There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#1

Post by vkb » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 12:52 PM UTC

There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer
themillions.com

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#2

Post by uberstuber » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 10:46 PM UTC

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a good start

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#3

Post by nxzero » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:12 PM UTC

Being a writer is easy: (1) hire a good editor, (2) remix existing stories (3) be famous.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#4

Post by charliemagee » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:16 PM UTC

nxzero wrote: post #3

Being a writer is easy: (1) hire a good editor, (2) remix existing stories (3) be famous.

assuming you have the funds for the hiring of said editor. otherwise remixing of existing stories will be lonely and frustrating and soul-killing. issues, luckily, that often lead to being famous.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#5

Post by p4wnc6 » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:20 PM UTC

There most certainly is: http://www.earwolf.com/show/hollywood-handbook/ >.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#6

Post by danielvf » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:26 PM UTC

uberstuber wrote: post #2

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a good start

Seconded. Fantastic.

And I'd also recommend "On Writing" by Stephen King.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#7

Post by ericzawo » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:47 PM UTC

danielvf wrote: post #6

uberstuber wrote: post #2

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a good start

Seconded. Fantastic. And I'd also recommend "On Writing" by Stephen King.

I was just telling a friend how important this book is in highlighting the nuts and bolts of writing in that it's a lot like building stuff. We tend to romanticize the writer as having ideas come to them with hot cocoa and a NYT bestseller literally pouring from their fingertips, but the reality is a lot closer to grinding at an especially punishing task. Mr. King highlights it wonderfully, and even if you're not a fan of his work (huh?), I highly recommend you read it.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#8

Post by FlailFast » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:49 PM UTC

danielvf wrote: post #6

uberstuber wrote: post #2

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a good start

Seconded. Fantastic. And I'd also recommend "On Writing" by Stephen King.

Thirded to the above, and I'd humbly add Orwell's seminal 1946 essay "Politics and the English Language."[1]

[1]https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#9

Post by m52go » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:49 PM UTC

But there is a game! It's called Write On Par. It teaches concise writing, playfully.

Because no writer has the patience to sit through a grammar class...and no reader wants to read wordy, confusing writing no matter what the topic.

http://writeonpar.com

/shameless plug

Beautiful article though. I've met a couple recently-turned full-time authors and have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the author/artist life. It's such a lifestyle sacrifice that their love for the craft must be incredibly deep.

Re: There Is No Handbook for Being a Writer

#10

Post by mad44 » Tue, Jun 28, 2016, 11:51 PM UTC

uberstuber wrote: post #2

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a good start

Here are brief reviews of The War of Art as well as Pressfield's most recent book: Nobody wants to read your shit

http://muratbuffalo.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-war-of-...

http://muratbuffalo.blogspot.com/2016/06/nobody-wants-to-rea...