Experimental Fiction An Introduction for Readers and Writers [Paperback]

Ever since Ezra Pound's exhortation to 'make it new', experimentation has been a hallmark of contemporary literature. Ranging from the modernists, through the Beats to postmodernism and contemporary 'hyperfiction', this is a unique introduction to experimental fiction. Creative exercises throughout the book help students grapple with the many varieties of experimental fiction for themselves, deepening their understanding of these many forms and developing their own writing skills.

In addition, the book examines the historical contexts and major themes of 20th-century experimental fiction and new directions for the novel offered by writers such as David Shields and Zadie Smith. Making often difficult works accessible for the first time reader and with extensive further reading guides,Experimental Fictionis an essential practical guidebook for students of creative writing and contemporary fiction.

Writers covered include: James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust, Ralph Ellison, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William Gibson, Italo Calvino, Jeanette Winterson, Don Delillo, Caitlin Fisher, Geoff Ryeman, Xiaolu Guo, Tom McCarthy, James Frey and David Mitchell.

Introduction: What is Experimental Fiction?
1. Modernism
i. When was/what was modernism?
ii. What was being explored in modernist fiction?
iii. Who was writing modernist fiction?
iv. What were the techniques and forms of modernist writing?
Writing Exercises
Further Reading
2. The Beats
i. When were/what were the Beats
ii. What was being explored in Beat literature?
iii. Who was writing Beat literature?
iv. What were the techniques and forms of Beat writing?
Writing Exercises
Further Reading
3. Moving Into Postmodernism
i. What is/was postmodernism?
ii. What is/was being explored in postmodern fiction?
iii. Who is/was writing postmodern fiction?
iv. What are/were the techniques and forms of postmodern fiction?
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