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bailey_the_bookworm's review
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
A welcoming, thoughtful, and practical guide for anyone interested in a writing life (whether you plan to make writing into a business or something you do purely for love). It’s hard to put down and crammed full of excellent recommendations of other craft books, books in various genres, and practical strategies for getting yourself to write. I did reach a point where I was like, “I get it, you were in the Peace Corps,” but it’s fine
devondelfino's review against another edition
5.0
Funny, inspiring, heartfelt and chock-full of good advice for new (or not-so-new) writers. Highly recommend.
rbz39's review against another edition
5.0
Good reread to remind me of the joys and disciplines of the writing life. Now to get to some words!
carlydbar's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the beginning, I thought there was a lot of valuable thoughts and insight. However, I had a really hard time connecting with the writing in the last 100-pages.
stanwj's review against another edition
3.0
I am continuing on my unofficial second career as not a writer, but one who reads every book about writing instead. Then writes about them.
Welcome to the Writer's Life succeeds on a couple of fronts. First, author Paulette Perhach has an entertaining voice and regularly drops funny little zingers in with her advice without ever making it feel like she's trying really hard to make you laugh.
Second, the book tackles a few things that a lot of new writer books don't cover or cover minimally. There are plenty of books that will cover the classic plot structures, character development and other things you need to know in order to tell a convincing story--whether it be through fiction or non-fiction. Perhach covers the other stuff in a writer's life, relating her and the experiences of other writers in finding ways to nurture and grow your writing habits, covering everything from what to read (and how important reading is) to meditation to clear your mental decks (she claims to never suffer writer's block because of her daily 15-minute meditation sessions), as well as touching on the business side of writing, along with thoughts on pursuing an MFA (spoiler: she doesn't think it's necessary).
It took me awhile to read through the book and though I enjoyed it, I found myself wondering why, and I believe it's two things: I found the quotes from other writers largely unnecessary (fewer would have been fine) and there are sections where even Perhach's writing style can't lift the subject matter from feeling just a little dull. But I have read a lot of books on writing, so it's just as likely that I am becoming a bit weary of the topic of writing itself.
Still, I think this is a good intro to the craft of writing for a new writer and have no problem recommending it alongside other more "nuts and bolts" book on the writing process itself.
Welcome to the Writer's Life succeeds on a couple of fronts. First, author Paulette Perhach has an entertaining voice and regularly drops funny little zingers in with her advice without ever making it feel like she's trying really hard to make you laugh.
Second, the book tackles a few things that a lot of new writer books don't cover or cover minimally. There are plenty of books that will cover the classic plot structures, character development and other things you need to know in order to tell a convincing story--whether it be through fiction or non-fiction. Perhach covers the other stuff in a writer's life, relating her and the experiences of other writers in finding ways to nurture and grow your writing habits, covering everything from what to read (and how important reading is) to meditation to clear your mental decks (she claims to never suffer writer's block because of her daily 15-minute meditation sessions), as well as touching on the business side of writing, along with thoughts on pursuing an MFA (spoiler: she doesn't think it's necessary).
It took me awhile to read through the book and though I enjoyed it, I found myself wondering why, and I believe it's two things: I found the quotes from other writers largely unnecessary (fewer would have been fine) and there are sections where even Perhach's writing style can't lift the subject matter from feeling just a little dull. But I have read a lot of books on writing, so it's just as likely that I am becoming a bit weary of the topic of writing itself.
Still, I think this is a good intro to the craft of writing for a new writer and have no problem recommending it alongside other more "nuts and bolts" book on the writing process itself.
entamewitchlulu's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I needed when I didn't even know it. This book took me by the collar, shook me, and very kindly told me inches from my face that I needed to get back to work.
I've been writing for well over a decade, having made my first real attempt at a book at the age of nine. And since then, it's been nearly impossible to get me to stop. But this book reminded me of the kind of work that I need to be putting into my craft. It reminded me about how if writing is how I want to live my life, there's a certain type of work that I need to get started doing. This is a book written for people who want to get started writing, but even for someone like me who's been at this for years, who has a bachelor's in the damn subject, this was a ridiculously useful smack in the butt to get back to work, and to work in ways that will grow my skills rather than stagnate them.
