Edited by Monona Wali

Although it is a popular axiom to say that writing can’t be taught, this book stands as testimony against that argument. Jim Krusoe, a brilliant writer, led a legendary creative writing class for thirty-five years at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles before retiring in 2020. He created a vibrant community of writers that was generous in spirit and vital to all who participated. I was fortunate to have been a student in his class on and off for thirty of those thirty-five years.

I undertook to create this tribute to him from the students whose lives he transformed through his insightful and highly iconoclastic lens. They shared five lessons that they learned from him about writing, as well as testimonials on what he meant to them as a teacher. It is a book on writing, and how to think about writing, with lessons that can be easily applied. It goes way beyond the conventional tropes (show, don’t tell) to open all kinds of possibilities (a story must have a basement) for the writer to think differently about their work, to strengthen and deepen it. It is an essential manual for any serious writer.