The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club

by Maeve Binchy

'The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club' gives an unique insight into how a No.1 bestselling author writes. Inspired by a course run by the National College of Ireland, it comprises 20 letters from Maeve, offering advice, tips and her own wonderfully witty take on the life of a writer, in addition to contributions from top writers, publishers and editors.

Whether you want to write a saga or a thriller, comedy or journalism, or write for the radio or stage, this also gives advice on the best way to get started, and what editors, publishers and agents are looking for.

'The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club' is a fascinating and informative guide to inspire all budding writers as well as entertaining Maeve Binchy fans the world over.

Includes expert advice from Marian Keyes, Alison Walsh, Norah Casey, Paula Campbell, Ivy Bannister, Seamus Hosey, Gerald Dave, Jim Culleton, Ferdia McAnna and Julie Parsons.

Includes a specially written brand new story by Maeve Binchy:
'The Writing Class'

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, How To, Short Stories

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Anne Maeve Binchy Snell was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings. Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her death at age 73, announced by Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable writers.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ordered this book from my favorite used bookseller in a fit of trying to gather more Binchy titles, ones that I either had not read or that seemed different from her usual. I thought this would be an interesting read, and it was to a degree.

The book came about because Binchy wrote letters to the students of a 20-week creative writing course at the National College Of Ireland. There were also guest speakers from the literary field, such as other authors, varius editors and publishers.

The book is made up of the original letters written by Binchy to the class, the lectures by the guests, some short stories by MB illustrating some of the points she made in her letters, and a selection of her columns from The Irish Times.

I have to be honest here. I enjoyed the columns more than the rest of the book. The advice to writers is the same you get from anyone: write what you know, set yourself a schedule and stick to it, know what you want to say before you say it, etc. Presented most charmingly in Binchy's friendly style, of course, but nothing really new. And I couldn't get into the short stories, either. I'm not sure why, but they all seemed familiar, as if they were outlines for other stories that got put into her books.

But the columns were interesting little snippets of what MB saw and reacted to during her days writing for a newspaper. I have one Bnchy title left on my unread shelf of my bookcase: it is a collection of her Irish Times columns so of course now I am wondering if there will be any duplicates. I will wait a bit before I read that book, just so everything will feel fresh even if there are repeats.

One extra item that made this book different was that there were special blank pages here and there designated as scribble space for the hopeful writer to jot down ideas or overheard conversations. The idea was to have a writer's journal on hand at all times. I bought this used, and when I read Binchy's explanation of the blank pages, I wondered if the previous owner had written on them and what he or she would have said.

But except for underlines here and there in the first couple of letters, and a turned down corner for the letter about writing a blog, there was no hint of any person actively using this book the way it was meant to be used. I also left the blank pages blank and after my Mom reads it, I will pass it on to the library. Maybe someday someone will take the book and fill in all those blank pages with amazing ideas for a new Great American Novel. Hey, you never know, it could happen!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to being a dedicated Maeve Binchy fan. After reading Minding Frankie for book club we heard of this book and put it on the schedule for Dec. I thought I would read it to determine if non-writers would find it interesting. I'm not sure whether the first halve will be of interest. For 20 weeks Binchy writes a letter to a class of wanna-be writers sharing an encouraging insight into the craft. Many weeks a letter from a professional editor, play write, etc. is also included.

The second halve of the book includes seven short stories and a dozen newspaper columns by Binchy. These demonstrate her use of language, insight and wit that bring so many readers to her works.

I had the privilege to attend a book signing once and shaking hands with the lady. Even with hundreds of books to sign she looked each person in the eye, had a personal comment, shook hands and genuinely thanked them for coming. Sad to think we've lost such a rich soul and friend to readers.

