Based on the belief that writing successful fiction is a balance between making the right conscious choices and trusting one's own instincts, By Cunning & Craft shows readers how to combine the instinctive process of creation with sound technical ingenuity.

Whether readers are facing the blank pages of their first drafts or struggling to revise completed drafts, this book provides them with the guidance they need to finish their novels and pursue publication. Author and writing instructor Peter Selgin combines informative lessons on mastering the 10 core elements of fiction writing with examples from a diverse array of published fiction to show readers how to learn from the masters while simultaneously encouraging them to trust in their own instincts.