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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Glad I finally picked this book up off my shelf! The first part on writing tasks, or assignments, or just getting the words onto paper at last, wasn’t terribly mind-blowing. In fact the reason I finally read this, because of the reference that Marlo Skyhorse made to her plot structure, she attributes to another writer!
But the second part, on the writing life, really struck a chord with me, and I’ve dog-eared the passage on morals, and another on the purpose of it all, that I can see myself rereading in the years to come.
This book is very readable, conversational, and quickly moves from philosophical attempts at explaining what it is that is so great about writing, and jokes that made me want to share the book with all my writer friends. I should note that while I understand that Lamott’s humor is off-brand there was only one (as far as I could tell) joke that should have been left out. I think we understand more about each other now than we did even as little twenty years ago when this was published.
But the second part, on the writing life, really struck a chord with me, and I’ve dog-eared the passage on morals, and another on the purpose of it all, that I can see myself rereading in the years to come.
This book is very readable, conversational, and quickly moves from philosophical attempts at explaining what it is that is so great about writing, and jokes that made me want to share the book with all my writer friends. I should note that while I understand that Lamott’s humor is off-brand there was only one (as far as I could tell) joke that should have been left out. I think we understand more about each other now than we did even as little twenty years ago when this was published.
Lovely book on writing… and (surprisingly) many truths on life and trauma.
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, Racism
This is so hard to write a review on. Why? It's fabulous.
It's funny yet immediate and intimate; you feel like Lamott may be talking directly to you.
I don't only recommend it for writers but for anyone who's looking for a non-fiction that ties writing to life and life to . . . well . . . life.
It's funny yet immediate and intimate; you feel like Lamott may be talking directly to you.
I don't only recommend it for writers but for anyone who's looking for a non-fiction that ties writing to life and life to . . . well . . . life.
I read the 25th Anniversary Edition and LOVED it. Excellent instructions on the process and experience of writing. This book delivers technical details along with plenty of the hallmark humor and the distinct edge of truth readers expect from author Anne Lamott. Can’t stop thinking about the notecards!!! Highly recommend for aspiring authors in particular and Lamott fans in general. Enjoy
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Trying to get back into more creative writing this year and this was a good place to start. The advice was useful, addressing the mental and spiritual blocks that often come with writing and the writer doesn’t take herself too seriously. The humor she infused throughout did get to be a bit much at times to the point where I lost what she was trying to say.
This is a classic on the craft of writing for a reason! Lamott and Natalie Goldberg were my favorite authors on the craft of writing when I was in my 20s. My notes from 1997 say, "She doesn't excite me the way N. Goldberg did, but she's got some good advice."
exactly what I imagine a creative writing course would be like: stern, practical advice that you sort of already know, some you don't, delivered by your white, dreadlocked lecturer who think's she's funnier than she is, and whose generalisations about people err on the side of racism and ableism. still, some quite useful stuff.
Moving and inspiring to anyone who wants to be a writer or just likes writing.