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8th out of 10 books
—
5 voters
The Art of War for Writers
by
James Scott Bell (Goodreads Author)
Successfully starting and finishing a publishable novel is often like fighting a series of battles - against the page, against one's own self-doubt, against rebellious characters, etc. Featuring timeless, innovative, and concise writing strategies and focused exercises, this book is the ultimate battle plan and more - it's Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" for novelists. Tactics...more
Paperback, 259 pages
Published
by Writer's Digest Books
(first published December 9th 2009)
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First I found a little uncomfortable that the book is a series of earlier blog posts. (They may have been edited, may not, I didn’t check it out.) But later I forgot about it because of the great content.
Usually I find a writing book worth the money if I learn something valuable from it. Well, I learned a lot of good stuff from Mr Bell. A few examples:
- I started to plan my writing time, and to stick to a weekly quota. I do it for a few weeks only, but in this way I managed to finish two short s...more
Usually I find a writing book worth the money if I learn something valuable from it. Well, I learned a lot of good stuff from Mr Bell. A few examples:
- I started to plan my writing time, and to stick to a weekly quota. I do it for a few weeks only, but in this way I managed to finish two short s...more
Really, really loved this book! I have a "thing" with reading books devoted to the art of writing...I would much rather teach myself how to write by reading some really good fiction, or at least works I can relate to as a writer and reader. I figure that we only have so much time and when there's a free moment, it should be devoted to writing.
Well, as usual, this book set me straight. While this book is not exactly a how-to, it gives so much good advice, ideas, and more. I have several pages do...more
Well, as usual, this book set me straight. While this book is not exactly a how-to, it gives so much good advice, ideas, and more. I have several pages do...more
SIBELLA GIORELLO once closed a note of encouragement to me with a word about how writing was like warfare. Her last thought was, “Lock and Load brother!”
James Scott Bell picks up on this idea in this great little manual for every foot soldier whose weapon is a pen or keyboard. The title comes from the much studied, Sun Tzu, a Chinese general who recorded his observations of the art of warfare between 400 and 320 B.C.
This is a brutally honest and to-the-point primer on everything writing. James...more
James Scott Bell picks up on this idea in this great little manual for every foot soldier whose weapon is a pen or keyboard. The title comes from the much studied, Sun Tzu, a Chinese general who recorded his observations of the art of warfare between 400 and 320 B.C.
This is a brutally honest and to-the-point primer on everything writing. James...more
I tend to lump writing books into two categories, the inspirational anyone-can-write stuff and the technical understand-your-craft stuff. Instead, this is inspirational understand-your-craft stuff. It's kind of brilliant.
The first section, Reconnaissance, offers ways to mentally prepare for a writing career. Stay hungry, but never appear desperate. Develop improvement programs for aspects of your writing so that you're always learning, even after you're agented and published. Don't compare your...more
The first section, Reconnaissance, offers ways to mentally prepare for a writing career. Stay hungry, but never appear desperate. Develop improvement programs for aspects of your writing so that you're always learning, even after you're agented and published. Don't compare your...more
Writers never stop learning their craft. There's always a way to be better, to make a story tighter, a fresh way to grab a reader by the nuts and jerk them around until the very last punctuation mark. No matter how long I've been writing, no matter how many days I have that make me think I'm "good," there's always something else out there that can help me improve. Even if it's only a short sentence buried in 200 pages, that single sentence is gold, another weapon to add to my arsenal. Maybe it's...more
This book is extremely useful for any aspiring writer for the sheer volume of tips that James Scott Bell provides here. While most of it consists of quotes from other writers regarding whatever topic is being discussed, it is still handy for two reasons: James does put a lot of his own thoughts and experiences in it, and the quotes are organized in ways you couldn't easily find on the internet, though you could probably find each quote individually. Based primarily (and loosely) off of Sun Tzu's...more
Jun 29, 2012
Darla McDavid
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
new writers, fiction writers, novelists
Bell writes in a friendly yet no-nonsense style. It was hard to put this one down, and when I did, I was inspired to write or plan or smile about the writing life. The book is packed with advice from Bell, plus he includes examples from well-known books and words of wisdom from successful writers.
