Elizabeth McCracken is the author of four novels, three collections of short stories, a memoir, and, most recently, A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction. She lives in Bath, with her family.

About A Long Game: How To Write Fiction

Warm, wise and full of practical tips, this book is the ideal guide for writers old and new

‘A cheering companion that makes writing a less lonely business’ Yiyun Li

Write every day
Show, don’t tell
Write what you know
Kill Your Darlings

These are some of the most popular nuggets of advice given to writers, universally agreed to be true. They are all pieces of writing advice that Elizabeth McCracken expertly and persuasively shoots down in A Long Game.

McCracken has been writing for most of her life. For over thirty-five years, she has also taught creative writing to generations of students, including at Iowa, guiding many writers towards their own answers to the question of how to write fiction. In A Long Game, she shares insights gleaned along the way, deconstructing received wisdom whilst playfully tackling the mysteries that are inherent to writing and creativity.

A book about the life of an artist and a guide to fiction, A Long Game is a revelatory and indispensable resource and will lead all writers, at any stage of their career, back to the page.

‘Elizabeth McCracken is one of America’s finest writers’ Garth Greenwell

‘An irreverent, thought-provoking and ultimately inspiring book about making art’ Rumaan Alam

‘A world class writer and a world class writing teacher‘ Paul Harding

‘I would encourage every writer to read it’ Rebecca Ivory

About Deb Olin Unferth

About Earth 7

About Elizabeth McCracken

About A Long Game: How To Write Fiction

Olivia Laing: The Silver Book + Casanova screening

Deb Olin Unferth & Elizabeth McCracken