In Writing: Conversations on Inspiration, Perspiration and Creative Desperation

by Hattie Crisell

In these intimate and frank conversations with some of our best-loved writers, Hattie Crisell uncovers the mysteries of the creative process, Where do ideas come from? How do stories find their shape? What happens when confidence falters or the work fails - and what does success look like?

The answers range from the thought-provoking to the hilarious. Here we meet the novelist who makes a playlist for each manuscript; the screenwriter who considers swearing an art form; the author who prefers to work in near-darkness, and the confessional writer at risk of revealing too much. Taken as a whole, these inspiring interviews amount to an insider's guide to the writing its disciplines and demands; its ecstasies and agonies; its coffees, word counts and publishing hurdles. Most of all, they reveal how it really feels to write and be read.
With contributions from James Acaster, Andr� Aciman, Ay?`b�mi Ad�b�y?`, Rumaan Alam, Amer Anwar, Mona Arshi, Andrew Billen, Holly Bourne, Charlie Brooker, Wendy Cope, Cressida Cowell, John Crace, Elizabeth Day, Grace Dent, Kit de Waal, Geoff Dyer, Wendy Erskine, Tor Freeman, Will Harris, Anna Hope, John Lanchester, Sophie Mackintosh, Emily St. John Mandel, Meg Mason, Mhairi McFarlane, Liane Moriarty, David Nicholls, Mary Norris, Graham Norton, Maggie O'Farrell, Ruben �stlund, Robert Popper, Lucy Prebble, Georgia Pritchett, Kiley Reid, John Rentoul, Hugo Rifkind, Jon Ronson, Michael Rosen, Sathnam Sanghera, George Saunders, David Sedaris, Elif Shafak, Alexandra Shulman, Curtis Sittenfeld, Raven Smith, Will Storr, Brandon Taylor, Craig Taylor, Barbara Trapido, Emma Jane Unsworth, Robert Webb, Zoe Williams, Meg Wolitzer.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Books About Books

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[Bookishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Hattie's podcast so couldn't wait to get stuck into this. The book brings together interview excerpts from 55 writers that Hattie has spoken to over the years. There is some content from the podcast but also new material here and Hattie groups these together in 10 thematic chapters or questions that reflect the main concerns writers experience, such as 'How do we find flow?' and 'How do we tell the truth?'. The structural approach works well and each chapter then begins with a short prologue by Hattie to set up the concern. One of the most appealing aspects of the books is that these aren't just novelists, but also include screenwriters, comedians, journalists, essayists, poets, filmmakers and more. Writers include Kit de Waal, Jon Ronson, Emily St John Mandel, Liane Moriarty, Ruben Ostlund, Sathnam Sanghera, Brandon Taylor. There are lots of pearls of wisdom in here to mull over and I will be writing them out on index cards for my wall! My most highlighted chapter was 'What's so hard about writing?' and 'What shape is a story?', but I'm very much at the shaping stage with writing at the moment myself and always find writing hard so these were brilliantly refreshing. I particularly liked some of the contradictory advice in here and that those contradictions were very much embraced rather than an attempt to have a neat and consistent narrative. Some of the longer excerpts include Hattie's questions - I liked these insertions and wished Hattie's voice was in here more. I can see that the idea was probably to keep the voices of the interviewees front and centre but one of the strengths of the podcast for me is Hattie's interviewing style and I think the book could have brought that in more, which could also have been achieved in some closing remarks by Hattie for each chapter or a final chapter after the 10 themes. This was an enjoyable and worthwhile read overall and has given me lots to think about.

Many thanks to Granta for the ARC via Netgalley

[Lucy Skeet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful and interesting to anyone who is also a writer or trying to be lol. Some great insight here from many different kinds of writers

[Holly ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every writer needs to read this!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars and more if I could! I am a dedicated listener of Hattie’s podcast and a reader of her Substack newsletter, so I’ve been following the writing process of this book and eagerly awaiting it. It’s the book I needed and I’m very grateful to NetGalley for letting me read it early! I have highlighted so much of my Kindle copy that I may as well have highlighted the whole thing. There are gems here that are new material, including Hattie’s excellent and thought-prompting introductory essays to each section (structured as a series of key questions about writing and how it gets done), but I also loved having quotes I remembered from the podcast down on paper in the edited transcripts, for me to refer back to when I want them. And I will be referring back to this a lot! Especially Meg Mason’s interview extracts. Thank you for this treasure trove Hattie.

