Colby's review
The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing
by Frank A. Dickson, Sandra Smythe
Colby's review
The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing by Frank A. Dickson, Sandra Smythe
Colby's review
rating:
I read this in an attempt to pick up something worthwhile to help me out with writing the novel I'm working on. First published in 1970, this book was a little dated (lots of references to typewriters) and even sexist in places, but the first half of it regarding creativity and writing in general was really helpful.
The things I picked up from this book: Creativity is like a muscle which you can't sit on and expect to always be there. It's a use-it-or-lose-it sort of thing, which I fully believe since I find it hard to get back into writing and drawing when I take even a week off.
The other thing I picked up was the 1000 words a day rule to become a writer. I can see the value in this one, too, because the 1000 word point is about what I can comfortably write in any given day. Sometimes I get inspired and write twice that, but less doesn't seem to allow me to get into the mode.
Anyway, the last half of this book was pretty useless, as it's all intuitive stuff like "How to ma...more
The things I picked up from this book: Creativity is like a muscle which you can't sit on and expect to always be there. It's a use-it-or-lose-it sort of thing, which I fully believe since I find it hard to get back into writing and drawing when I take even a week off.
The other thing I picked up was the 1000 words a day rule to become a writer. I can see the value in this one, too, because the 1000 word point is about what I can comfortably write in any given day. Sometimes I get inspired and write twice that, but less doesn't seem to allow me to get into the mode.
Anyway, the last half of this book was pretty useless, as it's all intuitive stuff like "How to ma...more
