Inspirational and practical guide to writing short stories by an experienced writer in the form. The text is presented in conversational style, generally in sense-lines. Includes author's 'personal history of recommended reading'. The book is also available as a downloadable PDF document at the publisher's website, www.CommonGround.com.au. Author's short stories have been published in 'The New Yorker', 'Punch', 'The Times', 'The Transatlantic Review', 'Meanjin' and 'Quadrant', and have been collected in ten volumes.