Narrative Technique: Volume 1: A Practical Course in Literary Psychology Hardcover – March 24, 2026

The first volume of Thomas Uzzell's textbook Narrative Technique. Includes Part 1: The Narrative Purpose and Part 2 : The Materials of Narrative."The purpose of this book is to outline a method of literary training. It aims to provide systematic discipline in the handling of narrative materials. It is, as the title page says, a practical course in literary psychology.What the dissecting room and laboratory are to young doctors-to-be, what the modern casebook is to the beginning student of law, this book is intended to be for the future writer of narrative. Students who wish to take the next step in the direction of professional writing will find this book useful. It is designed to serve also as a general manual for classes in fiction writing in departments and schools for journalism.The independent, freelance fiction writer working out his artistic salvation alone will find in these chapters a possible solution for his major technical problems. The text and assignments in manuscript form have been used successfully by student writers at all stages of development. Beginners especially have found them helpful. They are recommended to professional writers with the reservations made on page of the introduction.A clearer insight into the potencies of the written word comes inevitably from the closer inspection of the ideas behind the written word, an inspection demanded by this course of study. The instructor, by seeing processes of mental manipulation of literary material more clearly, will find it easy to invent better methods to fulfill his own purposes.” Read more