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The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy
In a series of incisive interviews, Leonard S. Marcus engages thirteen master storytellers in spirited conversation about their life and work, providing inspiring reading for fantasy fans and future writers alike.
What kind of child were you? When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why do you write fantasy?
"Fantasy," writes Leonard S. Marcus, "is storytelling with t...more
What kind of child were you? When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why do you write fantasy?
"Fantasy," writes Leonard S. Marcus, "is storytelling with t...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
February 14th 2006
by Candlewick Press
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I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to (or does!) write, especially if you're familiar with the authors. My favourite part was being able to compare the way they talk with the way they write, and being able to see how much of their writing voice comes up in their talking. Nancy Farmer, for example, just seems to breathe stories. Right from the first sentence, she's in storyteller mode, and it's really cool.
Also, I love how Brian Jaques would sometimes say "meself". Words like that make m...more
Also, I love how Brian Jaques would sometimes say "meself". Words like that make m...more
I was at the library today on other business and spotted this book on a re-shelving table. I recognized several names of the interviewed authors and casually picked it up. Between a chair in the library and a sunny spot of lawn I breezed through it. There were some interesting insights into the writers' past and present lives-- kinda hard to see a sailor and truck driver as the man who ended up writing about heroic rodents (Brian Jacques). I haven't read many interview-type books for comparison,...more
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I loved this book; I picked it up at a convention in July and set it aside to read when I had a chance. Power outage in August provided me the opportunity - and at just the right time! As an aspiring author who beginning the process of querying agents for my own fantasy work, the advice of the masters heartened me greatly. The reminders to perservere, to ignore the naysayers, and to stay true to your art and what your heart tells you about your own work was just what I needed. I also LOVED seein...more
This is a collection of 13 interviews of fantasy authors, and I've read at least one book by 9 of them.
The questions asked are about their influence by J.R.R. Tolkien, WWII, and their various upbringings. Many of them have met Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and/or seen them give lectures, of which I am very jealous. Each author submitted a picture of a page from an early draft of one of their works, edited and scribbled-on sheets of paper that show that these famous authors are as human as the rest of u...more
The questions asked are about their influence by J.R.R. Tolkien, WWII, and their various upbringings. Many of them have met Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and/or seen them give lectures, of which I am very jealous. Each author submitted a picture of a page from an early draft of one of their works, edited and scribbled-on sheets of paper that show that these famous authors are as human as the rest of u...more
Review was originally posted on The Oaken Bookcase on June 18, 2012.
The Wand in the Word consists of thirteen interviews with writers of Fantasy, including Lloyd Alexander, Franny Billingsley, Susan Cooper, Nancy Farmer, Brian Jacques, Diana Wynne Jones, Ursula K. Le Guin, Madeleine L’Engle, Garth Nix, Tamora Pierce, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman and Jane Yolen.
The questions asked during each interview vary, but range from descriptions of childhood to what their typical writing schedule is lik...more
The Wand in the Word consists of thirteen interviews with writers of Fantasy, including Lloyd Alexander, Franny Billingsley, Susan Cooper, Nancy Farmer, Brian Jacques, Diana Wynne Jones, Ursula K. Le Guin, Madeleine L’Engle, Garth Nix, Tamora Pierce, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman and Jane Yolen.
The questions asked during each interview vary, but range from descriptions of childhood to what their typical writing schedule is lik...more
This book is a series of interviews with a variety of established/ recognized fantasy authors. Brian Jacques (a mischievous old rascal, from the sound of it), Phillip Pullman (dour miserable fellow, also from the sound of it), Ursula LeGuine, Madeliene L'Engle, and a bunch of other authors answer questions about the influence of the World Wars, Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and many other topics on their development as people and as writers. The overwhelming consensus amongst them seems t...more
On Friday there was a package on my “desk” at work waiting for me. I love this part of the job. Inside was a book sent specifically for me with a note saying, “Hi Mandy, The first of many. Cheers”. And the book inside is what I have spent an entire delightfully thunderstormy day reading: The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy.
I vaguely remember requesting a copy of this book a while back and love that it came unexpected and with the deliciously hopeful promise of many more t...more
I vaguely remember requesting a copy of this book a while back and love that it came unexpected and with the deliciously hopeful promise of many more t...more
I picked this up in the library because it had interviews with authors that I enjoyed reading and a couple I hadn't got as far as reading yet. It's very enjoyable, the answers aren't always what you expect and some vary widely. It's interesting reading what they do believe in common, and a love of reading goes along very much with their writing. This is a combination I've always believed a neccessary one. Definitely a book I want my own copy of.
The writers interviewed are: Lloyd Alexander, Frann...more
The writers interviewed are: Lloyd Alexander, Frann...more
This is an interesting set of short interviews with 13 fantasy writers, most of whom I've read and enjoyed, aimed toward young people. Each writer was asked what they were like as a child and what they tell young people who want to write, along with more specific questions geared to the author. Many of the questions were about characters in their books and how they related to them, so it was a little confusing when I hadn't read the book, but it did give me some new books and authors to look for...more
A brilliant collection of interviews with some of the best names in the children's fantasy writing business. My favorites were the interviews with Lloyd Alexander and Brian Jacques - unsurprisingly enough. All of them were worth reading however; even those with whom I violently disagreed with on various points (see Phillip Pullman's opinion on Lord of the Rings for one example) had other points worth pondering. A beautiful collection, one I will find myself returning to again and again for encou...more
Nov 16, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
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Reviewed by Aubrey Hepburn for TeensReadToo.com
Ever wondered what it takes to be a writer or where writers get their ideas? THE WAND IN THE WORD answers these questions and more.
The book is in question/answer format. Each author is introduced with a brief biography, and each section is closed with a reader - a list of books written by that author. I enjoyed reading each author's responses: war stories from Brian Jacques and Garth Nix, rejection tales by Tamora Pierce, Granny Aching character ins...more
Ever wondered what it takes to be a writer or where writers get their ideas? THE WAND IN THE WORD answers these questions and more.
The book is in question/answer format. Each author is introduced with a brief biography, and each section is closed with a reader - a list of books written by that author. I enjoyed reading each author's responses: war stories from Brian Jacques and Garth Nix, rejection tales by Tamora Pierce, Granny Aching character ins...more
I was at the library today on other business and spotted this book on a re-shelving table. I recognized several names of the interviewed authors and casually picked it up. Between a chair in the library and a sunny spot of lawn I breezed through it. There were some interesting insights into the writers' past and present lives-- kinda hard to see a sailor and truck driver as the man who ended up writing about heroic rodents (Brian Jacques). I haven't read many interview-type books for comparison,...more
A good collection of brief original interviews of thirteen fantasy authors, each with a couple of photographs and a sample manuscript page showing the author's editorial process. Since I'd read ten of these authors, it made for an interesting read.
However, talk about production values gone wrong! This book of only 200 pages was printed on very dense, high-quality paper with heavy board covers. Looked lovely, but painful to hold open one-handed! I literally couldn't get through more than a single...more
However, talk about production values gone wrong! This book of only 200 pages was printed on very dense, high-quality paper with heavy board covers. Looked lovely, but painful to hold open one-handed! I literally couldn't get through more than a single...more
this was a re-read from a handful of years ago, though i'm not sure i read the whole book back then. anyhow, good interviews with some of my favorite authors. i love how encouraging they are about writing - it seems like they all agree on two things, 1) don't give up, i.e. being a writer means being stubborn and just finishing that book already, and 2) first drafts always suck and are the hardest part to get through.
Another roll of the dice for the library summer reading program - non-fiction/fantasy. That threw me off a bit at first since always think of fantasy as fiction... but so much fits this. A quick search in the catalog produced books like this one as well as those discussing fantasy books (Narnia, Harry Potter, etc) and even ones about dreams. That's been the most fun part of this program, searching out something interesting that fits the given parameters even when you don't think there is anythin...more
I enjoyed this, as some of my favorite authors were included. However, the interviews seemed pretty repetitive, since the editor used very similar questions for them all and chose authors who were all affected by the same events. The Brian Jacques interview was delightful -- so much personality in that man! I also enjoyed the Terry Pratchett interview quite a bit.
