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139th out of 154 books
—
207 voters
Letters to a Fiction Writer
Contributors include Lee K. Abbott, Charles Baxter, Ray Bradbury, Raymond Carver, Shelby Foote, John Gardner, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Tobias Wolff, and Flannery O'Connor, among others.
Hardcover, 291 pages
Published
1999
by Norton
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I particularly like the essay by Rosellen Brown, "You Are Not Here Long."
"When people say 'Whoo, you've published nine books;you've raised children; you've taught. Wow, how'd you manage to do that' I can only reply, with whatever misgivings, 'I said no a lot.'" p.95
I took this as my mantra for about a year, and it really helped.
Other fine essays by Charles Baxter, Ann Beattie, Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, Tobias Wolff, Melanie Rae Thon, John Updike. And a letter from Flannery O'Connor. On...more
"When people say 'Whoo, you've published nine books;you've raised children; you've taught. Wow, how'd you manage to do that' I can only reply, with whatever misgivings, 'I said no a lot.'" p.95
I took this as my mantra for about a year, and it really helped.
Other fine essays by Charles Baxter, Ann Beattie, Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, Tobias Wolff, Melanie Rae Thon, John Updike. And a letter from Flannery O'Connor. On...more
Possibly as high as two stars, but only for the essays by Rosellen Brown and Richard Bausch. The rest was useless to offensive.
I'm not sure quite what this book was trying to be. There are letters in here to specific writers, or to imaginary writers, or to all young writers in general, but they are not very useful letters, in most cases. A number of the authors of the essays are part of a academic cabal of people who were once important in a limited way, or perhaps thought themselves so, in the...more
I'm not sure quite what this book was trying to be. There are letters in here to specific writers, or to imaginary writers, or to all young writers in general, but they are not very useful letters, in most cases. A number of the authors of the essays are part of a academic cabal of people who were once important in a limited way, or perhaps thought themselves so, in the...more
I love this book. When I feel lost or out of touch with my own writing--usually as I'm easing back into the habit after a period of being too busy with other things to write--I open this up and reread a letter. Most often I go to the one by Charles Baxter, in which he writes, among many other things:
"The trouble is that the first stage—of pretending to be a writer—never quite disappears. And there is, in this art, no ultimate validation, again because it’s not a rule-governed activity. The ulti...more
"The trouble is that the first stage—of pretending to be a writer—never quite disappears. And there is, in this art, no ultimate validation, again because it’s not a rule-governed activity. The ulti...more
1 like · like · see review
Oct 29, 2010
Rose
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
writers seeking some encouragement
Shelves:
non-fiction,
writing
"Letters to a Fiction Writer" is a compilation of letters that renowned writers have sent to each other in correspondence about the art of writing, encouraging words over manuscripts, the profession, among other aspects. I found it interesting to come across this book just before National Novel Writing Month. The various letters varied in quality, from those that drew me in (Rosellen Brown's piece "You Are Not Here Long" is a beautiful example) while others were well written and advisory but did...more
This book lived in my desk drawer at my job for many months. Every so often, when the drudgery threatened to overwhelm me, I would take it out and read a page or a paragraph or even an entire letter. It was the perfect antidote to an office environment. Much appreciated, though perhaps I got lucky -- perhaps this is one best read in little snips.
I found a copy of this book at a used bookstore for one dollar, and bought it on a whim. This decision proved to be one of the best impulse buys that I've ever had. The letters are thoughtful and encouraging, but still incredibly instructive. They address concerns far ranging from discouragement to basic (or not so basic) craft issues. For those desiring to grow in their craft or just curious for a new outlook on writing and publishing this book is a fantastic purchase.
This was a library book, like most of the books I read these days, but I think I will keep my eyes open for it at Strand. Each essay, written by a different sort of writer, offers its own valuable advice to new or struggling writers, and I ended up dropping it several times to take notes or jot down sudden ideas for my current work-in-project. Definitely a valuable book to keep near the writing desk.
Mar 03, 2013
Ayelet Waldman
added it
Some of these are interesting, especially the ones not meant for the collection. I liked Janet Burroway's and Tobias Wolfe's. Most were pretty tiresome, though.
Letters from an assortment of writers to new writers. A short list of letters from the book: Raymond Carver, Ann Beatti, Charles Baxter, Ray Bradbury, John Gardner, John Updike, Tobias Wolff, James Welch. It covers the gamet from process, personal stories, to the sharp comments to those who presume writing is easy yet have never attempted it.
Pam Durhan writes: "Good writers cultivate the habit of, to use Toni Morrison's word, unblinkingness." She goes on to explain this. There are lots of tips...more
Pam Durhan writes: "Good writers cultivate the habit of, to use Toni Morrison's word, unblinkingness." She goes on to explain this. There are lots of tips...more
Letters to a Fiction Writer (1999)
Some are useful and some are not.
This book offers a multitude of contemporary writers, who offer they ideas on writing, on being a writer, and being a person who writes.
This is a big cut above many books of this ilk--many of the entries ("letters," real or invented, written by established authors to less-established or unpublished or even imaginary recipients) are excellent, and there is a lively variety.
1 like · like · see review
I'm not a big fan of books on how to write or how to be a writer, but this one is really moving and at times breath-taking. Inspirational, sage, funny, some of these letters have stayed with me, years later.
May 15, 2013
Vishal
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Sep 28, 2007 03:19pm