Good Prose

A “smart, lucid, and entertaining” (The Boston Globe) modern classic of writing advice and a thoughtful record of the long and productive literary friendship between two renowned authors

“You are in such good company—congenial, ironic, a bit old-school—that you’re happy to follow [Kidder and Todd] where they lead you.”—The Wall Street Journal

“As approachable and applicable as any writing manual available.”—Associated Press

The story begins in 1973, in the Boston offices of The Atlantic Monthly, where a young freelance writer named Tracy Kidder finds his first assignment from an editor named Richard Todd. Before long, Kidder’s The Soul of a New Machine, the first book the two worked on together, has won a Pulitzer Prize, and a lifelong education in the art of nonfiction has begun.

In Good Prose, Kidder and Todd draw candidly on their own experience to offer advice to writers of all kinds. They explore three major nonfiction forms—narratives, essays, and memoirs—and examine the creative strategies and ethical challenges of nonfiction and the realities of making a living as a writer. Good Prose—like Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style—is a succinct, authoritative, and entertaining arbiter of standards in contemporary writing, offering guidance for the professional writer and the beginner alike.

A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs