Rules of Thumb: 71 Authors Reveal Their Fiction Writing Fixations

by Michael Martone (Editor), Susan Neville

Whether it's the simplest of prohibitions (don't use too many adjectives), or a cherished writing maxim (show, don't tell), all writers have a rule of thumb that guides their work. In this book, more than 70 contemporary writers share their own insight and revelations, offering insider tips and advice. Writers Jiro Adachi
Steve Almond
John Barth
Steven Barthelme
Janet Burroway
Robert Olen Butler
Lydia Davis
Stephen Dixon
Molly Giles
Robin Hemley
Brian Kiteley
Bret Lott
Paul Maliszewski
Erin McGraw
Pablo Medina
Ander Monson
Rick Moody
Stewart O'Nan
Gina Ochsner
Thisbe Nissen
Scott Russell Sanders
Barb Shoup
Joan Silber
Joseph Skibell
Melanie Rae Thom
Steve Tomasula
Jane Yolen

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

245 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2006

About the author

Michael A. Martone is a professor at the creative writing program at the University of Alabama, and is the author of several books. His most recent work, titled Michael Martone and originally written as a series of contributor's notes for various publications, is an investigation of form and autobiography.

A former student of John Barth, Martone's work is critically regarded as powerful and funny. Making use of Whitman's catalogues and Ginsberg's lists, the events, moments and places in Martone's landscapes — fiction or otherwise — often take the same Mobius-like turns of the threads found the works of his mentor, Barth.

Reviews

[Stephi K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology made of many essays written by writers about how to write (whew, that was a mouthful!). Some of the essays were confusing or not to my taste, but most of them were informative and fun to read. I've enjoyed reading a little bit each night. I wished it would just keep going.

[Chanel Earl]

I really liked how some of the authors in this book contradicted each other, and how so many of them said that writers shouldn't listen to advice about writing. I don't like a lot of books about writing, but I think this one would be fun to read even if I wasn't interested in the subject.

[Trixy Lemell · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this was a hit and miss. At times the sections written were clever and engaging and at other times my eyes just wanted to gloss right on over the whole section. Some of the advice is useful and other's I didn't find so useful.

One key thing to note, just about everyone who put their two cents in was not keen on giving writing advice and stated that there were really no rules to writing.

So I guess that says something.

[Jan Priddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful and entertaining. Fantasy, satire, tongue firmly in cheek, practical advice: use all the senses, avoid the I/adverbs/attributions, find occupations for characters, respect the world and the Other; pages of cleverness in the face of other authors (the semi-colon); a warning that others will hammer you over the head with rules, but get to know those rules then sneak them off into the park and violate them; vomit [1st draft] onto the page and clean up [revise]; just read and write; realistic revision process. Fiction is/not reality. Note charming antique illustrations, the use of colored inks. Disturbing that, though MFA instructors with impressive publishing credits, I didn’t recognize most of the authors.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly useful, wonderfully contradictory collection of writing advice from some of my favorite authors. Useful not only for the straightforward writing advice of some (read your work out loud, suggests Jiro Adachi), but also for the more sideways advice--folks who took the solicitation from the editors and ran with it. And from now on, I live my life by Michael Martone's Theory of Neat Stuff: "not everything has to contribute. Some things are just neat."

[September Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent advice given by authors/professors through anecdotes about their own writing lives. I will be keeping this book on my shelf for reference.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Ultimately life slips between words, overflows the containers we make. The work of writing becomes most difficult and most rewarding at the frontiers of the sayable, where language reaches out from the known to the unknown. However skillful we may become in using language, we should never forget that the universe is grander and more subtle than anything we can say about it" (85).

- Scott Russell Sanders

[Theresa]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, especially for striving writers. The premise is that more than 70 authors provided thoughts in 1-3 page segments about "Rules of Thumb" for writing. Some are practical, others are whimsical or ironic. You'll probably pick up a few nuggets to add to your own writing routine, like I did.

[Donald · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got about halfway through this one before putting it down for good. It's the same rules of thumb over and over again by different authors, most of whom I have never heard of.
I have a rule of thumb now: Make sure you're not saying the same thing as everyone else.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

73 authors reveal their writing 'rules of thumb' ... I like this sort of stuff, keeps me from actually sitting down and writing, but I feel like I'll really know what I'm doing when I finally do sit down and write.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and sometimes funny suggestions for writing by 73 different authors. Well worth the read.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Other) Best. Writing book. Ever.

There are some invaluable tips and tricks in here that I've never found anywhere else. A must have for the serious writer in any genre.

[Michael P. Clemens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hodgepodge of practical advice, musings, and a few digressions of high style but low advice. Nothing particularly earth-shattering, but a window into the processes and foibles of many authors.