Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate policy
Elements of Fiction Writing Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Elements of Fiction Writing books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Elements of Fiction Writing series? Start with "Characters & Viewpoint (By: Orson Scott Card)" (1988) and follow publication order through all 10 books.
The complete Elements of Fiction Writing reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
Characters & Viewpoint (By: Orson Scott Card)
1988
Plot (By: Ansen Dibell)
1988
Dialogue (By: Lewis Turco)
1989
Beginnings, Middles & Ends (By: Nancy Kress)
1992
Conflict, Action and Suspense (By: William Noble)
1994
Setting (By: Jack M. Bickham)
1994
A World of Fiction
1983
Short Takes
1992
The Way Life Should Be
2005
Coming of Age in a Hardscrabble World
2019
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, Reading Order Books earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site and continue providing reading order guides. Read our full disclosure