Scan barcode
songwind's review
4.0
A quick-reading and very accessible book about writing. Chuck Wendig takes a short winded approach to talking about the craft of writing. His 250 (actually 275) things we should know are broken down into 25 things for each section. Each one is filled with excellent advice, witty observation, and bizarre profanity. Despite this lighthearted attitude, he doesn't skimp on suggestions, and even takes the time to expand upon the true meaning of certain old chestnuts we've all heard before.
Despite the refreshing approach, there's not much in the book that I hadn't read elsewhere. If you are comfortable in your understanding of the mechanics and requirements of writing, this book is probably not for you.
If you are disturbed by random profanity and absurdity, this book is definitely not for you. You cock-waffle.
Despite the refreshing approach, there's not much in the book that I hadn't read elsewhere. If you are comfortable in your understanding of the mechanics and requirements of writing, this book is probably not for you.
If you are disturbed by random profanity and absurdity, this book is definitely not for you. You cock-waffle.
authoraugust's review
5.0
Fantastic little motherfucker of a writing book. Clearly made from blog posts, and full of internetspeek and things, it's a great set of lists that resonate and will be great to come back to another time. Totally worth the $1.
dantastic's review
3.0
The writing bug has been gnawing on my brainstem lately so I decided to pick up another writing book on the cheap. In 250 Things You Should Know About Writing, Chuck Wendig serves up 11 lists of 25 items each on various writing subjects. Yes, both Chuck and I realize that adds up to 275, not 250.
Since I've got to pad this review somehow, here is the list of topics covered:
- Being a Writer
- Writing a Novel
- Storytelling
- Character
- Plot
- Dialogue
- Description
- Editing, Revising, Rewriting
- Getting Published
- Writing a Fucking Sentence
- Writing a Screenplay
Chuck covers all these topics in style that's both informative and has the same sense of humor his blog posts have. So, if you don't appreciate his sense of humor, you're not going to be able to stomach this book.
As far as the writing advice goes, most of it is of the common sense variety. I found some of it useful but none of it revolutionary. It's not going to eclipse Stephen King's On Writing or Lawrence Block's Telling Lies for Fun and Profit. The entertainment value is very high for a writing book, though.
If you're a Chuck Wendig fan and need some writing tips, this will serve you well. It's not one of my favorite writing books but you could do a lot worse. And it's cheap. Three out of Five stars.
Since I've got to pad this review somehow, here is the list of topics covered:
- Being a Writer
- Writing a Novel
- Storytelling
- Character
- Plot
- Dialogue
- Description
- Editing, Revising, Rewriting
- Getting Published
- Writing a Fucking Sentence
- Writing a Screenplay
Chuck covers all these topics in style that's both informative and has the same sense of humor his blog posts have. So, if you don't appreciate his sense of humor, you're not going to be able to stomach this book.
As far as the writing advice goes, most of it is of the common sense variety. I found some of it useful but none of it revolutionary. It's not going to eclipse Stephen King's On Writing or Lawrence Block's Telling Lies for Fun and Profit. The entertainment value is very high for a writing book, though.
If you're a Chuck Wendig fan and need some writing tips, this will serve you well. It's not one of my favorite writing books but you could do a lot worse. And it's cheap. Three out of Five stars.
beecycling's review
4.0
A collection of 10 of Chuck's 25 things you need to know about... from his Terribleminds blog. For this tiny price it's handy to have them all in one place, accessible any time and it will be good to dip into again. Probably best to read a list per day, rather than start to end, otherwise it will all blur together too much
Funny, useful, pulls no punches, sweary - oh so very sweary. Don't give it to your granny to read. Unless she's a total potty-mouthed old bitch who taught you how to swear. :D
Funny, useful, pulls no punches, sweary - oh so very sweary. Don't give it to your granny to read. Unless she's a total potty-mouthed old bitch who taught you how to swear. :D
aix83's review
4.0
This is a bunch of writing tips clearly divided by topics. You can easily find whatever interests you and you don't have to wade through all of it just to manage to guess (at the end) what it's all about. You can also skip the parts you don't need, which is great.
