Roberts Rules of Writing [Paperback]

Robert Masello (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1589273265 | ISBN-13: 978-1589273269 | Publication Date: April 7, 2005

An award-winning journalist and author of 'The Writer's Book of Wisdom' presents 101 pithy lessons designed to assist writers in improving their work, saving time, increasing productivity, and more, from "Be a Tease" to "Strip Down to Your Briefs."

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles Ltd (April 7, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 1589273265
• ISBN-13: 978-1589273269
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I had read this one first...., March 24, 2005

By 

D. Scribner "Carpetsunami" (Eastern US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roberts Rules Of Writing: 101 Unconventional Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know (Paperback)

For the amateur writer, the "rules" can be the most discouraging thing ever, and I have no doubt that many, such as "Show, don't Tell" have kept a great many people from putting pen to paper or daydreams to keyboard.

Enter Robert Masello- every field has one of them, someone who comes along and tells you it's ok to ignore the rules, toss aside the current vogue or "Take the Prozac" (rule #8) and even "Throw out your thesaurus" (#3) in order to get the creativity flowing and your story in the works.

I appreciated this book a great deal. Out of all the books I have read on writing, this is the first one that seemed "writer friendly" and understanding of the fear and trepidation a new writer can face, also the sloth and confusion that can be created by trying to adhere to the rules.

Far from being a volume on how all the other writing advice is wrong, Masello charts different territory, and rather than more rules, it seems like 101 Permission Slips signed by someone who has honestly walked the path and wants to encourage others to make the most of their writing.

Moments of humor, candor, some tantalizing inside stories spice things up and serve to illustrate every rule on "rule" breaking. Some of these genuinely shocked me. "Stop Reading" (#14) in which he advises the writer to avoid "filling" their "head with other people's prose" was surprising but logical.

If you are working at being a writer, and have more than two rule books on your shelf, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up as well, you will not be sorry.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Any Writer, March 9, 2005

By 

Michael A. Burstein "Science Fiction Writer" (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roberts Rules Of Writing: 101 Unconventional Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know (Paperback)

Robert Masello is one of those valuable writers who also knows how to write about writing. In his two previous books, "A Friend in the Business" and "Writer Tells All," Masello explained the inner workings of the worlds of television writing and publishing. Both books were sprinkled throughout with generous dollops of his dry wit. Now, in "Robert's Rules of Writing," Masello distills his experience as a writer into 101 lessons that are of value to anyone trying to make a living in the field. "Robert's Rules of Writing" is not a book about grammar or technique, but rather, a charming conversation on how to cope with the daily issues of living as a writer. Personally, what I found most valuable were the rules that contradicted the ones we're been taught before. For example, Rule 56, "Buy the Smoking Jacket," takes issue with the all the writing teachers who challenged their students with the question, "Do you want to write...or do you just want to be a writer?" Masello reminds us that there is nothing wrong with visualizing yourself as a success to inspire you to get your words written. Masello comes off as your favorite uncle, who has been there before you and wants to share what he's learned.

In short, this is the perfect book for any writer. Buy one for yourself and one for a friend.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Advice With A Bit Of Humor Too, August 14, 2005

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roberts Rules Of Writing: 101 Unconventional Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know (Paperback)

ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING is similar to other books published by Writer's Digest Books. It contains good information presented in a clear and concise manner, and offers something for anyone interested in writing. The author, who has had a number of books published: some thrillers as well as books that give advice to writers, gives his thoughts about the art and craft of writing. Each of the chapters has a catchy title such as "Burn your journal," "Skip the truth," or "Strip down to your briefs." For each topic, the author shares what he has found to be helpful and why. Much of what he has to say has been said by others, which adds to the wisdom of what he has to say. Other entries are things that he has found helpful that at times contradict popular theory, which makes this book slightly different from other titles.

In the book, Masello states what he believes does and does not work. He believes that writers should set up a schedule and develop a routine for writing, but he is not in favor of writing for the sake of writing, hoping for inspiration. He is in favor of well chosen words and good metaphors, but he advises not to go too far in attempting to find the best word, believing plain language can be just as effective, and if not more effective that flowery language and words most people need a dictionary to understand. He believes in outlining, but recommends an outline that works rather than one that sticks to a particular form. He believes that characters should be well developed, not necessarily perfect, and that villains deserve attention as well since they are central in most books. In the end he offers good advice on organizing material, creating a plot, developing rich characters, revising, submitting s book for publication, and what to do while awaiting the news of acceptance or rejection.

One of the chapters that hit me personally was "Skip the Starbucks." According to Masello, people who bring their laptops to Starbucks are not writers but people who want others to think they are writers. Living in the Boston area, where there is a Starbucks on just about every corner, with two or three Dunkin Donuts on every corner too, I have seen many people with laptops busy at work. There is even a coffee house in the area that is supposed to be a haven where writers do their stuff. I'll admit the laptop has gone to many a café and coffee shop because I need a change of scenery. Some of what has worked has been written in coffee shops. So I guess I could say that Masello is wrong, at least as far as this advice is concerned. I have also kept a journal since high school and it has been helpful. Again, is he wrong? Well, since I am not yet published, that would just be arrogant, but his points are valid. If a person wants to write, taking on the perceived persona of a writer will not accomplish much of anything, but getting down to the business of writing will, and that's what this book does well with a little dose of humor to boot. It encourages would be writers and those attempting to get words on paper that mean something to work at writing, get something accomplished that is worthwhile, and hopefully one day be published..