Kudos also to the book design. Its red, black, and white color scheme, the Chinese art and letters (Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, 400-320 B.C.), the handy size (my copy is 5.5 x 7), and other details a...more
Kudos also to the book design. Its red, black, and white color scheme, the Chinese art and letters (Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, 400-320 B.C.), the handy size (my copy is 5.5 x 7), and other details a...more
HERE THERE BE SPOILERS
Five Things About...The Art of War for Writers
1. This is not a hippy 'write from your heart' kind of book. If that's what you're looking for, pick up 'Bird by Bird' or 'The Tao of Writing.' It's about what it takes to be a professional writer.
2. Every now and then you read something that actually tells it like it is for writers. This does that extremely effectively. It isn't overloaded with cynicism, but it does mean to speak to those who intend to live off their words.
3. I...more
Five Things About...The Art of War for Writers
1. This is not a hippy 'write from your heart' kind of book. If that's what you're looking for, pick up 'Bird by Bird' or 'The Tao of Writing.' It's about what it takes to be a professional writer.
2. Every now and then you read something that actually tells it like it is for writers. This does that extremely effectively. It isn't overloaded with cynicism, but it does mean to speak to those who intend to live off their words.
3. I...more
This has been extremely motivational. It clarified to me many of the foggy aspects of the publishing industry. The writing tips gave me a great deal of insight into issues with my writing whose roots I couldn't pinpoint. The writing in this book turns rather dramatic at certain points, particularly for a nonfiction book, but then again it is written by a fiction author, for fiction authors. This is also what kept me from feeling like the book was force-feeding me information--something from whic...more
42 pages in, Bell confirms much of the thinking I've come around to over time about writing. Common sense expressed uncommonly well.
I'm discovering that I just kind of love everything James Scott Bell has to say about writing. His advice is always to the point and eminently practical, and he gives great examples to boot. This is an easy, fast read but it's filled with great nuggets of wisdom. The last section is more focused on writers who are still aspiring to publication. But I found the first two parts, especially the section focused on craft to be chock full of tips I wanted to write on index cards and pin up around my o...more
1 like · like · see review
I will start with what The Art of War for Writers (AoWW) says of itself:
“You’ll find tactics and strategies for idea generation and development, character building, plotting, drafting, querying and submitting, dealing with rejection, coping with unrealistic expectations, and much more.
With timeless, innovative, and concise writing reflections and techniques, The Art of War for Writers is your roadmap to victory.” (full description can be found on Amazon)
Sounds extremely useful, right? A “roadm...more
“You’ll find tactics and strategies for idea generation and development, character building, plotting, drafting, querying and submitting, dealing with rejection, coping with unrealistic expectations, and much more.
With timeless, innovative, and concise writing reflections and techniques, The Art of War for Writers is your roadmap to victory.” (full description can be found on Amazon)
Sounds extremely useful, right? A “roadm...more
This is the third writing guide I've read by James Scott Bell (the first two were Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing), and combined they might be my three favorite writing guides of all time.
Based on The Art of War by legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu, this book is a compilation of bite-size pieces of information, inspiration, and advice for writers. It's divided into three sections: I. Reconaissance (learning about the craft of writing and publishing world), II. Tactics (the...more
Based on The Art of War by legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu, this book is a compilation of bite-size pieces of information, inspiration, and advice for writers. It's divided into three sections: I. Reconaissance (learning about the craft of writing and publishing world), II. Tactics (the...more
I'll admit it - I'm a writing book whore. Every visit to my B&N includes a dash to the reference section to see if there's something there that may help me become a better writer.
This is definitely one of those books. I've read and re-read it a number of times, if only to drill some of the good advice into my thick skull. If you're looking for a good book to lay out the art and the business of writing in short, edible chunks, this is it.
I'd love to get it in ebook form, but... too expensive!...more
This is definitely one of those books. I've read and re-read it a number of times, if only to drill some of the good advice into my thick skull. If you're looking for a good book to lay out the art and the business of writing in short, edible chunks, this is it.
I'd love to get it in ebook form, but... too expensive!...more
I liked this one. It's a bit on the light side. Gives advice to writers based on the principles of Art of War.(thus the title of the book). I skipped the last 3rd for the most part because it had a lot to do with finding an agent which i'm not worried about at the moment. Chapters are small and easily read. Had some good ideas and advice so i'd recommend, but there are better more intensive books out there. For what it is, good stuff.
Excellent resource for writers. James Scott Bell breaks the book into three sections which he refers to as reconnaissance, tactics, and strategies.
The first part reconnaissance is based on your mental gaame of writing.
Tactics is the practical bits to help you deepen your craft.
