Jerome Stern

Jerome Stern (1935–2024) was an American writer and educator. He served for many years as director of the Creative Writing Program at Florida State University, where he helped shape generations of emerging writers. Stern wrote across genres, publishing both fiction and nonfiction. He is known to many writers for his practical craft guidance, including the book *Making Shapely Fiction*, which reflects his interest in how stories are built and revised. Alongside his teaching and program leadership, Stern maintained an active literary life as an author, bringing a teacher’s clarity and a storyteller’s energy to his work.