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buaslbutterfly's review
4.0
It's one of those book that just reaches out and touches your heart. I enjoy it for the sentimental and emotional journey that you go through when reading the short stories.
thewallflower00's review
2.0
I needed a little pick-me-up for my writing these days (or maybe a Phoenix Down or Philosopher's Stone). We all need some motivation some times. I was hoping that this book could add a little gumption to my typing fingers. But the articles just don't give much to inspire. In fact, a lot of them did the opposite. They told me just how much more others achieved with so little to start with. The "genius" authors as I call them -- the ones whose success and talent cannot be duplicated or learned. It just comes naturally to them. People like Alex Haley and Harper Lee and Garry Marshall.
And that's the other thing. This book is out of date. We've got people talking about Vietnam and writing in the 1930's. These people didn't have to deal with self-publishers saturating the market or eBook piracy or (god, forbid) Fifty Shades of Gray.
And some of the stories have a Christian spin on in. As in "God was sending me a message to write this book", which is the bane of every slush reader. Anyone who says they were commanded to write a book by God scares me.
So if you're looking for something to keep you writing, look somewhere else. It has just as much chance of bringing you back down. Bit of a poor effort when it's got the opposite effect.
And that's the other thing. This book is out of date. We've got people talking about Vietnam and writing in the 1930's. These people didn't have to deal with self-publishers saturating the market or eBook piracy or (god, forbid) Fifty Shades of Gray.
And some of the stories have a Christian spin on in. As in "God was sending me a message to write this book", which is the bane of every slush reader. Anyone who says they were commanded to write a book by God scares me.
So if you're looking for something to keep you writing, look somewhere else. It has just as much chance of bringing you back down. Bit of a poor effort when it's got the opposite effect.
yuusasih's review
3.0
Seneng karena ternyata ada Chicken Soup untuk para penulis (karena seri CSoTS yang lain tidak ada yang kriterianya sesuai dengan saya. hehe...). Tapi ternyata begitu beli, baca sekitar setengah buku, kemudian terlupakan karena didesak oleh tugas-tugas kuliah. Dan sekarang bukunya ketemu lagi, jadi mungkin saya akan lanjut baca.
hissingpotatoes's review
4.0
I was hoping the entries would be more focused on the craft, the how, of writing. Instead they're all motivational stories, the why of writing. Which is fine and well done, just not what I was looking for, so I skipped most of them. The quotes and comics peppered throughout are a nice touch.
trogdor19's review
4.0
This edition, from 1999, is filled with inspiration and stories of meaning and struggle in writing. However, it feels a little dated and doesn't address a lot of the things that writers today deal with. I should have probably bought the newer version. However, I still enjoyed this and found it uplifting, like all the Chicken Soup books.
rosepetals1984's review
3.0
I found "Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul" to be an intriguing look at some writer's journeys into their careers and experiences, though I should warn those who might be going into it for writing advice that it isn't specifically a guide to that. The stories in and of themselves are of variable quality, from wonderful (notably Ray Bradbury, Earnest Gaines, among a few others) to so-so. Yet, I enjoyed this collection because it makes a point that as people, we have our own stories to tell and sources of inspiration - from being rejected to submitting our first manuscript to having a loved one tell us to get off our bootstraps and just do something. I wished that all of the stories had consistent flare, but I can't complain that this is a book that I value highly. I used to love Chicken Soup books in my teens and I find that I still like them growing up. I hope at some point there's another volume for writers.
Overall score: 3/5
Overall score: 3/5
gemsreads's review
5.0
This book was literally chicken soup for me. When I first picked it from the library, I was skeptical whether or not I'd like it. It'll be cheesy, I thought. BUT I WAS SO WRONG. There was nothing I didn't like about this book. If you're feeling like you can't write anymore, and just down on your luck, read this book.