On Being a Writer [Hardcover]

Bill Strickland (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This collection of 31 interviews, published originally in Writer's Digest magazine from 1958 through the present, explores the professional whys and wherefores of writers from William Faulkner to Ellen Goodman. Once past the condescending introduction by Will Blythe of Esquire , readers will find rewarding insights into the characters of Hemingway, Steinbeck, Capote and other novelists, playwrights, poets and prize-winning columnists. All agree that an aspiring writer must work hard--"produce, produce, produce"--and describe their widely differing methods of putting words on paper. Harlan Ellison is an exceptionally eloquent champion of writers who try but fail, urging them to keep writing because "you have something to say . . . you're a writer. And that's something better than being a millionaire." Pictures not seen by PW.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-- A collection of interviews with 31 well-known writers talking about their craft. Profiles include examples of different genre writers offering insight into the thoughts, feelings, and personal opinions of authors such as Vonnegut, Steinbeck, Giovanni, and Faulkner. Some give advice to novice writers, and others offer glimpses of their own struggle to write. The book is a good source for those doing research on the authors included, as well as a sourcebook for young writers. Recommended for YAs, as it is enjoyable and easy reading that offers insight into the writing process. --Elise Vidal, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, TX 2
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898795877
• ISBN-13: 978-0898795875
• ASIN: 0898793661
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm not the famous and nice philanthropist Bill Strickland who helps people lead better lives. I'm just a guy who writes about life, mostly about bikes and life, as it turns out. Besides the books you can find here, I've published stories in Bicycling, Mountain Bike, Men's Health, Men's Journal, Parenting, Parents, Backpacker, Rouleur, Embrocation Cycling Journal, The Indianapolis Star, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times Book Review and other magazines and newspapers, and I've commented on cycling, memoirs and other topics for Good Morning America, The Early Show, CBS Sports, ESPN, NPR and other networks. I got to work with Phil Liggett a few times providing narration for race videos. I race road and cyclocross, just a little bit and not very well. I'm the editor-at-large of Bicycling, the biggest cycling mag in the world. And I am an amateur and barely competent goatherd.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interviews with great writers about being a writer, February 3, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On Being a Writer (Hardcover)

"On Being a Writer" is a collection of 31 interviews taken from the pages of "Writer's Digest" magazine from 1961 to 1989. The focus of these conversations is not only on the technical aspects of writing which may prove instructional to the aspiring writing, but also the preferences and passions that can inspire readers to admit that writing is what they want to do with the rest of their lives. As Harlan Ellison says in the introduction to this book: "You're a writer. And that's something better than being a millionaire. Because it's something holy."

Within these pages you will find novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets, and journalists. In fact, a simple list of the writers interviewed should be sufficient to have you hunt this book down and check it out: Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, Marsha Norman, Red Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Ray Bradbury, Erica Jong, Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee, Madeleine L'Engle, Nikki Giovanni, James Michner, Jean Auel, William Saroyan, Truman Capote, Joseph Wambaugh, Irving Stone, Ellen Goodman, Kurt Vonnegut (twice), William Faulkner, Rod Serling, May Sarton, Arthur Kopit, Jay McInerney, Norman Mailer, James Dickey, Carolyn Chute, Rod McKuen, Joseph Heller, Tom Robbins and John Steinbeck. Actually, that last one is not an interview; rather it is a letter from Steinbeck addressed "Dear Writer," which reminds us "A story has to convey something from writer to reader, and the power of its offering is the measure of its excellence."

Within these pages you will find comments on imagery, books becoming famous, style, rewriting, discipline, reportage, caring, and other precious hints of how successful writers work through the challenges of their craft. Hopefully, when you finish reading this book, you will get back to doing some serious writing yourself.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Book For Aspiring Writers, December 18, 2002

By 

G. E. Kugler "Ed Kugler - nomoreBS - Author o... (Big Arm, Montana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Being a Writer (Hardcover)

Read this book a few years back looking for inspiration and got it. Ive written four books and another on the way. I found this helpful in its style and content. It is written with small chapters by different writers each telling how they write, giving tips and things that work and dont. It can be read all at once or a chapter at a time. Its worth the read for aspiring writers.