[Kirsten McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy-to-read insight into writing from the perspective of Maeve Binchy.
Full of humorous snippets, I read it in one evening. This isn't a "How To Write A Novel" book, but more a "You Can Do It" book. Motivational and inspiring.
If you are just starting out, note that it is dated, and never once mentions independent publishing or the rise of the ebook, and only has a passing mention of audio books.
An enjoyable little book with space to make your own notes as you go.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather plowed through letters at the beginning of the book - interesting enough but slow going. Then the short stories started, and it only took a couple for me to be absolutely thrilled with this book. It also has some newspaper columns at the end, a couple of which are astonishingly good reads. Astonishing even though I've really liked almost everything Maeve Binchy has written. I would recommend it, but it is a book in parts, and some parts will appeal more to some people and others to others.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Maeve Binchy that I have ever read - and I must say her style of writing was refreshing, down to earth, inspiring and quite funny. I have been officially inspired to try her works.

As for this book of non-fiction - I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an easy, practical and encouraging read for the budding writer and one I imagine would be great to refer to when feeling down or uninspired to write. If you are in a writing group yourself, this would be a good one to recommend to your group for those moments when you need a "pick-me-up" which once in a while, we budding writers all need.

Thank you for spending the time to write it Maeve Binchy.

[Claire Strofield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of didactal letters from Maeve to a writing class. This book is loaded with warm words of encouragement, wisdom and insight. It is the perfect antidote for a writer suffering the common profession-related blues arising from self-doubt.

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit I skimmed the first part of this book with the advice about writing. What I was really after were Binchy's short stories and columns in the second half. They didn't disappoint.

[Author Annette Dunlea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy : The Writers Club
The Writers Club is a book written by Ireland’s queen of fiction Maeve Binchy as a beginner’s writers guide. It is published by Orion and its ISBN is 0752883070. It is as one would expect written in Maeve’s usual style both witty and compassionate . She says everyone can write ! It comprises of 20 letters from Maeve to aspiring writers including advice on writing and getting published. Tips on what publishers and agents are looking for are included, as is snippets of a writer’s life. Blank pages are included for personal thoughts and notes so it can be used as a journal. A sweet short story by Maeve Binchy called Writing Class is also included. It is a pleasant book aimed to inspire people to just pick up a pen and begin to write. I am a huge Mave Binchy fan and that helped but I still highly recommend to all libraries, bookclubs, colleges and budding writers. Reviewed by Annette Dunlea author of Always and Forever and The Honey Trap.

[Akshay Pai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of letters written mostly by Maeve Binchy but also by many other accomplished writers in many different genres. It is an amazing book for aspiring writers and touches upon difficult topics like the motivation to write, the art of writing and the dilemmas during publishing the book, etc.

The best part about this book is that the letters focus on the difficulties faced by writers and the possible hurdles that one might occur while writing. This has been intended to make sure that the future authors realize that they aren't alone and persevering is the key to a successful career in writing.

This book aims to be a journal where the reader can make lots of notes, learn about writing in many genres, seek inspiration, learn from the mistakes of great authors, learn about the different styles of writing, having an adaptable mindset and much more.

Overall, this book is a great read and there are a lot of things one can learn from it. It is one of those books which can be read multiple times, new notes can be added making it more valuable over time.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't expect much, so I wasn't too let down. I was unappreciative of the first part of the book (about 120 pages), her weekly letters imparting her insights on different writing topics. The information was very basic and could be picked up elsewhere. The sketches are cute, and she's nice enough, but I didn't really see the point of publishing these. The appendix of writing awards/competitions and list of magazines to submit to, found in the middle of the book, was awesome however. The second half of the book consists of seven short stories and 12 columns of Binchy's. This was kind of nice because I'd never actually read any of her work. Some of the stuff was pretty good. Some was so-so.

The best thing about the book was that it got me to start writing short stories and made me excited about submitting them. The worst thing about the book was the pointless journal pages in between each letter and story. Who's really going to use the blank pages in The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club as a journal?

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, accessible guide to getting started on and keeping up with your writing project. It's written in the form of weekly letters, interspersed with contributions from others. Not only does it offer practical advice to make the whole writing process more manageable and achievable, but it also does so in an entertaining and interesting way. The short story included at the end provides a wonderful illustration of how to follow the tips provided as well as being enjoyable in its own right.

I have never read any of Maeve Binchy's novels but after enjoying her relaxed and easy style, I intend to remedy this.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a story inside them but hasn't quite discovered how to get it out.

