of notes and gives rare insight into a veteran writer's process by inviting the reader to watch over his shoulder as he creates the short story "The Governor's Ball.""This is a story of a story" he begins, and proceeds to offer practical advice for creating a great story, from the first glimmer of an idea to the final sentence. Carlson urges the writer to refuse the outside distractions?a second cup of coffee, a troll through the dictionary?and attend to the necessity of uncertainty, the pleasures of an unfolding story."The Governor's Ball"?included in its entirety?serves as a fascinating illustration of the detailed anatomy of a short story.

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