kevinclouther's review against another edition
3.0
This writer is enormously pleased with himself. It’s hard to blame him, given his career, but it doesn’t make for particularly illuminating reading.
anarchocompletionist's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
a_little_shelf_absorbed's review against another edition
3.0
Complex yet straightforward, and intimidating yet encouraging. McPhee thematically conquers what we all as writers hope to accomplish, and that is to do the damn thing. An overall fun read that makes you want to write if you are truly a writer, but run for the hills if you are also truly a writer with some major work cut out for yourself.
textpublishing's review against another edition
‘Anyone aspiring to make a living from writing long-form journalism or literary non-fiction should read this book, absorb its lessons on the art of crafting clear and compelling prose, and then accept that the professional world McPhee was lucky enough to inhabit is now gone.’
Scotsman
‘Draft No. 4 belongs on the short shelf of essential books about the craft.’
Wall Street Journal
‘Eight crisply instructive and drolly self-deprecating essays [are] gathered here in this exceptionally entertaining and illuminating book … [Draft No. 4] is expert, charming, and invigorating.’
Donna Seaman, Booklist
‘McPhee has set the standard for the genre of creative nonfiction … With humor and aplomb, he recalls anecdotes about how he approached a story: from interviewing and reporting to drafting and revising, to working with editors and publishers … A well-wrought road map to navigating the twists and turns, thrills and pitfalls, and joys and sorrows of the writer’s journey.’
Donna Marie Smith, Library Journal
‘[Draft No. 4 is] not a general how-to-do-it manual but a personal how-I-did-it of richer depth—not bouillon cubes, but rich stock … McPhee lays it all out with the wit of one who believes that writing has to be fun at least once in a pale blue moon.’
Publishers Weekly
‘A master class in writing … Almost every sentence sparkles … A superb book.’
STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
‘Matchless teaching from a master of the form—seductive, trustworthy and endearingly modest.’
Helen Garner
‘A marvellous new book…A fascinating book for anyone interested in writing.’
Australian
Scotsman
‘Draft No. 4 belongs on the short shelf of essential books about the craft.’
Wall Street Journal
‘Eight crisply instructive and drolly self-deprecating essays [are] gathered here in this exceptionally entertaining and illuminating book … [Draft No. 4] is expert, charming, and invigorating.’
Donna Seaman, Booklist
‘McPhee has set the standard for the genre of creative nonfiction … With humor and aplomb, he recalls anecdotes about how he approached a story: from interviewing and reporting to drafting and revising, to working with editors and publishers … A well-wrought road map to navigating the twists and turns, thrills and pitfalls, and joys and sorrows of the writer’s journey.’
Donna Marie Smith, Library Journal
‘[Draft No. 4 is] not a general how-to-do-it manual but a personal how-I-did-it of richer depth—not bouillon cubes, but rich stock … McPhee lays it all out with the wit of one who believes that writing has to be fun at least once in a pale blue moon.’
Publishers Weekly
‘A master class in writing … Almost every sentence sparkles … A superb book.’
STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
‘Matchless teaching from a master of the form—seductive, trustworthy and endearingly modest.’
Helen Garner
‘A marvellous new book…A fascinating book for anyone interested in writing.’
Australian
maryd_smallcraft's review against another edition
This book was less helpful to me than some other books on writing. It was full of personal anecdotes about the author’s past works and the editors, copy editors, and fact checkers he worked with. Felt a little like name-dropping to me. But perhaps his readers/fan-base were looking for more of his career retrospective than writing tips.
The author is known for long form (non-fiction) articles in The New Yorker and for his non-fiction books (which I believe all were first published in part as long articles) and maybe this book helped me realize that writing format is not for me.
I did however jot down some nuggets of wisdom from the final 2 chapters “Draft No. 4” (the title piece) and “Omission.”
A book I will probably pass along to a friend, not one I will keep on the shelf to refer back to.
The author is known for long form (non-fiction) articles in The New Yorker and for his non-fiction books (which I believe all were first published in part as long articles) and maybe this book helped me realize that writing format is not for me.
I did however jot down some nuggets of wisdom from the final 2 chapters “Draft No. 4” (the title piece) and “Omission.”
A book I will probably pass along to a friend, not one I will keep on the shelf to refer back to.