This book has interviews with numerous fantasy authors. All of them are well known, and I have read works from several of them. The interviewer was quite good at getting at the author's personality through the questions.
Aspiring writers will find it especially interesting, because several of the questions asked had to do with their writing methods, for example: do you know how a book will end when you start writing it? I found these very interesting, but someone who doesn't aspire to be a write...more
Aspiring writers will find it especially interesting, because several of the questions asked had to do with their writing methods, for example: do you know how a book will end when you start writing it? I found these very interesting, but someone who doesn't aspire to be a write...more
This had some great interviews! I was fascinated to learn just how affected many of these authors were by their first readings of Lord of the Rings. Other than that, wild differences abounded. Great line-up of authors; just about anyone who likes fantasy will find at least one or two favorites interviewed here.
This is a collection of interviews with various fantasy authors. Most were influenced by WWII. It's a fun read, if you like to know about authors and their habits and interests, their influences, and routines. Does a budding author's heart good to read the seasoned authors' advice.
Why couldn't this book have been published a few years earlier when I was writing my undergraduate thesis? It contains interviews with 4 out of the 6 authors upon whom I focused! Also, it has this wonderful quotation from Terry Pratchettt, which I know I've heard before, but never knew the source: "Fantasy is like an exercise bicycle for the mind. It might not actually take you anywhere, but it does exercise the muscles that will." You speak the truth, Sir Terry.
Good for a quick read, especially if you're interested in children's authors. The additional pages of manuscripts, edited pages and so forth were also neat little glimpses into authorial working processes.
Every interview is worth reading although the latter half were quite a bit more inspiring to me. Partial to the Pratchett, Farmer, and Pullman ideas.
This book has conversations with some of the authors that I've loved almost since I started reading books that went beyond picture books. Actually, I think Lloyd Alexander wrote a picture book I read... I've just looked him up and found out that he died in May of this year. How did I not know this? His books are ones that I carried around with me and read when I got bored in school. They invaded my dreams. They made me want to listen to music and travel. I have a letter from him, typed on a type...more
I used this book in my Children's Literature Class - spring 2009. It is an excellent resource, so I bought it for my home MLS resource library.
If a fan of this genre, or wanting to gain valuable insight into the craft of these giants, this is a wonderful read. --Heather
It was so fascinating to hear from all these different writers. Fun to read and really inspiring.
This is an interesting piece of non-fiction. Several famous fantasy writers are interview for their views on writing, the role of fantasy as a genre and how they became authors. I enjoyed some interviews more than others, but there's a wide variety of interesting, creative people represented so there's going to be at least on you enjoy reading.
The young adult and children's fantasy writers collected here really are the best of the best, but the questions they were asked are as overfamiliar as it gets, leaving this collection of interviews a little flat.
Quite a group of Fantasy writers were interviewed about their experiences, literary influences, writing styles, and work routines.
Ursula Le Guin and Terry Pratchett, along with many other talented authors speak their minds on things fantastic.
The photo of a four year old Le Guin in her brother's way-too-big baseball uniform is very cute. She wrote poetry at age five, short stories at nine.
Very informative for writers--and entertaining for readers!
Ursula Le Guin and Terry Pratchett, along with many other talented authors speak their minds on things fantastic.
The photo of a four year old Le Guin in her brother's way-too-big baseball uniform is very cute. She wrote poetry at age five, short stories at nine.
Very informative for writers--and entertaining for readers!
very informative and helpful to read these almost interviews with influential writers about their writing lives.
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Leonard S. Marcus is one of the world's leading writers about children's books and their illustrations. His many books include The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy; Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy; Dear Genius; and others. His essays, interviews, and reviews appear in the New York Times Book Review, among other publications. Leonard S. Marcus lives in Br...more
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“Fantasy is storytelling with the beguiling power to transform the impossible into the imaginable, and to reveal our own “real” world in a fresh and truth-bearing light.”
—
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