In the introduction of "Creating Short Fiction, The Classic Guide to Writing Short Fiction." Damon Knight discusses, rather tongue in cheek, why he should not have written this instructional tome. First, writing can only be learned and not taught. Secondly, one can't learn to write by reading a how-to book. Finally, reading a book on writing fiction might stifle the creativity of a budding writer. Although Knight believes that part of these statements are probably true, he learned that presenting the techniques of good writing would benefit most writing hopefuls.

Gifted writers who do the right things by instinct or are blessed enough to violate the rules and still create good writing, probably do not need his book. However, for the vast majority of writing students who are not gifted but want to write, Knight feels that the techniques contained in his book can be helpful. Since Knight is not only a writer but a professor as well, what better person to write an instructional book about the techniques necessary for successful writing.

Knight and his wife, Kate Wilhelm, taught at the Clarion Workshop for Creative Writing at the University of Michigan, teaching short story writing for over thirty years. Not only is Knight a teacher but he has walked the walk of writer. The many students he has taught in his classrooms over the years as well as the many readers of his book gain the benefit of what he learned himself by trial and error in his early career.

To Knight, his book is like a message in a bottle. Knight is confident in his career and knowledge of writing. He must assume that those who open the bottle and choose to read his book are people who have a serious desire to write—either as a career or avocation. He is sending his message out and hoping that it gets to those who want and need it. In Knight's experiences during his life and career, he finds writers to be different than most people. They are interested in a broader range of things than most people. They are individualists, skeptics, mockers and loners. They are not the most dependable types—sometimes behind in their bills. They keep irregular hours since it doesn't matter when they do their work. Like criminals, writers live outside regular society. Knight has designed and developed this book to help this segment of society, hoping his knowledge and experience can make their hopes and dreams a little easier to attain.

While Knight admits he cannot provide the needed determination within a person who wants to write, he can tell the writer what he's in for and help him acquire the skills he needs to take him from an amateur to a professional.