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fantasynovel's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book so much. Anne Lamott has a lot of great advice. Some of it feels pretty obvious, but it still feels affirming to have someone else tell you this advice. I can already tell that for the rest of my life I will sit down at my word document and go, "Let's write one bird." The book is funny, though sometimes I think her jokes are a little bit in poor taste (aka comparing herself to a "large autistic child" or something like that). But the book did come out in 1994.
alanp's review against another edition
2.0
This book came highly recommended from many BookTubers, but...man... I just could not get into it at all. Some of the advice was probably very good, but for me it was buried in a quagmire of anecdotes and personal stories that some probably found heartwarming and inspiring, but that I just didn't connect with. A great deal was biographical, and just couldn't muster up any interest, unfortunately.
I hesitate to even include this book on my 2023 list, as I began speed-reading just over halfway through, and then ultimately only scanning pages for the last fifth. Sorry, I tried. Onto a fiction next I think!
I hesitate to even include this book on my 2023 list, as I began speed-reading just over halfway through, and then ultimately only scanning pages for the last fifth. Sorry, I tried. Onto a fiction next I think!
irismessenger_'s review against another edition
3.0
The beginning half is worth reading if you need a creative writing pep talk. While the second half was still whitty and had some good advice, I was distracted by its veering into religious matters. Writers write about what they know, and I (a life long atheist, born and bred) can't connect to all of that. I really don't understand why men writers write secular how-to books while the popular ones that were written by women often have some connection to faith. Also, the information in the latter half didn't really connect to me as a beginner at creative writing.
votesforwomen's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books on writing books I've ever read. I'm in love. I feel like I can actually finish a WIP now. My vision is refocused, my editing process has never felt clearer, and my writing has become for ME first and foremost. (DEF PG-13)
boxcar's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Good advice, and written with a very funny and truthful voice. Didn't feel preachy or anything, felt real. Like here's how I feel about writing and life, you can feel however the hell you want, but maybe my stuff will be helpful.
Easy read, helpful.
Easy read, helpful.