222 reviews for:

Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories

Charlie Jane Anders

4.24 AVERAGE

ekcd_'s review against another edition

2.0

informative lighthearted medium-paced

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I never read fiction twice
Cool idea, interesting beginning. Then it got insufferably condescending and sickly silly

cassandraelaine's review against another edition

5.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective

thebearnest's review against another edition

4.5

informative medium-paced

claredragonfly's review against another edition

3.5

informative lighthearted slow-paced

deservingporcupine's review against another edition

5.0

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it was released, chapter by chapter on Tor. I usually don’t love writing advice (I’ve tried to get through Bird by Bird at least three times), but this one was written so specifically for this moment it felt comforting and joyful, even as the world feels like neither of those things. This is a book for anyone who loves stories, whether you write them or not.

saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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Uplifting and filled with writing advice that emphasizes the love of writing with no right or wrong methods. It helped make me feel a little better about my own writing and I’m definitely going to incorporate some of what Anders suggests into my own writing, particularly listening more to my inner reader than my inner critic.

clarieeeee's review against another edition

3.0

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I don’t have the same sense of humor as the author 😭 got me interested in creative writing tho

maddy_walock's review against another edition

5.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

tacanderson's review against another edition

4.0

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I had heard good things about this book (forget where) and had enjoyed some of Anders' works of fiction so decided to get it. The book is a collection of posts originally published on Tor.com, when I found this out, I instantly lowered my expectations. In the past I've not enjoyed books that are a collection of essays or blog posts. But the book quickly reset my expectations. Besides providing a lot of inspiration (which was the point and premise of the book), Anders provides a lot of very practical tips and advice to aspiring writers. I ended up taking quite a few notes, especially in the later chapters.

ckcombsdotcom's review against another edition

5.0

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So good. I’m working on my first novel. Not my first writing but the first long piece. All through this book, I’ve found inspiration and excellent ideas that I was able to use right away on my WiP.

Besides being of great practice use, this series of essays is great fun to read.