The third section, stategy focused more on the world beyond in terms of publishing and such.
Very practical - this book is written like a selection of blogs - each a tasty morsel to keep you going.
Onward
Keep Writing
Keep F...more
The first part reconnaissance is based on your mental gaame of writing.
Tactics is the practical bits to help you deepen your craft.
The third section, stategy focused more on the world beyond in terms of publishing and such.
Very practical - this book is written like a selection of blogs - each a tasty morsel to keep you going.
Onward
Keep Writing
Keep F...more
I loved this the first time I read it; now a couple of months down the line I'm reading through again but much more slowly, dipping in and out every couple of days.
The advice is crystal clear, concise and practical and the book has become pretty much my writing bible. It should be in every aspiring writer's arsenal alongside (maybe even ahead of!) Stephen King & Dorothea Brande.
The advice is crystal clear, concise and practical and the book has become pretty much my writing bible. It should be in every aspiring writer's arsenal alongside (maybe even ahead of!) Stephen King & Dorothea Brande.
Encouraging and helpful tips for writers who feel "stuck" or have hit a "wall" in their story. Some of the comments of editors re: what they look for in publishing, how to act professionally, etc. also useful. I would have like to hear more about specifically the kinds of writing and style that really caught an editor's attention, instead of the vague reference to "a fresh voice."
Great book! I originally checked it out at my local library. I got a couple lessons in, and knew that I had to have this book for myself. So the next opportunity I had, I bought it. And I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books I go back to again and again. If you're a writer of any skill level - for me this is a must have on your bookshelf.
I have read several works giving advice for writers, but this one was the best by far. I took pages worth of notes out of this well-written book. It is very inspirational, filled with quotes and wisdom, and keeps you interested with its lively voice. I highly recommend this book to established and aspiring writers both.
This book was fantastic. Lots of bite sized information which made it really simple to read. The book is broken down into three sections and are speckled with information from Sun Tzu's the Art of War. Great book that should be of use to any writer who needs help with the craft or the business side of writing.
This is one of THE BEST craft books I've ever read. Inhaled, actually, and I plan to go back and underline the best parts, re-read and re-ingest some of the great wisdom about being a writer. Not just any writer, but a successful one, a published one, a writer who will continue to learn, make new goals and reach them. Definitely recommend this book.
Something about this book really irritated me. Perhaps because the title is reminiscent of my all time favorite book on creativity, "The war of Art" by Steven Pressfield. Also the format: very short chapters focusing on one small part of the writing process. But whereas Pressfield's book is actually knock-it-out-of-the-park creative, this is nothing but a rehash of clichés and platitudes (sorry if you consider the same) on various aspects of the writing life. In my opinion, the only thing it ha...more
I anticipate I will leave this a five star rating as I have yet to find anything in it that I don't like. It is filled with strong advice that is balanced with encouragement and even a little humor. I think every writer should read this, even if they must check it out at the public library.
Definitely one of the most helpful and insightful writing books out there. Writing is an art, but it is also a battle. There are always land-mines to avoid in the world of writing. I recommend this book to anyone searching for a little inspiration with a lot of punch.
Oct 19, 2012
Rachel's Book Reviews
added it
I adore this book! It has so many good tips, that I'm hesitant to highlight.....it would look like the SUN.
I absolutely recommend it for writers, wether you've just started, or if you are going to start editing, or even if you are just stuck!
I absolutely recommend it for writers, wether you've just started, or if you are going to start editing, or even if you are just stuck!
This is a very easy-to-read book modeled after Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The book is divided into 3 sections: reconnaisance, tactics, and strategy. Each section has numerous tips, hints, and suggestions, none of which is more then a page or so long. This is the type of book that would be helpful to have on hand as a reference as the topics cover such a wide range. Many of the points are easy to absorb conceptually but might need a review when it comes time to implement.
Well-written, entertaining...more
Well-written, entertaining...more
I loved this little writing guide. The book's advice is consistent with things I've read in other places but in The Art of War for Writers the information is presented in concise, easy to consume bites making it easy to revisit advice later.
All writer friends: read this book! It's quick and simple and full of the right mix of inspirational stuff, writing exercises, point blank obvious "stop whining" advice, and guidelines for bringing your work to market.
This is a fantastic book. I learned a great many things under the guidance of James Scott Bell. This is a book I'll definitely go back to time and time again during my writing adventures. I highly recommend it.
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Jim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest serie...more
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