How Not To Write By Someone Who Doesn't

by Delilah Des Anges

This is a collection of rants, essays, lists, and other marginalia and arguments relating to the awfulness that is attempting to write novels, short stories, and poetry. You fool! Put this book down and back away slowly. It is not for polishing your ego at all! (But at least the Kindle version comes with two additional essays none of the other editions have).

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2011

Reviews

[StarMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rambling but pretty good. Moderately funny, and not short on curse words. The author covers topics such as writer's block, where she gets her ideas, and much more. If you want brutal honesty instead of the usual how-to-write-better drivel, give this book a look.

VERDICT: 4 stars.

Also consider these atypical books on Writing:

--Robot Coconut Trees: Break Through Writer's Block, Unleash Your Creative Voice, and Become the Writer You Already Are by Kelsey Horton
--How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide by Howard Mittelmark

[Murinius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time this week that someone tells me to get over it and give birth to it, already. It being, of course, the accumulation of stories and concepts that I am too self-conscious to get out. This book kicked my ass. It was uproariously funny, with some real good advice. Though the title claims that the author does not write, in the fifteen or so years since they published this little volume they have brought forth a number of novels and stories, several of which I’ve enjoyed for the humour and sensibility that is already present in this one. I recommend this book to anyone burdened with self-doubt. The stage fright of the blank page, or even of being alone with oneself. It reads like a friend reaching out to you through the ages, speaking not from a pedestal of didactism but from having been in the trenches as well.

I am actually doing one thing that the book tells you not to do, which is to find any reason, no matter how good, to procrastinate—at least I will leave here a good review!

[A.E. Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first things I recommend to people stuck in the mire of trying to write, and panicking about it. An excellent, amusing, ridiculous and genuinely useful collection about ALL THE FEELINGS it is possible to have whilst writing, as well as some very handy tips, aphorisms and exercises for tackling all the gremlins that attempt to prevent writing. If you like writing, or even if you hate writing but would like to do more of it, there will be something in here that will make that word-aligning experience better for you.