Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories

by Steve Almond

The long-awaited book about the craft of creative writing from Steve Almond, beloved teacher, mentor, and author.

From the acclaimed author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, including  All the Secrets of the World  and the  New York Times  bestsellers  Candyfreak  and  Against Football,  comes a craft book that is at once irreverent and iconoclastic.   In  Truth is the Arrow ,  Mercy is the Bow , Steve Almond employs the radical empathy he displayed as co-host (with Cheryl Strayed) of the podcast  Dear Sugars  to explore the joys and trials of storytelling, and to explode the myths that hold us back from writing our deepest and truest work. The book includes chapters on plot, character, and chronology, but travels far beyond the earnest intentions of most craft books. It includes essays on humor, sex, writer’s block, and the dividends of failure, as well as prompts to generate new work and a rollicking Frequently Asked Questions section. You’ll never think about writing the same way again.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Memoir, Essays, Self Help, Literary Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Steve Almond is the author of two story collections, My Life in Heavy Metal and The Evil B.B. Chow, the non-fiction book Candyfreak, and the novel Which Brings Me to You, co-written with Julianna Baggott. He lives outside Boston with his wife and baby daughter Josephine.

Reviews

[C.L. Clark]

I liked this quite a bit, actually. Would recommend this to many of the folks who come looking for advice. What it seems to boil down to, though is...are you being honest with yourself as a writer? Are you being honest with your characters, with your desires for the work, with the peers your critiquing, or are you writing from ego?

[Meagan Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking brilliant. Adding to all my syllabi.

[Laura Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic writing book. I'll be assigning it here on out to the MFA students in the program I direct. Covers all the necessary craft elements -- with humor, wisdom, practical no-nonsense voice, and diverse examples. One thing I appreciate is that it offers both fiction and nonfiction examples, which is what I need. I've been looking for a better craft book, and this is IT!

[Mad Hapa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand the glowing reviews for this book. It's 50% giving people permission to write, 10% a plug for his workshops and 40% writing examples and stories of being an adjunct.

Apart from a handful of writing prompts, there isn't much reason to call this a "DIY Manual." If you're just starting out as a writer and want reassurance, I guess read this book? Otherwise, don't waste your time.

[Chiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll flag this by saying that my rating might be biased because ever since I heard episode one of the „Dear Sugar“ Podcast I think that Steve is one of the few white het men I actually ADORE.
When I read about that book in Cheryl Strayed‘s newsletter I immediately pre-ordered it and when I received it and read in the acknowledgments section „He lives in Arlington with his family and his ANXIETY” I knew that this would be as relatable and funny as is everything Steve says.
It is self-deprecating, funny, honest, raw, sensitive and shows that Steve is well aware of his privileges, that he is able to critically assess the book market and its racism/sexism etc.
It is a mix between actual writing prompts and tips about how to write a character etc. And also his reflections about his own life. I would have liked it to be a bit more practical and maybe if Steve is not your cup of tea (how dare you) it might be too personal and bore you at times.
Anyways I loveeeeeeed it.

[Lynne Reeves Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Almond's "Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow" is a wonderful meditation on writing. With candor and thoughtful disclosure, Steve shows writers how to capture what he calls, the chain of consequence and the mechanisms of enthrallment. Writers will find themselves furiously underlining passages. Before they close the book, they'll be moved to reimagine their stories with new insight. Highly recommend!

[John Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is packed with good advice for writers.

[Jenny Leitsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy, heart-filled read for any writer (or "Word Decider," as Almond calls it) or teacher of writing.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid 4 stars; excellent treatise on the art of storytelling, with a firm emphasis on action; on the subject be sure to check out my favorites: Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story and Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative.

"But most important of all is the structure of the incidents. For Tragedy is an imitation, not of men, but of an action and of life, and life consists in action, and its end is a mode of action, not a quality."

"Plot, in other words, resides in establishing a clear chain of consequence. Not this happens and this happens and this happens. But: this happens, therefore that happens. And because that happened, this next thing happens."

