No more excuses. "Let the lawn get shaggy and the paint peel from the walls," bestselling novelist Walter Mosley advises. Anyone can write a novel ...
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May 03, 2008
Jason
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This is one of four newish books I recently read mostly so I could finally get them off my queue list, all of which were actually pretty good but are mere wisps of manuscripts, none of them over 150 pages or so in length. This one is the nonfiction This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley, an author I don't necessarily like that much personally but certainly respect a whole lot, among other things for being one of the only black authors in history to break through the lily-white publishin
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Apr 19, 2008
Karen
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Listening to the "Writers on Writing" podcast (which I highly recommend), I've learned that it's far easier and generally more profitable to sell a non-fiction book proposal than a novel. Perhaps that's why so many writers of fiction come out with "how-to-write" books like this one. Or perhaps I'm being cynical since I have a shelf full of writing books.
I listed to an interview with the author on the WOW podcast and it sounded different than other writing book More...
I listed to an interview with the author on the WOW podcast and it sounded different than other writing book More...
Apr 12, 2008
Rob
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Somewhere out there is a handbook for writing and the writer's lifestyle; this is more like the "Quick Start Guide" falls out of the box. But if This Year You Write Your Novel is the Quick Start Guide of the writer's lifestyle then Writing Down The Bones is the in-depth, O'Reilly-published "Missing Manual".
I did not like Walter Mosley's book as much as Natalie Goldberg's. This one went into some mechanics but didn't seem to speak from the soul, didn't seem to More...
I did not like Walter Mosley's book as much as Natalie Goldberg's. This one went into some mechanics but didn't seem to speak from the soul, didn't seem to More...
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Aug 13, 2007
Kecia
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I blew through this little book in a little under an hour while hanging out at the Des Moines Public Library waiting for my friend to finish his volunteer duty at the Iowa State Fair.
I've never used the "You would recommend this book to" field before in a review but I feel it's useful here because with this book Mosley is addressing a very specific type of reader: the person who has never ever picked up, read, or possibly even heard of any kind of how-to about writing. For More...
I've never used the "You would recommend this book to" field before in a review but I feel it's useful here because with this book Mosley is addressing a very specific type of reader: the person who has never ever picked up, read, or possibly even heard of any kind of how-to about writing. For More...
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Mar 11, 2009
Friend the Girl
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I'm actually very disappointed in Mosley for writing such a bland and uninspiring call to take up pens and write. For being such a talented and prolific author himself, you'd think he would have a little more enthusiasm for the art itself, and more wisdom to impart on the aspiring novelist. If you need some help, advice, or motivation in getting your own writing started, I'd recommend The Modern Library Writer's Workshop. Now that book will light a fire under your arse.
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May 21, 2008
Kevin
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Mosley gives straightforward, unpretentious advice to beginning writers, staying realistic at all times. There's no sugarcoating here. To paraphrase some of his advice: write every day, no excuses; the bulk of the work is in the endless drafts; a story is never done, but stop when you can't make forward progress; you'll be better the next story. The somewhat cheesy title is misleading. There is great advice in here that applies to all fiction writing. Can be read in one or two sittings. Definite
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Feb 16, 2012
Lisa
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Mosely's writing book is the first of its kind that I had ever read (except for How Not to Write a Novel which was written by two publishers), and it was outstanding. In a concise and cogent manner, Mosely makes the case that writing a novel is a matter of getting in touch with one's unconscious which is the part that tells the kinds of truths that make for good fiction, and then getting out of the way long enough to let the unconscious dream out the story onto paper. Mosely recommends regardi
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Jan 31, 2012
Heather
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As a novice writer, I eagerly search out books that might help me produce quality work. "This Year You Write Your Novel" was definitely a title that caught my attention. Walter Mosley presents in 110 or so pages how a new writer should structure their time. He talks about first and third person narratives and the lesser known omniscient narrator and the pros and cons about each.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is when the author would show examples by w More...
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is when the author would show examples by w More...
