The Writer's Chapbook A Compendium of Fact, Opinion, Wit, and Advice from the Twentieth Century's Preeminent Writers

Writers At Work: The Paris Review Interviews

by George Plimpton

The first issue of The Paris Review in 1953 included an interview on the craft of writing with E. M. Forster, perhaps the greatest living author of the time. Subsequent issues carried interviews with, among others, François Mauriac, Graham Greene, Irwin Shaw, William Styron, Ralph Ellison, and William Faulkner; in the intervening years, many of the world's most significant writers (Ezra Pound, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, John Updike, and John Dos Passos) sat down with The Paris Review. Many of the interviews have been collected in a series of volumes entitled Writers at Work. From these interviews, The Paris Review's editor, George Plimpton, has selected the best and most illuminating insights that the writers have provided and arranged them by subject rather than by author. The book is divided into four "The A Profile" (including the sections "On Reading," "On Work Habits," On the Audi-
ence," etc.); Part II is "Technical Matters" ("On Style," "On Plot," etc.); Part III is "Different Forms" ("On Biography," "On Journalism"); and Part IV is "The Writer's Life," covering topics like conferences, courses, and teaching, along with a section in which writers provided portraits of other writers.
        The Writer's Chapbook is a fund of observations by writers on writing. These range from marvel-
ous one-liners (Eugene O'Neill on "I love every bone in their heads"; T. S. Eliot on "I suppose some editors are failed writers--but so are most writers") to expositions on plot, character, and the technical process of putting pen to paper and doing it for a living. "I don't even have a plot," says Norman Mailer; Paul Bowles describes writing in bed; Toni Morrison talks about inventing characters; and Edward Albee and Tom Wolfe explain where they discovered the titles for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and The Bonfire of the Vanities.
        This book is a treasure. But What is true for the Writers at Work series holds for The Writer's Chapbook even more--a reader who picks it up, intending just to dip into it, might not emerge for days.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Essays, Reference, Literature, Art

432 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 1989

About the author

George Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, actor, and gamesman. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.

He was the grandson of George A. Plimpton.

Reviews

[Jim Fonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of quotes from (mostly) famous writers. The quotes are organized by themes in about 40 sections ranging from “On Work Habits” and “On Character” to “On Short Stories” and “On Peers.” The larger organization of the book is A Profile of the Author (Habits, Revising, Critics); Technical Matters (Style, Plot, Characters); Forms of Writing and The Writer’s Life (On Teaching, On Peers, On Politics). Each chapter is simply a compilation of quotes; there is no introduction or summary to the chapters. Best dipped into at random.



Dickens from likesuccess.com

[Susanna Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of inspirational quote books, and the out-of-context one-liners zipping around social media drive me nuts, but I love this book. Some of the entries are short, but others are full-blown vignettes, all extracted from interviews conducted over several decades for The Paris Review. Writers who lived in different times and places are holding forth in the same room, and I get to listen in. An anecdote by William Faulkner may be followed a few pages later by a comment about Faulkner made after Faulkner was long dead.

The book covers all sorts of topics that writers talk about often, and the "Technical Matters" section includes plenty of useful nuts-and-bolts wisdom about beginnings and endings, plot, characterization, dialogue, writer's block, and other challenges. I especially liked the chapter on symbols, though, or perhaps because, it will probably piss some English teachers off.

Within each topic the contributions are arranged in alphabetical order. I just opened at random to two pages in "On Critics" where James Dickey -> J. P. Donleavy -> John Dos Passos -> Margaret Drabble -> Lawrence Durrell -> Aldous Huxley. The serendipitous conversations thus provoked are quite wonderful.

Since I borrowed this book from the library, I went looking for my own copy -- and was shocked to learn that the going prices at OnlineBehemoth.com started at $299. I bid on a copy at MegaAuctionSite.com but bailed when the price soared past $30. It eventually went for $71. What to do, what to do? While typing this little review, I returned to OnlineBehemoth.com and what to my wondering eyes did appear but two used paperback copies for sale at less than $5 plus shipping. There's still one left. Go get it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Writer's Chapbook" is a delightful book, composed of quotes from great writers of the 20th century, culled from The Paris Review about on topics such as work habits, style, criticism, and the writer's life. I particularly enjoyed the "portraits" section, with writers offering their thoughts about other writers, usually based on relationships or meetings. I gained additional insights on how these people related to others and to each other. George Plimpton, one of the founders of The Paris Review, wrote the introduction. This is a book that can be read in several sittings, or like me, over a period of several months since it's arranged in such a way that you can easily pick up where you left off and hardly lose a beat. As a writer, I found the book to be informative about how writers of every genre approach their work. I believe readers will also find the book to be enlightening and entertaining as it delves into all aspects of the craft.

[J.D. Steens · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a collection of observations about writing from some well-known writers. The writers are all over the map in a good sense. My favorite quotes from various authors:

• “circling the typewriter getting ready to write.”
• “poetry is a language within a language.”
• “The first discipline [in poetry] is the realization that there is a discipline…that any art is first and foremost a craft.“
• ‘“Men should use common words to say uncommon things, but they do the opposite.’” Schopenhauer
• "When a writer uses an “out-of-the-way word….the attention of the reader is distracted by the word.”
• “Good ones [authors] don’t have time to bother with success or getting rich.”
• “You do not create a style. You work, and develop yourself; your style is an emanation from your own being.”
• “I truly do not care about a book once it is finished….The book dies a real death for me when I write the last word.” Steinbeck.
• “One must avoid ambition in order to write. Otherwise something else is the goal….”
• “Writing is more like a sculpture where you remove, you eliminate in order to make the work visible.”
• “Hearing a poem, as opposed to reading it on the page, means you miss so much—the shape, the punctuation, the italics ….When you write a poem, you put everything into it that’s needed: the reader should ‘hear’ it just as clearly as if you were in the room saying it to him.”
• ‘“I’ve written some poetry I don’t understand myself.’” Sandburg