"DESIRE PLACED IN PERIL = STORY"

"THE REASON YOU SIT DOWN to write any story—beyond your ego needs—is because you want to tell the truth about some part of your life that haunts you. If the story is any good, you’re going to reach places of distress and bewilderment. You’re going to name names, shatter silences, wake some ghosts. There’s a lot of exposure involved. And thus, a lot of ambivalence. Writing is an attention racket. But it’s also a forgiveness racket."

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short: read this book as emotional enrichment, as an exploration of human potential. If you’re looking to become a storyteller, this is a poignant and thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the craft; if you’re merely a human being in the world, think of this as a guide to exploring life in all its mysteries, wonders, anxieties, pains -- and doing it in a way that promotes curiosity, self-compassion, and forgiveness rather than misery and self-destruction. Full of gold nuggets of both wisdom and humor. After reading, you might find yourself thinking in a new way about why humans tell stories, even if you’re not explicitly setting out to be a storyteller.

In long: Almond presents to the reader his life-lessons learned from being a child of two psychiatrists, a human being who went through the process of individuation and self-reflection, a life-long educator who has an interest in helping each of his students emerge to their best potential, and most importantly a storyteller who wants his reader to learn and come into self-realization. In such a way, Almond seems to take on his parent's psychoanalytic torch; not to target those with a mental illness (though this book could be considered self-help in that regard), but by being a life-coach who recognizes that every human has a story to tell and has in them the potential to become a storyteller.

If you’re looking to become a writer, this is a brilliant guide of how to improve your craft so that what you write is more accessible to others. I’ve read about 9-10 “how to” books on writing (I didn’t make it through all of them since I tend to get bored), and this is the most helpful one I’ve encountered yet. Helpful because it is not merely about the formula of punctuation, paragraphs, and plot but about what drives us to tell stories -- to share ourselves, our experiences, to another person. And it’s written not as an instruction manual, but as a creative story in its own right. Almond brings in a wealth of passages from other writers to present as examples of good writing, and he also infuses elements of memoir so that this book breathes truth and expands on mercy. The title is particularly apt. Truth is what we need to find our target, to reach the goal, but this can only find momentum if you afford yourself the mercy, the self-compassion, the bending back to reflect on yourself, that is the momentum to drive us forward in life.

In sum, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable experience that caters to anyone who is looking to place themself in the risky position of putting themself out there to tell their story, to be seen. I would say it is easily digestible, mostly in that the medicine it provides is infused with sugar to make it go down easy, but there's also plenty to chew on, ruminate, and return to. There is so much gold that has been mined here. So many passages that I’ve underlined so that I can go back and enjoy those tasty nuggests again. This is a book whose contents will stay with you.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of us write, and a lot of us teach others to write.

Just because we can write does not mean that we can teach others to write. It's not really a linear process.

Steve Almond explores a lot of the problems writers face, like the chronology of the story and creating a good plot and coming up with characters, and he explores these telling stories about his own problems with these aspects of writing. And he writes in fresh and funny ways.

But is this a good book for learning how to write? Hmmm. This book does a good job of reminding writers that writing is a good way to become a better human. IMHO.

A few quotes:

"As writers, we have to allow our characters to stumble, to fail, to wander off the trail and into bewilderment."

"Slow down where it hurts."

"Writers have to find a different way of being in the world. The making of literature is the manner by which we come to understand our inner lives, by which we travel in difficult truth toward elusive mercy, and thereby reaffirm the bonds of human kindness."

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to hear Almond read and give a lecture at a writing conference about a decade ago. I found him funny, empathetic and and interesting enough to start following him via newsletters and reading some of his works.

This work on craft is about 2/3rds specific instruction and 1/3rd a more expansive, humane defense of writing as an act of, well I guess I'll say it, love. I hesitate to be that mushy, especially since Almond can be a witty and cynical writer, and I would hate anyone to think that this book will be soft and sycophantic. Like Almond, it is funny, empathetic, witty and cynical. And self-deprecating, insightful and enjoyable to read.

