Customer Reviews

So You Want to Write (2nd Edition): How to Master the Craft of Writing Fiction and Memoir

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most of the time, reading books about writing improves one's writing as much as reading *The Joy of Running* improves one's cardivascular system. I have taught fiction to undergrads, and I usually tell them to spend their time at the keyboard rather than reading how-to books, which tend to be either facile or studiously dreamy.

However, *So you want to write* is based on Piercy's and Wood's workshops and exercises, and while no book will substitute for a good workshop, this book is worth your time. The suggested exercises point one's writing in new directions. The analyses of fiction examples within the book elucidate what was done right as well as deliniate what in the passages should be revised. The expanded exercises are worth purchasing the second edition, even if you already own the first version. The info about rejection slips and what they *really* mean is illuminating. The practical information about how a $100,000 advance is poverty wages is horrifying and absolutely essential to know.

This is an excellent book for writers seeking to explore the craft and broaden their writing.

TK Kenyon
Author of Rabid: A Novel and Callous: A Novel

I don't generally read this kind of book because I've read most of them and they tend to give good, but general and somewhat idealistic advice. However this one has a helpful section on plot- a chapter laced with examples from their slush pile and workshop experiences. I also enjoyed the 10 Most Destructive Things Writers Can Do....

I really appreciated the exercises in this book. It also has a very concrete analysis of what it takes to write good fiction. The only drawback of this book, for someone who is not interested in writing a memoir, is that various parts of the book pertain to memoirs (of course, this is in the title), so I found myself skipping those parts.

As someone who has been addicted to reading and writing their entire life, I can tell you that this book is a true gem for anyone who wants to master (or at least have the material that one would need to master it) every aspect of writing fiction or memoirs. Recently I have begun to more seriously pursue writing, particularly memoirs, and as someone who researches everything before doing it simply because I love to read, I have read many of the most well-reviewed and well-critiqued books about writing out there. But this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. It is broken into neatly organized chapters addressing every facet of writing you would need as a beginner but also offers so much stuff that the other books simply don't that even a more seasoned writer would be able to take a lot of valuable information from this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Even if you aren't planning to write fiction or memoir, this book would still be a good reference for you - it contains so much useful knowledge that it would be useful to someone writing in any genre. If you buy only one book on writing, it should absolutely be THIS ONE!!! Five stars in every category!