[Amanda Laus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big warm reassuring hug! I love this book to bits.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Granta and Netgalley.

If there were ever a book that could pull me out of the odd stupor I often find myself in as a writer, Hattie Crisell's 'In Writing' is going to be that book. Not content with pulling great pieces of advice from a single writer, it traverses success across all writing mediums from screenwriters to poets to novelists to journalists. Most are collected from her podcast interviews of the same name, but Crisell has gone one step further and collated them together under certain categories. So, when you need a boost in a jam and it's a very specific boost, you can find it in a very specific chapter.

I really enjoyed this book. Certainly if you're an author in a particular medium, you'll get more from certain people - as a screenwriter and playwright, I paid particular attention to the advice of Jesse Armstrong, Lucy Prebble, Emily St John Mandel and Georgia Pritchett - but you will always find a nugget of something incredibly useful in a writer you've never heard of.

It did take me quite a long time to finish this book, but I like to think it's because I wanted to absorb as much as I could and really take my time understanding how these writers continue to write without just wanting to lie on the floor all the time. I definitely want to get a copy of this - I highlighted a few passages in the Kindle version and need to come back to them. Writers, bump this to the top of your TBR when it comes out in November or enjoy some episodes of the original podcast in the meantime.

'In Writing' will be available from November 7th.

[Sarah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, and I'm sure this comes as no surprise, have a fondness for writers, journalists, and basically people who use their words. I'm not entirely sure when this fondness took root but I would've been small. It may well have been Roald Dahl. Okay, I know full well it's Roald, I went off him in old age after reading some of his other stories and he very much wasn't a decent fella. But he gave me Matilda and Charlie and Danny and also I'm very much against cancelling books because their author is untoward. Another one for the wee humans is Philip Ridley, I remember loving his books, they were odd but in that way bookish people tend to like. If you've a quiet ten year old I'd go for a wee hunt for his books (specifically, meteorite spoon, for someone whose youth is a vague blur - I do remember the books). As usual none of this is about the book I'm writing about. Or maybe it is. Hattie Crisell's in writing is a book for people who love books. And authors. It's full of wee snippets of interest from very interesting humans. If you're a writer I imagine there's a fair amount to take from it, not prescriptive advice but rather comforting anecdotes. Its also a book about books, and has a place for anyone who finds comfort in books, who wonders what sorcery goes into it. It's glorious. It's not for everyone but if you like that sort of thing it's as good as it gets. For me therefore it's a 5/5. The bookish people I know would probably find it a safe bet for an enjoyable time too. And if you sometimes write secretly it might bring a little fortitude to your uncertain self.

[Rachel Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has interviewed 55 writers, some for her podcast In ‘Writing with Hattie Crisell’. The interviews are with established writers in a range of fields: novelists, poets, non-fiction writers, screenwriters, playwrights, journalists, stand-up comedians.
The early parts of the book feel like an amalgam of every author Q&A I’ve read on a blog: how do you get your ideas; where do you write; what is your daily word count. However, the interviews move on to look at more technical aspects of writing: structure, vocabulary choice, role of feedback and agent/editor input. The interviewees show startling honesty in discussing rejection and those heart-and-soul projects that never got published.
I found it a fascinating, encouraging and helpful read. I think it will appeal to both budding writers and established professionals. I intend to buy the paperback as a Christmas gift for the early-career screenwriter in my family.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenally encouraging and uplifting craft book for writers, while also containing an abundance of practical advice and insight from Hattie Crisell herself and the celebrated writers she interviews. I appreciate that each topic gives opposing perspectives, and I have read and reread different sections depending on my mood or where I am with my own manuscript. I am grateful that it helped me realize why I had gotten stuck, and nudged me to get un-stuck. This one goes up there with Anne Lamott and Stephen King’s books on writing. Highly recommend.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this collection of writing advice by Hattie Crisell. The range of authors Hattie Crisell interviewed was impressive, and many of the authors were inspirational to me. All the advice was eye-opening, and often enabled me to consider an aspect of writing in a different way. I came away from this book feeling that I wasn't alone in my writing struggles, and it's inspired me to keep writing. I'm going to be pushing this book on all my fellow word-wranglers!