Oct 02, 2010
Catherine
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Walter Mosley is a very successful and prolific author and has the credibility to write a book about his craft. However, this book feels like he wrote it at gunpoint. Books about writing, written by successful authors who put a little love into their "How To," are ON WRITING by Stephen King, ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING by Ray Bradbury or BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott. Mosley should have titled it "How to Be A Writer: A Beginners Guide." This book is extremely spartan and gives th
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Sep 19, 2010
Trixie
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Once when I was wasting time in Barnes & Noble I found myself standing in the aisle reading this book, not having a clue who Walter Mosley was. I saw it in the library and checked it out.
I don't know whether or not it "works" - I vaguely recall reading a review of it (in between "discovering" it for myself in barnes & noble and checking it out) and the person saying it was a good plan, or maybe it was somebody who was doing it and it was working for him (if I had More...
I don't know whether or not it "works" - I vaguely recall reading a review of it (in between "discovering" it for myself in barnes & noble and checking it out) and the person saying it was a good plan, or maybe it was somebody who was doing it and it was working for him (if I had More...
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Dec 30, 2009
Lori
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This book was...not good. I've read a lot---trust me, a whole lot---of these kinds of books and this may be one of the weakest. At least the weakest I've ever finished. It was short, so I finished it. I'm not proud that I needed to finish it to add it to my list for the year. But I did, and I do not recommend it to you unless you've never ever read another writing book, want to write, and have no idea how to do it. THEN you might find this book helpful.
The only good parts were where More...
The only good parts were where More...
Jan 19, 2012
Lauren
rated it:
The book is a pragmatic guide to getting your novel out of your head and onto the page or screen. I appreciated the simple instructions and specifically the discussion of character development, dialogue and structure vs. intuitive approach.
It serves as an essay in some sections, sharing more about Mosley's own practices than a how-to guide for every author. He recommends that writers spend *at least* 1.5 hours every day, and says that he spends 3 hours every day no matter where he i More...
It serves as an essay in some sections, sharing more about Mosley's own practices than a how-to guide for every author. He recommends that writers spend *at least* 1.5 hours every day, and says that he spends 3 hours every day no matter where he i More...
Jun 05, 2011
Edwin
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A solid, informal book on writing. Mosley provides practical advice that's worked for him (i.e. write every day; show, don't tell), and though most of it has already been told in other writer's books and college creative writing classes, it's effective coming from someone who's made a quality living following these procedures. His specifics (i.e. write for at least 90 minutes a day; get right on the revisions after the first draft instead of taking a break to clear your mind) also allow the bo
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Dec 21, 2011
Charmaine
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I tried to read this book before I'd ever attempted to write a novel. I didn't finish it. A day ago I picked this book up again from the library and finished it. Mr. Mosley's easy and relaxed style encourages the writer to keep his feet to the fire. After writing three novels (in various states of presentation) I have come to fully appreciate his writing wisdom. I loved the examples he gave to clarify usage of POV, voice, character, dialogue. Each example was a story in itself; I longed to read
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Jun 06, 2010
Urs
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I have read a good number of writing books, and, as others have said, there is nothing new in this book. However, I think this book still has something of value to offer. This book is a really quick read for those who want a quick reminder of the fundamentals of writing and who want a motivational writing boost. It is also a good briefing for beginning writers who want a quick start to writing. Moreover, it is pretty cheap in most places where I have seen it. If you are looking for a brief intro
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Jul 11, 2011
Chade66
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I literally read this book in a couple of hours, but I couldn't put it down once I started. Its only 25k words according to the author.
For those who like their writing advice sans exercises, this is the book for you. There is only one short exercise and its almost at the end of the book.
"If you fall in love, make that love an aspect of a character in your book. Don't stop writing for any reason. Don't stop writing. Don't stop . . . Don't."
I am p More...
For those who like their writing advice sans exercises, this is the book for you. There is only one short exercise and its almost at the end of the book.
"If you fall in love, make that love an aspect of a character in your book. Don't stop writing for any reason. Don't stop writing. Don't stop . . . Don't."
I am p More...