[Lise Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me ages to finish this book, but I loved every minute of it. My copy is feathered with sticky notes, marking so many excellent quotes and observations for exceptional writers, both contemporary and historical. Anyone who aspires to the writing life should read this book. The writers are all brutally honest about the challenges and sacrifices to be made when one chooses to write. The consensus seems to be that it is a miserable, difficult existence fraught with pain, suffering, rejection and isolation, but that if you are truly a writer, you are compelled to give it your all, no matter the cost. I found it both eye-opening and encouraging to know what "real" writers experienced and overcame to create enduring works of literature. A beautifully published book, on lovely paper with gorgeous font (I wish they'd have said what font it is), superbly organized and edited, this volume will become a treasure in my very small library.

[Craig Masten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Writer’s Chapbook, a Compendium of Fact, Opinion, Wit, and Advice,” published by the Paris Review, is exactly as advertised in the title. Short snippets from interviews of writers in that magazine are arranged in chapters on a range of topics pertinent to their art.
It’s the reading equivalent of sampling an extensive array of dim sum, or tapas, or endless delicious o’oeuvres. To extend and change the metaphor, as a visual artist, I found its insights on writing very akinand applicable to the creative process of any of the other arts.
The book took awhile to read, to digest. Its rich tasty bits, if you will, but well worth reaching for every new morsel that appeared until filled up. Then I cane back day after day for more.

[Steven Paul Leiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to read while you are reading other books, not to mention writing if you happen to have that habit. All taken from Paris Review interviews these short to longish quotes answering questions about aspects of the writer's life, craft, thoughts, loves, likes, and hates proves, if nothing else, that each writer is an individual with individual ways, opinions, methods, styles, and experiences. And yet, something binds them all together. If you are a writer you will find both recognition and the opposite as you commune with members of your tribe.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

who can argue with tenessee williams, eudora welty, f oconnor, k a porter truman capote, hemingway about what it means to write, why to do it, and what makes good writing?--well i guess they can argue with each other, and that's what they do in this book, virtually, that is, or more or less. It's reat fun.

[Judith Shadford · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me forever to read it, just because the short segments made it easy to put down in favor of, oh, say, a novel. But it is a delightful compilation, more so because it was published in 1989--so there are writers included that have faded, others that are still underrated. But always wonderful. Kind of wish I had a hard-back edition--it's already showing signs of age.

[Marcy Winograd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be eternally grateful to my beloved father Sam Winograd for giving me this book of quotes, anecdotes, and reflections from writers on writing. I like this quote from writer John Irving, "A writer is a vehicle. I feel the story I am writing existed before I existed."

[Shelley Schanfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every novelist and poet should read this book. In the dark of night when you're sure it's all junk and you're feeling like an idiot and insane for even trying to write there's a quote that will get you out of your funk.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this but I don't think that I got much advice from it--could be because I was focusing more on the authors,

[Jim Krosschell · Rating 2 out of 5]

good section on the authors writers read, otherwise mostly a variation of practice and habit so big as to be almost meaningless.

[Mary Pettigrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, must have for all writers or lovers of books and their authors! I re-read parts of it all the time and continue to learn something new!

[Jeff Larbalestier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to put beside the bed and read short pieces of each night. Keep a pen or pencil handy, you will want to write down some of the better quotations.

[Phil Slattery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pick this up occasionally to re-read parts. Thoroughly entertaining for anyone interested in writing.

[Sam Klemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, very funny at times and overall a useful collection of writer's wit and advice.

[Patricia Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Astonishing book. “A compendium of fact, opinion, wit, and advice from the 20th centuries preeminent writers.“ (who uses the word compendium these days?!) It gives you some idea of the tone, breath, and unfortunately, somewhat dated material. Edited from the Paris Review interviews and with an introduction by George Plimpton. That gives you an idea of the gravitas of the book.

A bit of a slog, partly because it’s very small print and almost 400 pages long. But also because you have to stop because of its richness, the depth of history and literary traditions. It was delicious meditate on some of the wit, opinion, advice, etc. Really astonished to enter so many minds and hear their response to questions on editors, criticism, politics, titles, or habits, and potboilers (Who uses that word anymore?). So beaucoup charm, some unsavory opinions on their fellow writers, which I didn’t appreciate, and practical and life advice.

I only knew about 3/4 of the Authors, but it prompted me to look up those I didn’t know. If you’re a writer, you may want to add an extra star. It’s good to know the literary tradition we come from today.

[Kevin Bjorke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to call this "finished" - a great book for random nibbling any time.

[Anne Lévesque · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf
dated

[Al Kratz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of bits of wisdom from The Paris Review interviews. Some of it is more dated than others and some of it is more significant. A good reminder that not everyone who makes art has the same ability to describe it. This book is very similar to The Secret Miracle a handbook for novelists. It’s a good companion for a writer and easy to read off and on.

[Cyndie Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew tired of this book halfway through so finally convinced myself that, seeing as life is short, it’s okay to quit a book before you finish it. Just pass it on to someone else who might appreciate it. Which I did.

[Ann Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful observations about writing process and writing life, as gleaned from The Paris Review Interviews (a series of far-reaching interviews with accomplished writers that typically occur over a period of years).

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect reference book for any writer. Lots of helpful tips from "the greats" in this book.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful compilation of wisdom and observation from a pantheon of great writers. Fun to dip into and sit at these tightly honoured feet

[Landen Celano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best gift I’ve ever received?

[Charles]

wow i want this