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this podcast, and I enjoyed the book. There are extracts from interviews with different writers, talking about writing. I don't really have much to say other than that! If you're interested in writing and how people do it, you'll probably enjoy this.

[Selina mcpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved hearing from some of my favorite authors on everything writing - quite inspiring at points. I loved the contrasting opinions, which gives you insight into the authors individual and honest viewpoints

[Lenna Lowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy listening to Hattie Crisell’s In Writing podcast so I was delighted when I found this book. In a series of interviews with writers or all genres, she has put together the perfect handbook for wannabe writers. Uplifting, funny and relatable.

[Nicole Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not love this book more! I find writing a solitary love but the advice and stories from fabulous writers was so inspiring. I borrowed this from the library... but I've quickly put it on my Christmas list so I can have a copy on my shelf to come back to as I write!

[Phoebe at Pause Books HQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Hattie and her podcast! This book is a must for any wannabe writer!

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

got some good advice about writing for this, also quite interesting to see the different approaches to routine and craft from different writers

[Anna Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly pleasing way to be inspired

[Cassie Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, very inspiring.

[Ashlea Stannard · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely incredible

[Christiana Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great glimpse into the writing world...encouraging too

[Kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading Crisell's In Writing, I wasn't aware of Crisell's podcast of the same name that the interview excerpts in this book come from, but I immediately loved the idea of Crisell asking the questions we always want to ask as readers, as well as the questions fellow writers wish to ask too. Crisell's superb approach allowed for the myriad of writers featured in this book to reveal more about their craft, honestly and helpfully, without the pretension that often comes when writers are interviewed (not through any fault of their own necessarily, it's normally because of how the questions are asked).

Needless to say, In Writing is a brilliant book for writers of any kind due to both the variety of writing crafts discussed (from poetry to screenwriting to newspaper columns), and because of how Crisell structures the collection with ten main questions which explore how writers begin their practice, idea generation, why they write in the first place and much more.

I finished In Writing with so many new things to consider when it came to my own writing, particularly in regards to the editing process and discipline. Similar to when reading Stephen King's 'On Writing', I was constantly engaging with Crisell and her subjects, and this, I hope, proves that in time In Writing will become a book all emerging writers should add to their 'To Read' lists.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

All such books that use a bricolage of writers’ voices feel fragmented and leave no durable aftertaste. They offer no depth other than “people work differently”. This is a lot like “Writers on Writing” by Chip Scanlan.

The best bits of the book are the essays Crisell herself wrote as introduction for each section. It is a shame that she didn’t give us more of herself by writing an entire book rather than leaning on others.

I also wonder how the book is getting a high rating - it is honestly not good. Better read Verlyn Klinkenborg or John McPhee.

[Toni M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an inspiring book and the best book I have read on writing so far. I read it slowly because I wanted to absorb the information and anecdotes, I also didn’t want it to end! I love Hattie’s podcast (if you haven’t listened, you definitely should!), but having something physical that I can pick up and flick through when I’m feeling uninspired is invaluable.
It was incredible to see the variety of processes writers use. This book really shows how every writer is different and there is no ‘one way’ to be a writer. I found it reassuring, funny, and wonderfully insightful.
This is an essential read for anyone who is interested in writing 👀, it is a perfect toolkit and place to become inspired. I would love to write more in the future and I will be keeping this book by my side!

Thank you @grantabooks for kindly gifting me this copy.