May 02, 2009
John
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There just isn't much to this short book, certainly not much new in the way of advice to aspiring novelists. Mosley's voice comes through strongly and the primary benefit of this book is his clear direction in regard to doing what must be done to get a novel written in one year. Mosley is refreshingly realistic about the quality of the manuscript likely to result from his no-frills instructions, but his point is that the most important thing real writers do is complete their work, not sit arou
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Feb 15, 2011
Mia
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Interesting for Mosley's terse style--he uses fewer commas than anyone I've ever read, I think. The information won't be anything new to those who've read other books on writing/getting published. I was looking for a short course on revision for a self-publishing novelist friend and I do believe Mosley's advice would help, but I'm not sure his spare delivery will do the trick. Concise works best with close readers, and close readers probably don't need a short course.
May 21, 2009
Michael
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A light primer on writing, heavy on inspirational get-off-yer-ass imperatives and light on rudmients. But Mosley is very good at explaining voice, and how description should work, and is excellent at orienting story and description and dialogue and so on where it belongs—in character. It's a very brief book, and just as long as it needs to be. Had it been any longer, I would have completely lost patience.
Jan 01, 2012
Jenny
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A greatly detailed step-by-step manual to starting your novel. I really enjoyed it versus other books I've read about writing because of the author's vivid humor. It's not like reading a general instructions book - you keep getting caught up in the laughter brought about by the constant jokes the author provides along the way. Great read all around!
Jan 30, 2010
Misha
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This was a fairly surface-level treatment of the writing process and elements of fiction, as it had to be by necessity considering the 25,000-word length. Yet there were some good nuggets of advice, the main being "Write every day and don't stop." Every writing how-to book will tell you that, but I liked hearing it from someone whose books I see on the shelves at Barnes & Noble. May 2010 indeed be the year I write finish my novel.
Apr 19, 2011
Broadsnark
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The people who wrote negative reviews are right that there is nothing new in this book (if you have read other things on writing). What is nice about it is that Mosley packs in all the really essential bits into 100 easy pages, thereby saving you from reading a shit ton of other boring how-to writing books. So you can actually get to writing.
Dec 23, 2009
Fred
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This brief book has a very direct, no-nonsense style with plenty of examples to help the fledgling novelist get started on his or her first effort. Like every book about writing, it emphasizes that writing is a practice, not an impulsive creative act. Yet it also allows that there are several approaches to the same end.
Those who have been studying writing for a while may find the level of description too elementary, but I believe there are always fundamentals that even the cleverest More...
Those who have been studying writing for a while may find the level of description too elementary, but I believe there are always fundamentals that even the cleverest More...
Aug 01, 2011
Cherish
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This was a quick and easy read. Made me want to start writing right away. Good instruction for a first time wirter i guess. I dont know that I will actually write a novel or not after reading it but while i was reading it that was all i wanted to do. I gotta get motivated again.But i enjoyed reading it
Aug 04, 2011
Dalton
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The main reasons I loved this book - it's concise, engaging, and motivating. It offers compelling reminders of things I already know to be important and unique suggestions that I'm interested to implement in my own writing. Highly recommended to any aspiring author.
Nov 20, 2011
Melissa
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I thought I would like this book. I read the first chapter and laughed out loud. His advice? Set aside 3 hours a day to write. I laid the book down for two weeks. Yeah, right. Then I thought how much time I really do waste and figured, ok, yeah, if you really do want to write, dedication is key. So, I picked it back up again. And then he just lectured me about narrative and voice and I felt like I was in English class all over again. I didn't finish it. I suppose I was looking for some magic for
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Aug 18, 2009
Chris
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Mosley delivers a short, tight guide on what it takes to write a novel, the pitfalls, and what is important in getting the job done when it comes to delivering a good piece of work. I enjoyed it.
Jan 21, 2011
Amy
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This book was very helpful and quick to read. It's an informative book that I will be able to use in my teaching as well as my writing life. I'm keeping it on my desk for quick reminders.
Feb 09, 2009
John
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If you write novels, or want to write a novel, buy this book. Buy it for the advice. But most of all, buy it for the title. Then leave it where you will see it every day!
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