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The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life (Kindle Single)

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As improbable as it may seem, Ann Patchett knew she wanted to be a writer at about the same time she was learning how to ride a tricycle. "I may have been shaky about tieing my shoes and telling time, but I was sure about my career, and I consider this certainty the greatest gift of my life."

In "The Getaway Car" Patchett writes with verve and sparkle about what that decision to become a writer has meant to her and how she went about fulfilling her unwavering ambition.

The getaway car in the title is a reference to the novel she was thinking about at the time she was working as a waitress. That novel was to be her getaway car to get her away from the restaurant for good. "The Patron Saint of Liars" became that novel.

Part autobiography, part primer for people who are or want to be writers, "The Getaway Car" is a whopping good way to get instruction from someone who grew up being very good at what she does.

Here are a couple tips:
Be linear: "Even if you're writing a book that jumps around in time, has ten points of view and is chest deep in flashback, do your best to write in the order in which it will be read, because it will make the writing, and the later editing, incalculably easier."

Revise aloud: "One method of revision that I find both loathsome and indispensable is reading my work aloud when I'm finished. There are things I can hear - the repetition of words, a particularly flat sentence - that I don't otherwise catch."

Come up with 10 titles: Develop a list of ten alternatives. "Do it fast. Don't think about it too much." Type each of the ten on a separate piece of paper. Tape pages to wall. On your own, or with friends, eliminate the one you like least. Pull off more pages until you've narrowed the field to the one you like best.

And what not to do. "I am diligent in my avoidance of all talismans, rituals, and superstitions." Patchett writes about becoming a "crazy person" with a computer solitaire problem. She'd tell herself her writing day could not begin until she had won a game. That behavior escalated. Soon she had to win a game every time she left her desk and came back again. After she had it removed from her computer she continued to miss it every day for two years. Habits, avoid them.

In addition to things practical about writing, Patchett can dispense wisdom. Writing she says can be taught, but no one can teach another person how to have something to say. And that's what separates one writer from another. Patchett definitely has something to say and that's what makes "The Getaway Car" a separate and enticing read.

(It enticed me enough to download "Bel Canto" immediately. I figure it's time for me to listen to all those people who have been telling me to read the novel even though I protested that I know nothing about opera. Before writing "Bel Canto" neither did Patchett, they tell me.)

The best thing about Ann Patchett's new book is that the author uses real-life experiences, and acknowledges real-life emotions and concerns and road-blocks that most aspiring writers really face. The author graciously stays away from those worn, cliche and vague sentiments you hear so often from successful writers. ("Let the spirit move you", etc...). Patchett is honest about how hard, frustrating and laborious writing really is. A very entertaining, and satisfying, little read.

I couldn't put this down--I've loved everything I've ever read by Ann Patchett, and this was no exception. Its insight into a writer's life and process is profound. The writing is lovely and her experiences are ones that any serious writer can relate to. I can't recommend this more highly.

This book is every class you ever need to take in writing, rolled into a quick, funny, frank read. Ann Patchett, a geniusy author, admits that she "can't teach you how to have something to say". But she'll teach you practically everything else she's learned in her years at the keyboard. Only a confident writer can be so generous. I wish I'd read this book when I was 29! I wish it'd been around when I was 19. Actually, I wish I'd had it when I was 9, and writing terrible poems in birthday cards. It would have made them so much better. I'm sending it to every budding writer I know.

I loved The Getaway Car! I'm not a writer but I am a huge fan of Ann Patchett. It was a delight to get an inside glimpse of how she works and read a little about her life. The piece is beautifully written and I loved her description of getting her ideas from her head to the paper. It was heartening that even Ann Patchett, who is so brilliant at what she does, has to put in long hours and sometimes her craft doesn't come easily. There is no replacement for hard work. That is an important lesson no matter what your profession.

The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life (Kindle Single)

I thought I was selecting a Pratchett book and though annoyed at my mistake (amazon 1-click is sooooo seductive), I started reading. I was grabbed in the first paragraph. Like many bookworms, I've flirted with the notion of writing a story myself and Ann's description of how she has done and continues to do this difficult thing is fascinating. I would have read it through in one session, but my house guests started whining about my inattention to their supper...

A really lovely and very practical look at the craft of writing, from one of my favorite novelists. Like Annie Dillard and Anne Lamott, Ann Patchett can make being an artist sound wonderful -- and becoming a writer sound doable. I loved this story.

Anyone who likes Ann Patchett's work will love this memoir about her lifelong devotion to writing. She gives a wry and charming look at how she evolved from a poet to a short story writer to a novelist, interspersing her personal tale with practical advice on the art and craft of writing. I especially enjoyed reading about her days at Sarah Lawrence, studying with Grace Paley and Russell Banks, and the fascinating backstory of how her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars, made its way from her mind to the page to a publisher. And though I'm not a writer, I loved her nuggets of wisdom on how to write. Like Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and Stephen King's On Writing, The Getaway Car delivers a rare peek inside the heart and mind of a gifted storyteller. What a great read!

I must admit that I was unaware of Ann Patchett's books until I ran into The Getaway Car. I started writing months ago after desiring to do so for many years. I like the Kindles Singles genre for books like this one. Although it isn't a How To book, it provides a lot of insight on writing for a living. I am a huge admirer of her technique and style of writing, which motivates me to read her other books. Excellent work!!

I loved this memoir/essay. Not only was it full of practical and inspiring advice and stories, but it also opened your eyes to a writer's life. I think, if you want to be a writer, there are two things you need - and this essay/memoir is one of them.