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toniclark's review
4.0
Ann Patchett learned a lot the hard way, but she learned well and passes on those lessons and a good dollop of inspiration to writers of all kinds. Great short read.
This all sounded very familiar to me. I realized that it’s one of the essays in Patchett’s This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. I listened to that audiobook about three years ago. So if you’ve read that one, skip this. Or, better yet, read this part again!
This all sounded very familiar to me. I realized that it’s one of the essays in Patchett’s This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. I listened to that audiobook about three years ago. So if you’ve read that one, skip this. Or, better yet, read this part again!
ilovestory's review
4.0
Loved this book ... practical advice on one writer's approach and a great read.
lavrendy's review
5.0
I had ChatGPT make a list of the people mentioned in this essay so that I could look up their work after:
Lucy Grealy - a writer and Patchett's dear friend who wrote "Autobiography of a Face." Grealy is a recurring figure in Patchett's essays, and her friendship with Patchett is a central theme in the book.
Richard Russo - a writer and Patchett's friend who helped her break through her writer's block while she was working on "Bel Canto."
Tom Franklin - a writer and Patchett's friend who helped her edit her first novel, "The Patron Saint of Liars."
Allan Gurganus - a writer and Patchett's teacher who taught her how to write short stories.
Grace Paley - a writer and Patchett's teacher who taught her the importance of writing about people and places she knows.
Eudora Welty - a writer whose work Patchett admires and who she considers to be one of her literary heroes.
Joan Didion - a writer who Patchett admires and who she cites as an influence on her own work.
Awesome!!!
Lucy Grealy - a writer and Patchett's dear friend who wrote "Autobiography of a Face." Grealy is a recurring figure in Patchett's essays, and her friendship with Patchett is a central theme in the book.
Richard Russo - a writer and Patchett's friend who helped her break through her writer's block while she was working on "Bel Canto."
Tom Franklin - a writer and Patchett's friend who helped her edit her first novel, "The Patron Saint of Liars."
Allan Gurganus - a writer and Patchett's teacher who taught her how to write short stories.
Grace Paley - a writer and Patchett's teacher who taught her the importance of writing about people and places she knows.
Eudora Welty - a writer whose work Patchett admires and who she considers to be one of her literary heroes.
Joan Didion - a writer who Patchett admires and who she cites as an influence on her own work.
Awesome!!!
notesonbookmarks's review
5.0
Read this for the #MMDReadingChallenge as a "book you can read in a day", or a morning, as the case may be. it was short and witty and insightful. even if you don't have dreams of writing, I think that Patchett's advice is kind of universally applicable: put in the time, do what you love, work through the process, just sit down and do it. Recommended, and a very short easy read anyone can finish in a day.
whitmc's review
5.0
I love all things Ann Patchett. And I love reading about the process of writing by authors. So Ann writing about her process of writing is basically my happy book spot. This did not disappoint.
juliana_aldous's review
4.0
Ann Patchett shares her story on how she became a writer and describes her own process for writing. Good advice here on everything from--should you attend an MFA program to how to avoid procrastination; from hiring an agent to making friends with the right kind of writers. Nothing astonishingly new here, but since it is Ann Patchett, it is written beautifully.
I highlighted the heck out of my kindle copy.
I highlighted the heck out of my kindle copy.
kellyxmen's review
3.0
Stephen King’s “On Writing” was better.
If I had read this one first, I don’t know if I would’ve wanted to read another writing memoir. The author makes writing sound so damn miserable. I suppose she’s being half sincere and half “quirky” by complaining about something she chose to do. (Hemingway would say that’s weak)
The most useful advice she gave was: if you want to write, then sit down without distractions and write. If nothing comes out, sit some more. You will end up by writing or leaving.
I only read this because David Sedaris said to and I love Sedaris but I don’t see why he loves this piece.
If I had read this one first, I don’t know if I would’ve wanted to read another writing memoir. The author makes writing sound so damn miserable. I suppose she’s being half sincere and half “quirky” by complaining about something she chose to do. (Hemingway would say that’s weak)
The most useful advice she gave was: if you want to write, then sit down without distractions and write. If nothing comes out, sit some more. You will end up by writing or leaving.
I only read this because David Sedaris said to and I love Sedaris but I don’t see why he loves this piece.
nadia's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This was great! A super short memoir that goes behind the scenes of Ann Patchett's writing journey and process.
Definitely a must-read for any aspiring writer or any writer who feels stuck in a rut and is questioning their career path. Also a must-read for Ann Patchett fans — I'm not really an aspiring writer but I find books like this fascinating and it was cool to learn more about Ann's life and work.
Loved the mix of practical advice and personal stories. Some of the advice is applicable to being productive in general and with any creative endeavour.
At 45 pages, it's perfect if you're looking for a "read in one sitting" book! Not sure how easy it is to get your hands on it these days though.
Definitely a must-read for any aspiring writer or any writer who feels stuck in a rut and is questioning their career path. Also a must-read for Ann Patchett fans — I'm not really an aspiring writer but I find books like this fascinating and it was cool to learn more about Ann's life and work.
Loved the mix of practical advice and personal stories. Some of the advice is applicable to being productive in general and with any creative endeavour.
At 45 pages, it's perfect if you're looking for a "read in one sitting" book! Not sure how easy it is to get your hands on it these days though.