How I Write: The Secret Lives of Authors
by Philip OltermannSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 42)
At first glance, I didn't like this book: it looked like a coffee-table book — cool design, but no substance, I thought. I was wrong.
It's an anthology of very short statements from over sixty authors on how they write — specifically on the wierd habits or objects that have become an essential part of their process. Johathan Lethem's list of names, Jay McInerney's axe artifact, Lionel Shriver's toy Clippity, A.S. Byatt's "Antonia Writing Time!" notice, Jonathan Franzen's old and...more
It's an anthology of very short statements from over sixty authors on how they write — specifically on the wierd habits or objects that have become an essential part of their process. Johathan Lethem's list of names, Jay McInerney's axe artifact, Lionel Shriver's toy Clippity, A.S. Byatt's "Antonia Writing Time!" notice, Jonathan Franzen's old and...more
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schrijfboeken
Read in March, 2008
Dit boek had beter "Where I Write" kunnen heten, want het bevat tientallen foto's van de werkplekken van bekende en minder bekende auteurs - van de imposante muur vol post-it-blaadjes van Will Self en het gipsen heiligenhoofd op de werktafel van Audrey Niffenegger tot de merklappen van overgrootoma in de schrijfkamer van Marie Darrieussecq en de babyfoto's boven het bureau van Alain de Botton. Let ook op het gestreepte kussen op de bureaustoel van de laatste.
Geweldig van vormgeving e...more
Geweldig van vormgeving e...more
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books-on-writing
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
graphically minded visualists who have a passing interest in literature
Neat looking book with strong graphics and layouts. Anglo-centric with a few hidden gems amongst generally interesting authors' descriptions of the quirky things that inspire, motivate, or accompany them as they ply their craft. Quick short entries from each author make this a "pick up and put down for later" book that doesn't require much time to enjoy. Would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. A 1/2 deducted for authors that I would have chosen that weren't included...
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writing
A fun book. Short essays by writers about their writing spaces and obessesions accompanied by actual photos and drawings. A little like a coffee table book. I enjoyed reading it if only to laugh or not feel so weird about myself as a writer.
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love this book, makes me realize other authors
out there are just like me!
We are all kindred spirits!
out there are just like me!
We are all kindred spirits!
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2008summer
This is a coffee table book about famous writers' writing habits. I got it free because it arrived damaged at my bookstore. It's pretty corny.
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