ABOUT THE BOOK

Part manual, part testament, part autobiography, The Knowing Is in the Writing: Notes on the Practice of Fiction was written by the author to engage new and young writers of fiction not only in matters of craft also of life and livelihood. Beginning with an overview of the nature and elements of fiction, the book then deals with specific issues in the writing of fiction, from plotting and characterization to the workshop experience and publishing one’s first book. “Through fiction,” Dalisay says, “we best make sense of our lives by stepping away from them–by momentarily becoming strangers unto ourselves, by exploring more interesting alternatives to what we already know or most likely would do, and, ultimately, by giving ourselves a new reason to hope and believe that life indeed follows a plot we can direct–if we only knew what it was.” This second edition adds new material written by the author since 2006.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., PhD, has published more than 40 books of fiction and nonfiction, with seven of those winning the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle. A Palanca Hall of Fame and TOYM awardee for creative writing, he teaches English at the University of the Philippines. He writes a weekly opinion column, Qwertyman, and a monthly lifestyle column, Penman, for the Philippine Star.