What do you think?
Rate this book
Writer's Guides to Everyday Life
The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West
Describes such elements as land ownership, treaties, wars, clothes and accessories, home furnishings, medical and dental care, education, entertainment, crime and punishment, and money and cost of living. Includes article-specific annotated bibliographies, a chronology from 1836 to 1899, and a list of archives for writers who want to dig their own historical ore. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
3 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 13, 2023
If you’re serious about writing a western - this book needs to be on your reading list.
Utterly brilliant - so much to learn, so much to use, such a wonderful insight.
Highly HIGHLY recommended!
Now I’m off to write a horror western!
Utterly brilliant - so much to learn, so much to use, such a wonderful insight.
Highly HIGHLY recommended!
Now I’m off to write a horror western!
March 14, 2015
This book is PACKED with very useful information about the Wild West - things that go beyond the typical Hollywood stereotype. I enjoyed the many original quotes and found that the organization on topics very good.
My disclaimer is that this is a secular book and does contain references to/details of sinful behavior. While I know that people were sinners back then, I do not need to know all of the details. I went through this book with a black pen, marking out what I didn't feel needed to be read again (especially as my 15-year-old sister is interested in it), and then there is a section or two that should be completely edited out (in my personal opinion).
But overall, I found the book to have a very even, thorough depiction of the Wild West and I have gleaned a lot by reading it.
My disclaimer is that this is a secular book and does contain references to/details of sinful behavior. While I know that people were sinners back then, I do not need to know all of the details. I went through this book with a black pen, marking out what I didn't feel needed to be read again (especially as my 15-year-old sister is interested in it), and then there is a section or two that should be completely edited out (in my personal opinion).
But overall, I found the book to have a very even, thorough depiction of the Wild West and I have gleaned a lot by reading it.
October 12, 2023
I found this to be far more informative than the Victorian book. This one read much more like an actual book, rather than a dictionary, and each chapter had its own list of suggested reading. While not technically a historian, the author still seemed to know what she was talking about. I appreciated her repeated comments about Native American cultures stating each particular tribe should be researched individually.
Still, the book is over twenty years old, and many of the suggested readings are even older than that. Might be worth looking for a more recently updated equivalent.
Still, the book is over twenty years old, and many of the suggested readings are even older than that. Might be worth looking for a more recently updated equivalent.
February 26, 2023
A necessary edition to the desk of anyone planning to write a western. I wish I'd discovered this years ago. There are some areas that are necessarily barebones, but the author does a phenomenal job of hitting key points and providing resources to further explore. I read it from cover to cover and now it sits next to me as I journey back to 1880s Arizona and try not to mess up too much.
December 18, 2022
Great resource to have for anyone with an interest in the Old West. I keep this book handy and read tidbits whenever I wonder about certain particulars of life on the frontier in the old days. This book covers 1840-1900.
June 4, 2012
An informative look at how life in the Wild West was, but, not quite what I was expecting from the title. "The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West" doesn't really have much in the way of "writer's guide" or "everyday life."
The section under "Gunfighters and Outlaws," for example, in Chapter 17, is a one paragraph summary of the existence of train robberies and shoot-outs, and then a long list of various gun violence related factoids - such as "1867 - Jesse James kills three people while robbing a bank in Richmond, Virginia." I mean, these are stock characters in westerns! Pretty much every western character can fit under "gunfighters and outlaws," and its one of the least elaborated subjects.
Things are described in some detail, too, but were somehow lacking to me. I did not feel any want for factual information, but still had some trouble understanding, for example, what a house looked like despite an explanation of its basic size, shape, and materials. Pictures would have been helpful. A few id exist, but they were rare and in black and white. I would have been able to internalize some of the guns, clothing, and buildings used if I could actually see them. As it stands, I feel like I have learned to describe something when I don't actually know what it looks like.
It lacks the "snapshot" of everyday life that I was expecting, but that may not be possible given the six-decade period of time covered, and the sheer volume of information presented. While I have a general idea of what would go into the day (or life) of a wide variety of frontier-types, I lack a vision of how, exactly, a single day might go for these people. I think this could have been solved with some creative writing on the part of the author. Perhaps, occasionally, the monotony of explaining and describing the facets of life in the wild west could be broken up with a fictitious portrayal of someone actually doing it. It's one thing to read a few essays on food, cattle, and digging a well. It'd be quite helpful to read the occasional short story of some rancher going about his daily chores.
I take some issue with the information presented. It's a small annoyance, but... well, here's an example: in the chapter on clothing, the section on women's underwear is about as long as the section on... hats. I mean, c'mon.
Nonetheless, the author clearly did her research. While not maybe a "guide" to "everyday life," imo, it's still by far the best resource I've seen for somebody who wants to write a western, or just learn more about the genre/time period in general. This thing is packed to the brim with facts and trivia, that's both well-organized and easy to understand (if a bit boring to read at times). It gets the most interesting in Part Three; my favorite chapters are 15 (Language) and 17 (Crime and Punishment).
