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iancarpenter's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent from start to finish. Full of great examples. Clear, accessible, with some excellent material about writing groups and criticism (taking and giving it). A great read for anyone anywhere in their writing career.
heydebigale's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This is a FANTASTIC book on writing.
Le Guin says this is not a book for beginners, but she wrote an incredibly accessible text on writing.
She is also so funny!! I laughed out loud many times reading this book.
This book took me about 3 weeks to read because I worked through almost all of the exercises. A few of the exercises were a bit more geared to fiction writing, but nonfiction writers will get a lot out of this too!
I learned about the importance of 1.) “leaping and crowding” 2.) the rhythm of your prose 3.) using “vivid verbs” instead of too many adjectives or adverbs 4.) what tense is appropriate in nonfiction (“to write about napoleon in first person is to write fiction”)
Highly recommend to all my fellow writers!
Le Guin says this is not a book for beginners, but she wrote an incredibly accessible text on writing.
She is also so funny!! I laughed out loud many times reading this book.
This book took me about 3 weeks to read because I worked through almost all of the exercises. A few of the exercises were a bit more geared to fiction writing, but nonfiction writers will get a lot out of this too!
I learned about the importance of 1.) “leaping and crowding” 2.) the rhythm of your prose 3.) using “vivid verbs” instead of too many adjectives or adverbs 4.) what tense is appropriate in nonfiction (“to write about napoleon in first person is to write fiction”)
Highly recommend to all my fellow writers!
msbyfield's review against another edition
5.0
The Portland author and fiction queen Ursula Le Guin's classic guide to the writing craft belongs on every storyteller's shelf. Now revised to encompass the challenges of publishing in the modern age, this workbook is a contextually relevant primer to the art of writing. The examples offered and exercises designed encourage critical thinking and inspire imaginative play with language. Here you'll find not only the nuts and bolts of prose, but a valuable appendix on providing and receiving effective critique as a compendium to her online workshop.
Read my other book reviews on my staff reviews page at Grass Roots Books!
Read my other book reviews on my staff reviews page at Grass Roots Books!
greene_house_gases's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
mxunsmiley's review against another edition
5.0
The brevity of this book is deceptive because it contains so much, from thoughts on plot and action to the rudimentary aspects of writing. It's concise but forces you to think about all kinds of possibilities regarding the trajectory of a scene or narrative, and the usage of language itself. I especially liked her blunt tone, and the way she tore down certain widely accepted dogmas regarding writing like passive voice, using "proper" English, etc.
She provides many examples--and I have to note the dominance of excerpts from Virginia Woolf's work, which I can only appreciate more after analyzing the pieces included--that are, for the most part, good representations of what Le Guin discusses in each chapter.
Not only does it provide extremely fun, though restrictive and challenging, exercises, the book engages your curiosity by referring to many works by a range of authors, truly exemplifying how diversely well-read and dedicated to the craft Le Guin was. It's made me want to pay more close attention when I read and, yes, write, because topics like point of view and tense are often easy to overlook in terms of consistency, at least in my experience--I tend to focus on language.
I appreciate this book a lot because it's gotten me to start learning how to identify weaknesses in my writing and holes in my knowledge. Unfortunately, it's also added many books to my to-read list. Definitely a book to return to, and even use in a workshop per the intention.
She provides many examples--and I have to note the dominance of excerpts from Virginia Woolf's work, which I can only appreciate more after analyzing the pieces included--that are, for the most part, good representations of what Le Guin discusses in each chapter.
Not only does it provide extremely fun, though restrictive and challenging, exercises, the book engages your curiosity by referring to many works by a range of authors, truly exemplifying how diversely well-read and dedicated to the craft Le Guin was. It's made me want to pay more close attention when I read and, yes, write, because topics like point of view and tense are often easy to overlook in terms of consistency, at least in my experience--I tend to focus on language.
I appreciate this book a lot because it's gotten me to start learning how to identify weaknesses in my writing and holes in my knowledge. Unfortunately, it's also added many books to my to-read list. Definitely a book to return to, and even use in a workshop per the intention.
jamiejamie's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
4.0
I feel awful giving the great Le Guin four stars, but on one hand that is more than I liked it — I found it a much more basic primer than I hoped — while also reflecting that it is good and well written and would be fantastic for newer writers
lllhayes's review against another edition
5.0
Steering The Craft is a meditation on (and practical guide to) writing itself; the sounds of words, how to structure them, the art of it, so to speak.
Le Guin doesn't pull punches. This is no gentle, welcoming introduction to technique, nor is it baby's first writing guide. But the author states as much in her introduction and although she can be blunt in her opinions, her voice is kind and thoughtful throughout, with an aim of helping you make the jump from intermediate writer to an author capable of honing their craft.
I really enjoyed her reverence towards particular writers and novels, excerpts of which are included for study in this book. It's made me want to read Jane Eyre, and reread Persuasion (something I was already planning!). But most of all, I will happily revisit this book someday, if only to give her writing exercises a go.
The wording of the advice is worded made this book a pleasure to read. Le Guin practised what she preached, about every word having purpose, never saying more or less than is needed.
Frankly, I'm goddamn inspired. Not only to go out there and reread my writing with a critical eye, but also to check out some classic authors like Brontë and Dickens, as well as Le Guin herself. I'd recommend this as a study in making a reference book humourous, personable, focused but never harsh.
Le Guin doesn't pull punches. This is no gentle, welcoming introduction to technique, nor is it baby's first writing guide. But the author states as much in her introduction and although she can be blunt in her opinions, her voice is kind and thoughtful throughout, with an aim of helping you make the jump from intermediate writer to an author capable of honing their craft.
I really enjoyed her reverence towards particular writers and novels, excerpts of which are included for study in this book. It's made me want to read Jane Eyre, and reread Persuasion (something I was already planning!). But most of all, I will happily revisit this book someday, if only to give her writing exercises a go.
The wording of the advice is worded made this book a pleasure to read. Le Guin practised what she preached, about every word having purpose, never saying more or less than is needed.
Frankly, I'm goddamn inspired. Not only to go out there and reread my writing with a critical eye, but also to check out some classic authors like Brontë and Dickens, as well as Le Guin herself. I'd recommend this as a study in making a reference book humourous, personable, focused but never harsh.
victorianvalkyrie's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0