A review by reedalong
Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders

emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

My brain was in the wrong place when I opened this book. I expected (based entirely on vibes and the work I'm doing in therapy, I guess?) for this to be about using writing as a trauma response with specific, detailed, dark advice relating to horrible experiences. It's not that, thank everything.

Instead Anders has created a book that is part motivational speech and part good, consistently useful thoughts on the nuts and bolts of writing. Her advice isn't meant to be universal; all of her wisdom can be tailored to fit each writer who reads this book.

Oh, and did I mention the writing prompts? Anders includes some solid prompts that encourage us to pay attention to the structure and the intentional choices we make while writing.

I'll be using this book a bunch, without question. Glad I bought it.