Nach allen Regeln der Kunst

From the Blank Page to the Book

Hanns-Josef Ortheil, a writer and professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hildesheim, presents a vibrant and stimulating panorama of his unconventional and refreshingly contemporary teaching over more than thirty years in "Nach allen Regeln der Kunst." Starting from the notorious blank page, he invites readers on an extensive journey through the realms of storytelling with inspiring writing tasks – from sketches and initial drafts to narratives and the work on novels. Alongside, he conducts a broad exploration of the various facets of literary forms and creativity through insights into other texts and books.

In a surprising way, Ortheil's teaching incorporates unexpected influences from other arts such as music, painting, photography, and film into the literary design and planning process. Last but not least, his book is a fascinating narrative about engaging with young or older writing talents who have unconditionally committed to their own writing – offering many insights for anyone wishing to experience this creative process themselves.