Steering the Craft

By Ursula K. Le Guin,

Book cover of Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew

Book description

Ursula K. Le Guin generously shares the accumulated wisdom of a lifetime's work.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep the lights on. Or join the rebellion as a member.

Why read it?

1 author picked Steering the Craft as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

As with Madeleine L’Engle, everything I’ve read by Ursula K. Le Guin—fiction as well as nonfiction—has radically influenced my writing and my teaching of writing. In fact, her impact on my creative awakening was so profound that I sent her a copy of my first book as a thank you! Steering the Craft is filled with wisdom and exercises for both new and seasoned writers, but perhaps the most liberating for blocked writers is her controversial view that “story” is defined by “change” not “conflict.” That’s especially welcoming for writers who feel hemmed in (and, perhaps, blocked) by the traditional…

Want books like Steering the Craft?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Steering the Craft.

Browse books like Steering the Craft

Book cover of Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Book cover of Letters to a Young Poet
Book cover of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,081

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in creative writing, writer's block, and screenplays?

Creative Writing 43 books
Writer's Block 22 books
Screenplays 25 books