In the mid-90's a college buddy of mine told me about a book he read
on creative writing that was different from all the rest.

Each chapter on creative writing/novel writing is written by a
different published author. I think either Steven King or Tom Clancy
wrote a chapter. And each chapter is about a different aspect of
writing, for instance, one would be on dialog, another on character
development, another on plot, another on tension. He said he learned
more form it than all the classes he took.

I am looking for the title. It was published before the mid-90's.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 03 Jul 2004 20:48 PDT

Could it be "The Best Writing on Writing" (1994)?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1884910017/

"Heffron likens this first-in-a-series volume to ``a meeting of
today's top writers... trading tips and opinions about their craft.''
It's more the literary equivalent of a diner menu: some familiar names
and some new in a vast and eclectic collection whose only unifying
theme is that everything within is written by a writer...
...
To do this he has collected instructive essays by known voices such as
James Michener, Anne Beattie, Edward Albee, Donald Murray, and James
Fenton. They discuss their poetry, playwriting, fiction, and
nonfiction and the fine points of the craft of using dialect and
emotion."
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=1884910017


No mention of either King or Clancy, but this book sounds similar to
what you're describing.  What do you think?

Hi awilson,
  
It sounds like the book you're describing is "Writer's Digest Handbook
of Novel Writing", published by F & W Publications in March 1992.
  
  
"A comprehensive how-to manual compiled from articles published in
Writer's Digest magazine. Covering all areas of composition, such as
organizing, story planning, and rewriting, the handbook also gives
tips on character creation, love scenes, and the use of flashback. The
book has numerous examples and illustrations, and advice from
successful novelists.
(..)
This is an anthology of articles culled from Writer's Digest magazine,
emphasizing genre and popular fiction. Literary and small-press
publishing are not treated, nor are contests, grants, etc. Featured
are Orson Scott Card on characterization, Lawrence Block on plotting,
Dean Koontz on agents, Tom Clancy on best sellers, and a host of less
well-known regulars to the magazine commenting on the how-to, not the
art, of novels."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898795079/ref=nosim/bookssites-20/002-2279008-8075244
   
Chapters include:
"Five Ways to Strengthen Fiction With Dialogue" by Loren D. Estleman,
"Creating Characters That Readers Care About" by Orson Scott Card,
and, "How to Write a Bestselling Novel" by Tom Clancy.

       
I trust this is the book you are referring to. If it's not, then
please request a clarification and I'll do my best to hunt it down.
  
  
Best regards,
  
jackburton-ga
  
  
  
Google Web search:
  
"creative writing book" chapter clancy
"creative writing" book chapter clancy
"Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing"

This is the book I was looking for, and it seems to be even better
than I remember. I have already ordered it. Thanks.

Great! Thanks for tip :)

There's a course that may be interesting for you to look at - the
Writer's Bureau course, at www.writersbureau.com