I'm already starting a second readthrough just to get some notes down and start doing all of the activities inside, and I have no doubt I'll be jumping back to this one in the future when I need another gentle but firm shake back to what I need to be doing.
I've been writing for well over a decade, having made my first real attempt at a book at the age of nine. And since then, it's been nearly impossible to get me to stop. But this book reminded me of the kind of work that I need to be putting into my craft. It reminded me about how if writing is how I want to live my life, there's a certain type of work that I need to get started doing. This is a book written for people who want to get started writing, but even for someone like me who's been at this for years, who has a bachelor's in the damn subject, this was a ridiculously useful smack in the butt to get back to work, and to work in ways that will grow my skills rather than stagnate them.
I'm already starting a second readthrough just to get some notes down and start doing all of the activities inside, and I have no doubt I'll be jumping back to this one in the future when I need another gentle but firm shake back to what I need to be doing.
booksandpipes's review against another edition
4.0
Yay I enjoyed this book! Maybe I'll write some day.
ngfsorensen's review against another edition
5.0
WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE is a much-needed guide on how to build the habits demanded of successful writers, because unfortunately, your novel can't write itself. Filled with activities to help writers of all levels stay organized and to keep writing, Perhach's book shifts its focus away from the craft of writing and focuses on the how that puts pen to paper.
Full disclosure: a year ago, before this book was published, Perhach became my writing mentor through the Hugo House in Seattle. I studied under her through the fall, pumpkin latte just to the right of my laptop. After having gone through what became WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE, I expected the book to echo what Perhach had already taught me. Thankfully, I was wrong. WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE built upon the foundations of my writing practice and renewed my passion for keeping up the writer's habits.
What surprised me most about Perhach's lessons, and what may surprise writers looking for how to write their villain's perfect, tragic backstory, is that WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE is not that book. "Shouldn't I send her more writing samples?" I thought every week. Craft, however, emerges from a consistent reading and writing practice that WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE teaches you how to begin and maintain.
Consider this quote from Octavia Butler, taken from her essay on writing, Furor Scribendi: "First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice." This emphasis on habit pumps the blood in the heart of WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE: without dedication and organization, there is no finished work. Reading, writing, organizing, and even building your social media presence to let the world know " I'm a writer!" is how aspiring writers remove the "aspiring" from their bios. Where do you think this Goodreads account came from?
This is not to say Perhach won't make you write. Oh no no nooo. Perhach shares testimonials from other writers, and then gives you homework. Ranging from diary entries, checklists, and putting your draft away for a month to dust it off and read it with fresh eyes, Perhach forces you to write to yourself about why being a writer matters and how you're going to succeed.
Full disclosure: a year ago, before this book was published, Perhach became my writing mentor through the Hugo House in Seattle. I studied under her through the fall, pumpkin latte just to the right of my laptop. After having gone through what became WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE, I expected the book to echo what Perhach had already taught me. Thankfully, I was wrong. WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE built upon the foundations of my writing practice and renewed my passion for keeping up the writer's habits.
What surprised me most about Perhach's lessons, and what may surprise writers looking for how to write their villain's perfect, tragic backstory, is that WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE is not that book. "Shouldn't I send her more writing samples?" I thought every week. Craft, however, emerges from a consistent reading and writing practice that WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE teaches you how to begin and maintain.
Consider this quote from Octavia Butler, taken from her essay on writing, Furor Scribendi: "First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice." This emphasis on habit pumps the blood in the heart of WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S LIFE: without dedication and organization, there is no finished work. Reading, writing, organizing, and even building your social media presence to let the world know " I'm a writer!" is how aspiring writers remove the "aspiring" from their bios. Where do you think this Goodreads account came from?
This is not to say Perhach won't make you write. Oh no no nooo. Perhach shares testimonials from other writers, and then gives you homework. Ranging from diary entries, checklists, and putting your draft away for a month to dust it off and read it with fresh eyes, Perhach forces you to write to yourself about why being a writer matters and how you're going to succeed.
naaanya's review
4.0
Excellent. Practical tips and lots of resources on how to be a writer, no matter whether you do it full time or as your second (but true) vocation.