[Ruth Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Maeve Binchy, not least because I am from Ireland too. Her worlds are so intimately drawn and her characters so varied, but in a way familiar. Great story and pacing and always a pleasure to read.

[Gisela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks like this 2008 edition only contains half the material of the later edition which includes columns and more stories by Binchy.

I think this book is great if you haven't read any other similar books. It didn't particularly inspire me as it was pretty general and I'd heard most of the advice before (e.g. yes, it's hard but you need to keep at it; write what you know about; the value of writers groups etc).

Probably the most interesting parts for me were the "publishing industry" sections with the strong recommendation for getting an agent (and why, and how you relate to them) and the value of your relationship with an editor too.

[Sheena BZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book on writing advice, it was light and full of common sense. Certainly not the silver bullet that would make anyone into an immediate writer. That said, I found the underlying requirement for discipline contained in the letters to the writer club, when engaging in writing, to be refreshing. Having never read anything by Maeve Binchy before and thus having no real expectation, I was in for a treat with the second part of the book. I shall not spoil the short stories for any future reader, save to say the Mrs. Binchy's characters are full, real and layered. Wonderful.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. I’ve written 40,000 words of my book since beginning this. I’ve read a chapter each week and followed the advice of writing each day, as much as I can. I will keep referring back to this for reference. It contains lots of ideas, encouragement and a lovely little short story to finish off at the end. But most importantly, it encourages you to start writing and to keep writing!

[VJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who's looking for being a writer, this was quite a helpful book. It covered various types of writing (for radio, for journalism, for plays, for comedy, etc.) with a note from those specialised in that form of writing. This book could be a beginner's guide to writing and understanding the writing field. At the end of the day, it reminds us that no matter how much you read, if you want to write, just take a paper and pen/ computer and START!

[Hannah Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A someone about to start a Writing Club with a couple of friends, reading this seemed natural. I borrowed it from the library and was suitably impressed - to the extent that I bought two copies: one for myself and one for my Writing Club co-founder!

Interestingly, I am not a reader of Maeve Binchy's fiction, but I found this a good read with lots to think about for my writing.

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read. The first half of the book is advice from both Maeve and some guest writers on how to write in various aspects. The second half of the book is short stories, examples from her own writing. She had an interesting way where her stories seem to ramble this way and that, but in the end, they all come together neatly. I must add her to my list of authors to read.

[Elysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This delightful writing book is good because it carries Maeve Binchy's voice and a decent final sampling of her short stories and essays for inspiration. The writing advice itself is hardly earth shattering, but it is rendered in Maeve Binchy's distinctly warm and engaging voice, and it is all the better for it.

[Hajra Shaikh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If anyone's wondering what this book is about, it's a non-fiction, a self help guidance to get yourself to writing. It also has speeches from experts in various fields on writing for stage, comedy, children, editor and publisher. What I took away from this book is that, you need to write, write and write.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at a Little Free Library in South Pasadena. I was dropping off a book and it caught my eye. It's friendly writing advice from the author and several of her writer/editor/publisher pals, followed by some of Binchy's short stories and columns from The Irish Times.

[Dhwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

INFORMATIVE
Key points and tips for writing have been provided by her and various other authors. She has covered about writing on almost every platform and genre. It's a nice book to read if you're a writer or want to get into writing.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book to see what the author has to say to people who want to be writers themselves but ended up enjoying her included newspaper columns and short stories more. I'm not a fan of short stories so the fact that I read all seven of them tells you they were pretty good - soothing and safe.

[Carielyn Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

her advice is as bland and uninspired as her fiction. i got nothing from it.

[Mary Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational read, as always Maeve pens with a strong voice allowing you to become involved with the characters in a way you feel you know them personally.

[Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as wonderful as reading one of her novels, but still anything by this terrific writer is worth reading.

[Sharon Lobo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the advice in this book is really good, though I don't highly recommend reading the book as it's a bit outdated in its techniques.

[caroline filler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, short and informative

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could only read one author for the rest of my life, it would be Maeve Binchy. Her books are treasures. Fiction and non-fiction alike.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you write stories or books and do not have a writer's group, this will inspire you. If you don't the stories in it are just lovely.