[witzelsucht · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book that strikes a good balance between the abstract/emotional and the analytical/practical, with a mix of personal stories and well chosen extracts. It’s a series of essays, so not all of them will land with equal relevance, but I liked Almond’s spirited exploration of subjects that other writing books rarely go into, like the importance of chronology, choosing the right narrator, writing a character’s inner life, and the characterising power of sex scenes. It’s motivating, entertaining, and sometimes heartbreaking.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of good stuff in the first section: Demystifying the Craft. The second section—Source Materials—is where the gold is: obsession, humor, doubt, thwarted desire. Best advice? "slow down where it hurts."

[Virginia Bensch · Rating 4 out of 5]

So YEAH it’s technically a book on the “craft of writing” and YEAH it does all that, but it’s also just such an entertaining read. Steve Almond is downright hilarious and I flew through it. So many wonderful anecdotes and just so helpful if you’re at all interested in any kind of storytelling

[C.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a hodge-podge, but brightest where it talks story mechanics or personal experience in discovering them, and grayest where it attempts to make rulings on MFA programs, craftsmen being inferior to People With Authentic Personal Stories, and What Story Is.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review tk

[Amanda Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars — This book offers Insights about writing I haven’t learned elsewhere.

[Amanda Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will revisit often. I felt like almond was a trusted mentor who was sitting down to tell me everything he knows about writing from the heart. Maybe one of the most influential craft books I’ve encountered.

[Tinkara V. Kastelic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zelo lepo napisano, engaging, uporabno, točno to, kar sem od te knjige hotela in pričakovala. Zelo healthy balance med uporabnostjo in vibesi:)

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not a writer myself, I've been actively reading more as of late and was eager to explore Steve Almond's work. Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow proved to be a satisfying read, offering great insights into the art of storytelling, particularly character development. Almond's exploration of the creative process resonates well, and I found the book inspiring for my own aspirations to write.

"What generates story is a chain of associations cleaved to a chain of consequence” - just fantastic.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like reading books about the craft of writing and this ranks with the most useful and enjoyable I’ve read. Mr. Almond gives away a good deal of himself in this guide and I’m so grateful for the truth.

[Jenna Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most honest and vulnerable account of how to actually be a writer that I've ever read. No ego, no bullshit - a look behind the curtain to find that the curtain is always our own insecurities.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, light-hearted book about writing. Bonus that there were multiple shoutouts to Stoner, what I consider the best book I've ever read.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous read and example for why someone should write the stories that matter to them.

[Jennifer Spiegel]

I think I have a new way of judging audiobooks. It's called "The Barbra Streisand Test." You see, I'm listening to Barbra's five-million-hours-long audiobook over the course of the year, and the test for any audiobook is whether or not I keep listening or if I turn it off and think, "I'd rather listen to Barbra."

I kept listening to Steve Almond!

I liked this book a lot, and I think it was a good reminder for me of all of the best parts of MFA-ing. Like the in-depth discussions on the writing life and the thoughts about plot and workshopping and his intriguing barbs at the adage to SHOW, DON'T TELL (I'm so guilty of tossing that one out there ad nauseam). I forget sometimes what it's like to think about these things like this. I also read this and feel as if my own MFA program was really fighting the good fight, and I hope MFA World is still full of such folk.

I also admire his love of STONER by John Williams. He REALLY loves that book. I love JD Salinger's THE CATCHER IN THE RYE similarly but he's way more adept at literary analysis. I liked how he discussed other books too. I felt nostalgic about THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, like maybe I should read it again. I liked what he said about SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE, which I did skip (shame!). I also started WALDEN, another one I skipped (but I quickly went back to Barbra--sorry, Thoreau!)

Almond has tons of wise things to say. I bought it on audio, and that's fine--but it is a book I'd like to underline.

I will admit that his mores are far more contemporary than mine, so I can't fully embrace EVERYTHING he says. Like his thoughts on writing about sex . . . I really think, when it comes to writing, less is more. He doesn't.

Wish I wrote down some quotes to share!

