A Writer's Writing Advice Book
A Response to "100 Things Every Writer Needs To
Know"
I just finished reading the above book by writer,
editor, agent and writing professor Scott Edelstein and it has quickly elbowed
its way to the top of My Favorite Books
for Writers
list.
Written in a list format in a
very direct address with no frills, I have to say, I am surprised that I like
this book, because the style is the same, that in another writer's hand, really
ticks me off. However, Edelstein is clearly a writer's writer and I love
writer's writers because they don't talk down to their fellow writer, they just
talk straight.
Some of my favorite
truths from the book are:
Every Writer
Starts Out As a Beginner; You Can Safely Ignore Most of the "Have To's" You've
Been Taught About Writing; To Get the Most Out of Writing, Write What You Would
Enjoy Reading; Each Person's Writing Process Is Unique; Plan To Start Out Small,
Then Work Your Way Up Slowly; Most Communications Fields (Publishing, Film, TV,
Etc.) Are Moderately to Highly Dysfunctional; Unless You Become Famous, Expect
to Be Rejected Much of the Time; Your Successes and Failures As a Writer Will Be
Half the Result of Your Own Effort, Half the Result of Luck; Most Freelance
Writers Have At Least One Other Job; It Is Up To You To Decide How Much to
Network, Schmooze, and Socialize with Other Writers; When the Going Gets Tough,
Reward Yourself.
So simple and yet, in
the reasonable hands of Edelstein, so easy to swallow. The author skillfully
takes the power out of everyone else's hands and gently puts it back into the
hands of writers where it
belongs.
Bravo! A standing ovation for
this book. More Scott Edelstein is going to grace my shelf--and
soon.
Posted: Wed - January 11, 2006 at 03:45 PM
