The Writing Habit [Paperback]

David Huddle (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Huddle has collected a dozen of his essays on the craft of writing, all initially delivered to groups of writers. The result is an open, honest examination of some of his principles of successful writing: discovering things about yourself, acknowledging your luck factor, and establishing a writing lifestyle based on your own circumstances. Huddle reiterates and demonstrates his motto, "writing is writing's reward," offering the serenity of ongoing work. Most of the chapters provide useful advice, as in "Let's Say You Wrote Badly" or Huddle's tips on distracting yourself from distractions and using restraint in your prose. However, since three-quarters of these essays have appeared in other sources, including the recent Writers on Writing ( LJ 9/1/91), this book is recommended for purchase only for comprehensive writing collections. For a collection of Huddle's poetry, see The Nature of Yearning , p. 121.--Ed.
- Cathy Sabol, Northern Virginia Community Coll., Manassas
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

6 x 9 trim. LC 93-38327 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Peregrine Smith (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879054468
• ISBN-13: 978-0879054465
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing is natural as opposed to formalistic or burdensome., November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Writing Habit (Paperback)

David Huddle's text is a reflection of the man, himself. Without making the writer feel tutored or lectured, Huddle approaches the creation of fiction as a natural outgrowth of the writer's abilities, thereby making his points accessible and usable by writers of all levels. Huddle shares with his readers his natural approach to writing, making it part of his everyday life, that grew from his habits of living. Although he shares with us the techniques and methods that work for him, he never says that his approach must be the writer's approach or that his approach is the only way to do things. He leaves that decision to the reader. Huddle's comments on character development, restraint, plot development and other writing techniques are invaluable and his text is a must for any writer, regardless of level or ability, who is serious about becoming a better writer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Are Serious About Becoming A Writer, January 27, 2010

By 

Geraldine Fincannon (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Writing Habit (Paperback)

If you are serious about becoming a writer, this is the one and only craft book you will ever need to purchase and read. I have purchased this book seven times and loaned it seven times--only to never have it returned! This alone says enough about the value of the insights and dictums within. David Huddle is a generous individual and a gifted instructor. To read his thoughts is to buy into every aspect of writing, especially the discipline required. Geraldine Fincannon