It's fun, it's easy to digest, and what it lacks in insight, it makes up for in humor. For me, it's a 3* on the Goodreads scale but I'm throwing in an extra star because they're free. Also humor. I'm subtracting 1* for the humor all being frat-style penis jokes--most of them are funny but it can be jarring every now and then. But this is Wendig's style and you take it or leave it. I say it works with his loquacious, flowing, conversational prose. I also found several ideas thrown in offhandedly, just for funsies, that make for brilliant plot prompts. I jotted them down and might use them in a book sometime.
It's fun, it's easy to digest, and what it lacks in insight, it makes up for in humor. For me, it's a 3* on the Goodreads scale but I'm throwing in an extra star because they're free. Also humor. I'm subtracting 1* for the humor all being frat-style penis jokes--most of them are funny but it can be jarring every now and then. But this is Wendig's style and you take it or leave it. I say it works with his loquacious, flowing, conversational prose. I also found several ideas thrown in offhandedly, just for funsies, that make for brilliant plot prompts. I jotted them down and might use them in a book sometime.
sashucity's review
3.0
Книга мені не дуже сподобалася, хоча класні поради тут дійсно є – особливо частина про побудову речення.
Проте цей відгук я пишу, щоб звернутися до видавництва «Фабула». Будь ласка, вичитуйте те, що роблять перекладачі. Я не думаю, що над цим текстом працював редактор: занадто багато одруківок, велика кількість недолугих речень, а через перекладання кожного is і are через дієслово «є» хочеться просто вити.
І так, будь ласка, перекажіть свої перекладачці, що Харпер Лі – це жінка, і її ім’я треба відмінювати відповідно. Дякую!
Проте цей відгук я пишу, щоб звернутися до видавництва «Фабула». Будь ласка, вичитуйте те, що роблять перекладачі. Я не думаю, що над цим текстом працював редактор: занадто багато одруківок, велика кількість недолугих речень, а через перекладання кожного is і are через дієслово «є» хочеться просто вити.
І так, будь ласка, перекажіть свої перекладачці, що Харпер Лі – це жінка, і її ім’я треба відмінювати відповідно. Дякую!
abigcoffeedragon's review
3.0
A blog in a book
This is simply a collection of the author's blog bundled in one place. Yes, it is easier to get everything in one place, but is it a must own? I don't believe so.
This is simply a collection of the author's blog bundled in one place. Yes, it is easier to get everything in one place, but is it a must own? I don't believe so.
krgreen's review
5.0
As a reader of Chuck's blog, and having read a couple of his writing books, nothing in this book was particularly new. However; the reminders are welcome. Short, written in a fun manner, and useful for someone in their 6th year of writing to have all the tips in one place.
Some favourite phrases include: "A wizard controls his magic; it doesn't control him" about the writer versus the muse, and "misery is too easy to come by, so don't invite it" about being hopeful in the face of rejection. Chuck does not sugar-coat how much hard work and perseverance it takes to be successful in writing, while sharing some things which will make you more likely to have a chance at such success.
From the new writer to the experiences, he normalises loving then hating your story and explains how tension comes from choices. A useful collection of essays.
Some favourite phrases include: "A wizard controls his magic; it doesn't control him" about the writer versus the muse, and "misery is too easy to come by, so don't invite it" about being hopeful in the face of rejection. Chuck does not sugar-coat how much hard work and perseverance it takes to be successful in writing, while sharing some things which will make you more likely to have a chance at such success.
From the new writer to the experiences, he normalises loving then hating your story and explains how tension comes from choices. A useful collection of essays.
gorybmovie's review
5.0
Hilarious and informative! If you write novels or screenplays, you need to read this book.