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something encouraging about hearing from someone who has been there, done that and cringed while at it that makes this book the perfect gift for writers. I requested to read this book off Netgalley, because I was not writing and the fact that I had a manuscript stored away for over a year, and wanted to jump back into it with NanoWrimo-made this book appealing.
I'm glad the publisher granted my request because what the author succeeded in my case was to remind me of what it feels to write and to read books. He drew from his experience as a writer ad quoted some books that resonated with him and through this his insights on plot, character, storytelling and even the elusive writer's block was interesting. At the end of each key content, he has the 'free write' sessions which got me writing and I'll cringe at the sex scene I wrote-because that got me back into writing again, just exploring where the manuscript that I had shelved would take me.
I'd recommend this to every Writer, yes, especially now with digital enhancement there's AI, series and movies at every turn competing for the readers attention- this book explores storytelling for what it is for the fact that we build psychological and emotional connections through it.
PS: I am only bummed that due to advance reader privileges I can swoon over this book but not blurb about it to everyone else or quote or throw in those phrases that had me shouting 'tell 'em!'

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why authors incessantly use their books to get political. What would otherwise be a good book about writing is lessened by political jabs that weaken the authors credibility and dilute the content. Stick with the premise of the book. Regardless of one's political party, we don't buy books to hear the authors opinion on current events.

[Grant Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful meditation on the art of writing.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5

I'm a fan of the works of Steve Almond, ever since I picked up and read, somewhat randomly, his collection of short stories, My Life in Heavy Metal. I will gladly buy and read anything he writes. Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow, Almond's latest book, is part memoir, part 'how to' for writers, and part teacher's classroom notes.
Although Almond is a bit self-deprecating throughout, he uses it to point out mistakes he's made , hoping it helps others avoid the pitfalls:

I realized that early in the drafting process, I wasn't thinking about plot at all. I was simply trying to get a beat on my characters, who they were and what they wanted. thus, I spent a lot of time simply marching them around their daily routines and hoping they would bump into plot.
...
This kind of thinking requires the author to step back and consider the larger arc of her story. And again, speaking bluntly, I suck at this kind of stepping back. I'm an inveterate improviser. Put more precisely: I use scenes to conceive of plot rather than to dramatize and advance plot.
But he also talks about these problems or 'mistakes' and we (assuming most readers are writers looking for more insight) recognize them in ourselves. ("Often, I'll spend more words describing a minor character than a major one.")

There's a lot of good advice here and it's not just textbook, by the numbers advice that I've seen in so many other 'how to' books.

I particularly enjoyed his chapter "How Write Sex Scenes Without Shame". He doesn't shy away from the subject matter. I hadn't realized that he's often been anthologized in Best of Erotica collections - not because he's specifically writing erotica but because his characters are sexual beings who have sex. But he asks all writers:

Given this - how much sex matters to us, how much joy and risk it awakens, how much it reveals about us - the question I wish to pose to my fellow writers is this: Why the hell aren't you writing more sex scenes? Aren't you curious about such a fundamental aspect of the people you're writing about? Can you really know them entirely if you don't know their kinks?
Almond does address the dreaded Writer's Block.

I've been creatively stalled so many times over the years that it can be hard for me to distinguish between periods of genuine Writer's Block and eras in which I've managed to avoid deep creative work by focusing on other pursuits, such as making money or promoting a book or poising baby woodchucks. But I certainly remember the worst of my blocks.

Almond gives us a lot of little nuggets of information and I can practically picture some young writers taking copious notes and highlighting with vigor ("Slow down where it hurts." "I didn't want to write a novel. I wanted to be a novelist." "What most writers do is disguise the truth." "Fiction writers frisk the world for symbolic versions of their experience." etc)

I appreciated that Almond doesn't come at this with all the usual platitudes and advice that one might typically find (yes, he addresses the 'show, don't tell' mantra). His take on writer's workshops is a little surprising.

There is a Q&A section of the book from frequently asked questions, which I enjoyed (though I don't know that any of these would have been my questions).

And while I've gushed a bit here, because I do like Steve Almond's literary voice, not all is swell. Pulling out his teacher's notes, Almond references other literary works to provide examples of what he's talking about. A lot. Too much, even. I actually got annoyed at one point when I was about to read yet another example from a different literary work. Perhaps my impatience is a sign of why I don't have the hoped-for success as a writer?

Looking for a good book? Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow by Steve Almond is a great, helpful book and it should be required reading for open-minded young writers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.