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221 reviews for:
Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories
Charlie Jane Anders
4.24 AVERAGE
221 reviews for:
Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories
Charlie Jane Anders
4.24 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Phenomenal book, so helpful!!! I need to write a better review, but for now I'll just say I adore this woman and everything she says that gave me back my sense of being able to write for my own reasons, with the hope of healing through deeply traumatic experiences. I've been trying to write a cozy fantasy in 2024-25 because it's desperately what I need, but this book inspired me to write a story to su mit to a dystopian anthology and it came with an ease that surprised me. Her support and willingness to admit her own imperfections and talk about doing a dozen rewrites was exactly what I needed to hear. Her thoughts on craft were ABSOLUTELY worthy of winning a Hugo. I'm so grateful.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
A book that felt like it was written for me. I love how Anders weaves her personal experience with writing into a practical discussion on how to create, without any hint of being self absorbed or didactic. I love how vulnerable she is about her moments of growth, that writing is above all else a process always in progress. I felt that she gave me several tools to try when I need to come back to what I love about writing and the reasons I write when things are feeling disconnected.
My only note is that I felt the title and subtitle were misleading. I didn’t expect this to be a craft book as much as a reflection on how stories help us get through difficult experiences, and while I did find some of that, it made up a very small percentage of the book. I think what she shared on this topic was powerful, but it was very limited to her own definition of difficult and her own definition of storytelling. I’d love a book that delves into that topic in more depth and incorporates more examples of how that works for people of different identities and experiences, and especially for people with limited access to their own time, books, and writing resources.
My only note is that I felt the title and subtitle were misleading. I didn’t expect this to be a craft book as much as a reflection on how stories help us get through difficult experiences, and while I did find some of that, it made up a very small percentage of the book. I think what she shared on this topic was powerful, but it was very limited to her own definition of difficult and her own definition of storytelling. I’d love a book that delves into that topic in more depth and incorporates more examples of how that works for people of different identities and experiences, and especially for people with limited access to their own time, books, and writing resources.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
So look. 2025 fucking sucks, and seven months in, a lot of us are feeling emotionally flattened and burned out. There's a not insignificant chance that you're burned out and trying to figure out how to move forward with your writing, or you're hard in block. This is both a practical guide with exercises for you to try to do, and advice and experience from Charlie Jane. This came out back around 2021, after the first Trump presidency, so if nothing else it's great to have as we struggle through this one. We're currently doing the quarterly tariff dance and this time he's supposedly threatening ones on Russia if they don't make a deal with Ukraine.
If you are in any way interested in writing or storytelling, then you need this book in your life. Unfortunately I can only give it 5 stars on Goodreads -- it deserves all the stars in the galaxy!
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Very solid book about the trade of storytelling, and how to get into the emotional depth needed for inspired writing. I wish there’d been a little more anecdotes or connection to current times, but I think it is a solid book for what it is
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Wonderful, concise, unique advice on writing
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I love this book—especially the audiobook. I’m 100% certain I’ll read this book multiple times in my life. It’s required reading if you’ve ever written or tried to write fiction, or if you’re just curious. Charli Jane Anders is a friggin’ gem. I love her creative sense of humor. This book is full of insight, vulnerability, helpful references, and great advice for any type of creative thinker or storyteller.