Write

by The Guardian (Editor)

Find your voice. Feel inspired. Love your characters.
Let the world's greatest contemporary authors share the joy of writing and guide you as you work.
With insights and inspiration from a wide range of writers, including:

Martin Amis
Diana Athill
Margaret Atwood
Zoë Heller
MJ Hyland
PD James
Hanif Kureishi
Hilary Mantel
Andrew Miller
Terry Pratchett

and many more, Write! has everything you need to get your creative juices flowing.

Writing a novel can be a slow, painful and lonely process. Many writers never manage to achieve their goal. This book helps you to rediscover the joy of your craft and rekindle your creative fire. It offers you support, guidance and encouragement as well as insight into the craft of writing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Essays

157 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2012

Reviews

[Wendle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generally, i love books and quotes and reading about writing. I find it incredibly fascinating and inspiring. I don’t necessarily agree with everything said, or all tips and rules preached, but it is always interesting to hear about other people’s methods and thought processes.

All the way through, i was itching to pick up a highlighter pen and a pencil to mark quotes and make notes i the margins. The fact that this was a library book made me refrain, but the urge was strong enough, that i’m looking to buying a second hand copy for myself to vandalise to my heart’s content.

A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel At Words.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of advice to writers from writers. Some of it is lists of what to do or what not to do. Some of it is accounts of "how I wrote and published my best-selling novel". Some of it is musing about the writing process. Some of the commentary seemed pointless - and other sections were brilliant. It's skewed to literary writing, but not exclusively, and worth browsing whatever form of writing you might be considering.

[Paul White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up from our local library and was not disappointed.

I found it easy to read and enjoyable as it wasn't really a self-help book. It was a series of essays, or entries, from published authors explaining how they face the challenges of writing. I found their views enlightening and rewarding as it showed that their no fit all solution to the question, how do you write? It showed the consensus to be that you need to write. And of course edit.

[Christina Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good anthology about the writing process. While the middle chapters focusing on the specific experiences behind each novel tend to feel a bit too niche and specific, the beginning and end of the collection are filled with great general wisdom about writing.

[Alex Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its made me dig out my notebook for my 2nd book -so must be of some value.

[Fatima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I didn't like this book was because some of the advice was contradictory to the other advice. And now I'm left confused. Should I read as much as I can? Or should I stop reading altogether?? In all honesty, I only skimmed the last part of the book, because I had no time to read it all in-depth. Anyway, I got some good ideas from this. Actually part one was really insightful, and resonated with me a lot. The Dos and Don'ts was where it dipped for me.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting little compilation. Though I find pick-me-up books like this are only so good until you've heard "Always write, never be afraid blahblah" more than several times. I did love reading the pieces from my favourite authors though. This is more of a pick up and read when you're feeling lost book, not so much a solid enthralling read for me.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive collection of encouraging pearls of wisdom from all the great writers. What I like about it is it suits all literary tastes. Whether you like crime novels or are an aspiring playwright or just want to know how writers work, it's all in this little gem of a book. It's now one of the most precious books on my shelves.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an addictive and enjoyable read! I am always intrigued by the 'how to write' books; but this one even more so because it was full of good advice from fine writers. I have taken away some good tips from this book for when I start work on the second draft of my novel. I recommend this book - it is short and snappy and you can digest it all in a day or two.

[Ali Rowan]

My favourite quote from the book: "Description is hard. Remember that all description is an opinion about the world. Find a place to stand." – Anne Enright

[Marcella Purnama · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a writer, I always love to read advices to write from other writers. This book gives lots of perspectives - some new, some old, but yet we can never be tired of another how-to writing guide.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really refreshing, honest and inspiring read. Definitely something to be on the book shelf of every writer or aspiring writer.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and a half stars - contains good advice and tips.

[Denis Vaughan]

I very much liked this book and I suspect will return and refer many times in the future. Some real gems here for writers.