So yeah, check it out if you're really interested in learning about this stuff. This is a book you oughta buy, though - it's the kind of thing that needs to be referenced every once in a while, not memorized in one fell swoop. Don't buy it if you're just looking for a quick fun read, or even if you're hoping to scratch that western itch. It almost does, but not quite. That's ok, though... that's not really the point of a book like this.
The section under "Gunfighters and Outlaws," for example, in Chapter 17, is a one paragraph summary of the existence of train robberies and shoot-outs, and then a long list of various gun violence related factoids - such as "1867 - Jesse James kills three people while robbing a bank in Richmond, Virginia." I mean, these are stock characters in westerns! Pretty much every western character can fit under "gunfighters and outlaws," and its one of the least elaborated subjects.
Things are described in some detail, too, but were somehow lacking to me. I did not feel any want for factual information, but still had some trouble understanding, for example, what a house looked like despite an explanation of its basic size, shape, and materials. Pictures would have been helpful. A few id exist, but they were rare and in black and white. I would have been able to internalize some of the guns, clothing, and buildings used if I could actually see them. As it stands, I feel like I have learned to describe something when I don't actually know what it looks like.
It lacks the "snapshot" of everyday life that I was expecting, but that may not be possible given the six-decade period of time covered, and the sheer volume of information presented. While I have a general idea of what would go into the day (or life) of a wide variety of frontier-types, I lack a vision of how, exactly, a single day might go for these people. I think this could have been solved with some creative writing on the part of the author. Perhaps, occasionally, the monotony of explaining and describing the facets of life in the wild west could be broken up with a fictitious portrayal of someone actually doing it. It's one thing to read a few essays on food, cattle, and digging a well. It'd be quite helpful to read the occasional short story of some rancher going about his daily chores.
I take some issue with the information presented. It's a small annoyance, but... well, here's an example: in the chapter on clothing, the section on women's underwear is about as long as the section on... hats. I mean, c'mon.
Nonetheless, the author clearly did her research. While not maybe a "guide" to "everyday life," imo, it's still by far the best resource I've seen for somebody who wants to write a western, or just learn more about the genre/time period in general. This thing is packed to the brim with facts and trivia, that's both well-organized and easy to understand (if a bit boring to read at times). It gets the most interesting in Part Three; my favorite chapters are 15 (Language) and 17 (Crime and Punishment).
So yeah, check it out if you're really interested in learning about this stuff. This is a book you oughta buy, though - it's the kind of thing that needs to be referenced every once in a while, not memorized in one fell swoop. Don't buy it if you're just looking for a quick fun read, or even if you're hoping to scratch that western itch. It almost does, but not quite. That's ok, though... that's not really the point of a book like this.
July 13, 2021
Supposedly provides period information on clothes and accessories, food, architecture, medicine, education, communications, crime, and money in the west. It reads like a fact book. Boring. They are trying to say how things actually were, people who write about the old west need this as a reference? mMm okay. I was bored.
June 23, 2009
I think I should get my own copy of this, as it is a great reference book, but I just didn't have time to plow through it all.
Moulton sometimes repeats herself (and you can tell she has a thing for Grand Encampment, WY), but overall the stuff you learn from her is useful and accurate (inasmuch as I've read it elsewhere before) and often amusing. Some of the stuff she talks about I wish she'd elaborate on more, but I guess that's where I should step in and do my own research.
Worth going back to and finishing the parts I didn't get to someday.
Moulton sometimes repeats herself (and you can tell she has a thing for Grand Encampment, WY), but overall the stuff you learn from her is useful and accurate (inasmuch as I've read it elsewhere before) and often amusing. Some of the stuff she talks about I wish she'd elaborate on more, but I guess that's where I should step in and do my own research.
Worth going back to and finishing the parts I didn't get to someday.
April 17, 2017
Great resource. It's got all the details you would need; food, clothing, furniture, currency. The only thing it is missing which would have been helpful would be a chapter on weapons...this is the wild west after all!
March 29, 2008
good details for research
August 19, 2012
Wonderful book. Very detailed, descriptive, informative, and entertaining. Perfect for a writer's resource book.
Read
September 4, 2016Nice overview of frontier life and social customs of the west. Great writer's resource.
July 21, 2014
Amusing and informative. Must-read if you wish to create an authentic feeling western.
June 9, 2015
A good reference overview for western writing. Gotta give this copy back to the library and get my own.
June 6, 2015
Not bad. Loads of details, some of which are suspect, but over all, a tough subject, well handled.
December 12, 2015
Wonderful author's resource for all the details of daily life in the West.
March 5, 2016
Pretty good for quick reference, but does not cover any subject very deeply.
June 27, 2016
A good refresher course/reference for things Wild West.
December 30, 2024
Great resource for writing!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews