nd Edition) indicates his experience in the methods and teaching of literary writing. His works are commonly classified under prose and miscellaneous writings, folk literature, and inspirational growth. Overall, his style balances informative and educational values with readability, attending both to cultural popularization and to writing practice. Because public information is limited, further inferences about his personal experience and honors are not appropriate; readers may learn about his thematic interests and prose style through the works mentioned above.

刘迅 Author

Liu Xun: publicly available information is limited, and the author is known only as the author of Literary Writing (2nd Edition). On this site the book is categorized under inspirational growth, suggesting the author's attention to writing instruction and training in personal expression. Judging from the title and category, the work likely centers on the basic methods of literary writing, language expression, and creative practice, and is aimed at general readers or students who wish to improve their writing skills. Because reliable information about the author's life, educational background, and creative experience is lacking, it is not possible to confirm nationality, dates of birth and death, or English name, nor to judge the full range of the author's writing style. Under the present conditions, what can be confirmed is that the author has entered readers' view with one writing-related work whose content tends toward practicality and growth, emphasizing progress in expression through writing practice. For readers studying or learning writing, the book may serve as one introductory reference, but more information about the author remains to be supplemented by public sources.

谢建英 Author

Xie Jianying is an author about whom limited public information is available. At present, only one work by this author is known: Literary Writing (2nd Edition), which is categorized as inspirational growth. Judging from the title and category, the book centers on literary writing and is intended for readers who wish to improve their expressive ability and writing literacy, emphasizing practice alongside method and combining guidance with readability. The author addresses the theme of writing, likely covering such basics as conception, language use, and text organization, and treats writing as a path to personal growth and self-improvement, so that readers may gain inspiration while practicing written expression. Because this is the only work in the database, Xie Jianying's full background and complete body of work await further material; this introduction makes no speculation and offers only a brief account of the existing work.