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Writer's Workshop in a Book: The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction
Since 1969, the prestigious Squaw Valley Community of Writers has helped develop the art and craft of many who are now household names. Instructors such as Michael Chabon, Mark Childress, Diane Johnson, Anne Lamott, Robert Stone, and Amy Tan have distilled their advice and wisdom from seminars and lectures, and the result is a book that captures the workshop experience of complete submersion in the writing process. With an introduction by novelist and short story master Richard Ford, himself a conference attendee in the 1970s, this volume gives the writer and dedicated reader a jolt of inspiration, sharp insight into matters of technique, and a feeling of camaraderie with a writing community.
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2007
8 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Alan Cheuse
62 books47 followersAmerican writer and critic.
For more than two decades, Alan Cheuse has served as NPRs voice of books. He is the author of three novels, including The Grandmothers Club and The Light Possessed, several collections of short stories, and a pair of novellas recently published in The Fires. He is also the editor of Seeing Ourselves: Great Early American Short Stories and co-editor of Writers Workshop in a Book. Stories and co-editor of Writers Workshop in a Book."
Forthcoming in March, 2015, the novel
Prayers for the Living...
Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Cheuse grew up in a Jewish family, the son of a Russian immigrant father and a mother of Russian and Romanian descent
For more than two decades, Alan Cheuse has served as NPRs voice of books. He is the author of three novels, including The Grandmothers Club and The Light Possessed, several collections of short stories, and a pair of novellas recently published in The Fires. He is also the editor of Seeing Ourselves: Great Early American Short Stories and co-editor of Writers Workshop in a Book. Stories and co-editor of Writers Workshop in a Book."
Forthcoming in March, 2015, the novel
Prayers for the Living...
Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Cheuse grew up in a Jewish family, the son of a Russian immigrant father and a mother of Russian and Romanian descent
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 23, 2017
I know it's not really perfect. Any book that's a collection of essays all written by different people will usually suffer some degree of imbalance. And yes, there were stretches that I enjoyed more than others, but I at least liked most of it, hated none of it, and loved much of it.
This isn't a book on detailed writing craft despite the deceptive nature of the title. If you're going in expecting to discover the secrets to story structure, you need to look elsewhere. Instead, this is a book about the struggles of the writing process. It's a collection of experiences and folk knowledge shared around a camp fire. It'll warm you, burn you, and inspire you.
Just check out this pedigree: Michael Chabon, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, Max Byrd, Jane Fitch. And that's not even half of them. Sure, you should never buy a book just for the names involved, but luckily, no one here mailed it in to cash an easy pay check. If they did, they're even more talented than people give them credit for.
I loved reading these author's thoughts. It felt like I was a getting a private tour of their minds and idiosyncrasies in some cases, and that I was getting to-the-point sage wisdom in others. Take this short paragraph from Robert Stone's essay, "The Reconquest of Reality":
"The child in us loved a good story, so the pleasure principle is always the bottom line. No work is profound enough or sincere enough to overcome its failure to entertain. Boredom is a fearful monster that stalks a writer's every inky move. Writers, who spend more time than most people trying to stay awake in quiet rooms, live in dread of it."
Yes, it's obvious that writing shouldn't be boring and that it should strive to keep a reader turning the page, but that doesn't mean this common knowledge is not worth repeating or putting into a fun paragraph like the one above.
There are equally striking passages on the importance of details, on describing surroundings, on point of view, and on honing your own senses to become a better writer, and in turn, a more present human being.
I loved the hell out of this thing as a mish-mash of general writing advice with enough specifics to still be practical in addition to being inspiring and motivational.
This isn't a book on detailed writing craft despite the deceptive nature of the title. If you're going in expecting to discover the secrets to story structure, you need to look elsewhere. Instead, this is a book about the struggles of the writing process. It's a collection of experiences and folk knowledge shared around a camp fire. It'll warm you, burn you, and inspire you.
Just check out this pedigree: Michael Chabon, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, Max Byrd, Jane Fitch. And that's not even half of them. Sure, you should never buy a book just for the names involved, but luckily, no one here mailed it in to cash an easy pay check. If they did, they're even more talented than people give them credit for.
I loved reading these author's thoughts. It felt like I was a getting a private tour of their minds and idiosyncrasies in some cases, and that I was getting to-the-point sage wisdom in others. Take this short paragraph from Robert Stone's essay, "The Reconquest of Reality":
"The child in us loved a good story, so the pleasure principle is always the bottom line. No work is profound enough or sincere enough to overcome its failure to entertain. Boredom is a fearful monster that stalks a writer's every inky move. Writers, who spend more time than most people trying to stay awake in quiet rooms, live in dread of it."
Yes, it's obvious that writing shouldn't be boring and that it should strive to keep a reader turning the page, but that doesn't mean this common knowledge is not worth repeating or putting into a fun paragraph like the one above.
There are equally striking passages on the importance of details, on describing surroundings, on point of view, and on honing your own senses to become a better writer, and in turn, a more present human being.
I loved the hell out of this thing as a mish-mash of general writing advice with enough specifics to still be practical in addition to being inspiring and motivational.
July 21, 2022
I almost gave up on this promising title because many of the first essays to appear seemed obscure and dealt with topics I didn't want to pursue and literature analysis I couldn't connect to because I hadn't encountered the works. I'm glad I persevered. The essay near the end by Amy Tan about writing her second novel was worth the cover price and then some. Another useful tool, an essay on Making Workshops Work was intended for workshop planners or participants, but I found it a perfect blueprint for evaluating my own writing. Essays by Lynn Freed and Anne Lamott were also insightful and readable. Out of the twenty or so pieces included in this collection, I found four useful. The star system didn't work for me with this one. I'd give five stars to the essays I mentioned and one to the rest. Three stars seemed a good way to rate the disparity.
December 8, 2019
Despite its appearance over a decade ago, I enjoyed this collection of essays on the work of writing, and in particular the pieces on the significance of place, senses, fears, attending workshops, and finishing your project. Writing is a hard and lonely labor, and guidance, wisdom, and supportive friends help make the way a bit easier. The nuggets of suggestions and encouragement found in this volume make it a nice addition to the resource section of a writer's personal library.
February 13, 2025
Good set of essays, some better than others. I so wish that the essay on workshops had been available when I was an undergrad in a writing program: I can't recall ever hearing an instructor talk about the purpose of the workshop, nor can I recall ever getting (or giving) a single useful thing out of one.
Come to think of it, I got more out of this book than I did my undergrad writing program...
Come to think of it, I got more out of this book than I did my undergrad writing program...
August 13, 2024
I only remember one entry from the whole book. Not at all what I was looking for. Sure, you can read some essays by some very successful authors, but they aren't really about how to write. *shrug* I just found it not engaging and not very helpful for helping a struggling writer improve their craft all that much.
April 7, 2024
Read it slow, savoring. Almost every entry in this book gave me something to use in my writing. And every piece is so entertaining!
Thank you.
Thank you.
January 9, 2011
The essayists in this book (accomplished authors, all) aren't too concerned with discussing the basic technicalities of writing. That is, nobody in this book talks about getting your tenses aligned or how to "show, don't tell." Rather, because this book is a collection of essays that have been delivered at a writer's workshop the assumption is that you, reader, are already a writer and have written something. Thus, the essayists speak to some of the more difficult aspects of writing: how to jump start and/or kill a dead-ended plot point, how to stave off writer's block ennui and keep the ideas flowing, how to overcome the second book jitters. The best part is that the essayists (with one exception) seemed down-to-earth, though they are all accomplished professionals. I felt like Michael Chabon wasn't talking down to me, you know?
Three stars!
Three stars!
January 27, 2011
Staff members from the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley distill their most valued lessons and advice into a collection of essays. It was fun to read such a wide variety of writers, styles, and approach. The advice ranged from good to great. This is an easy book to read over an extended period because each entry is a self-contained unit.
July 14, 2014
3.5
The book is a series of essays by participants in the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. They are each quite different, but I found them interesting and helpful on the whole. The book has tried to be systematic in its approach to different aspects of "the art of fiction" and related topics. I can see myself returning to this book.
The book is a series of essays by participants in the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. They are each quite different, but I found them interesting and helpful on the whole. The book has tried to be systematic in its approach to different aspects of "the art of fiction" and related topics. I can see myself returning to this book.
June 21, 2011
Another valuable addition to any writer's bookshelf. Started last summer; ready to consume more of its delights.
Re-read most of the contributions; many good pieces, especially by Cheuse, Michael Chabon and others, but as a whole may not be as comprehensive as some readers would like.
Re-read most of the contributions; many good pieces, especially by Cheuse, Michael Chabon and others, but as a whole may not be as comprehensive as some readers would like.
April 7, 2016
I photocopied the essay from Janet Fitch, called "Coming to Your Senses." That one really stood out to me, but all in all, the other essays were worth the read as well. Some I skipped over because they really didn't speak to me, but not everything does or will.
July 31, 2008
Not at all a how-to book, but a terrific companion. Just like sitting down with a whole room full of mentors. The essays by Mark Childress and Amy Tan are great, and plenty of others, too.
August 13, 2012
Great collection of essay about different stages of the writing process.
November 18, 2011
Particularly good essay by Anne Lamott
September 4, 2013
Anthology of writing techniques by noted authors such as Amy Tan. Great advise.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews