On Writers and Writing

by Margaret Atwood

By the author of THE HANDMAID'S TALE and ALIAS GRACEWhat is the role of the writer? Prophet? High Priest of Art? Court Jester? Or witness to the real world? Looking back on her own childhood and the development of her writing career, Margaret Atwood examines the metaphors which writers of fiction and poetry have used to explain - or excuse! - their activities, looking at what costumes they have seen fit to assume, what roles they have chosen to play. In her final chapter she takes up the challenge of the book's if a writer is to be seen as 'gifted', who is doing the giving and what are the terms of the gift?Margaret Atwood's wide and eclectic reference to other writers, living and dead, is balanced by anecdotes from her own experiences as a writer, both in Canada and on the international scene. The lightness of her touch is underlined by a seriousness about the purpose and the pleasures of writing, and by a deep familiarity with the myths and traditions of western literature.Praise for On Writers and '...a streetwise, erudite suggestive enquiry into problems and myths of the writer's role. Her light touch on hard thoughts, her humour and eclectic quotations, lend enchantment to an argument that has as many undulating tentacles as a well developed sea anemone' -INDEPENDENT'Her witty, occasionally self-deprecating and always ingenious approach is a delight' -SUNDAY TIMES'A witty and profound rumination about writing' -THE TIMES

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Essays

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Margaret Atwood was born in 1939 in Ottawa and grew up in northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and her master's degree from Radcliffe College.

Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth ­ in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.

Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.

Reviews

[clarachen · Rating 4 out of 5]

não é ruim, mas não é acessível. Mtas mtas referências - e várias que eu não tenho. Considerando que ela trabalha os conceitos a partir dessas referências, é difícil de entender quando você não conhece de verdade a história por trás.

[Zareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Writers and Writing

A very good resource for writers and readers.
It is a volume that I would probably return to reading in a couple of years.
I found it informative & comprehensive as well as readable.
For an aspiring writer the book is worth reading but the short philosophical section was challenging for me. Margaret Atwood gives the reader a sociological & anthropological context to many of the books she reviews.

[Josh Slingers · Rating 5 out of 5]

“an inability to see one's way forward, but a feeling that there was a way forward, and that the act of going forward would eventually bring about the conditions for vision”.

This is such a great resource! Will be using the bibliography as a guide to more reading. Especially enjoyed the sections that dealt with myth and religion and belief and the Other Place in relation to writing.

[Hamad AlMannai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atwood is always a good idea. In this somewhat autobiographical series of lectures appropriated into a book, she talks about (capital W) Writing and Writers. It’s not a how to write book, rather a book discussing the nature of the relationships and bonds between writers, readers and society.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Begun as a series of six lectures delivered at Cambridge University in 2000, Margaret Atwood's, On Writers and Writing is composed of autobiographical essays, cultural commentary, book reviews, and introductions to other author's books. It was also released as Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing.

I found some of the essays were on point. She included plenty of autobiographgical data and person anecdotes. I thought it would definitely have been more enjoyable if I had done it in audio, rather than in written form.

I'm sure this could be a great fit and a valuable resource, especially for someone interested in writing. Having just finished Stephen Kings writing memoir, this one just didn't appeal to me. Earlier this month I read Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004 to 2021 which I highly recommend and think more people will enjoy.

[Neel Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Atwood's "On Writers and Writing" is a thought-provoking exploration of the multifaceted roles writers assume in the realm of literature. Through a lens that is part memoir, part literary analysis, Atwood delves into the metaphors writers use to define their craft and existence. With a keen retrospective gaze, she draws from her own childhood experiences and the trajectory of her writing career, unraveling the intricate tapestry of roles writers have played across history!

The book unfolds as a nuanced examination of the diverse personas writers adopt — be it the prophet, high priest of art, court jester, or witness to the real world. Atwood deftly navigates through these metaphors, questioning the motives and choices writers make in defining their literary identities. Her insightful reflections are not confined to a theoretical discourse; instead, they are grounded in personal anecdotes, offering readers a glimpse into her own evolution as a writer both in her native Canada and on the global stage.

In the final chapter, Atwood confronts a pivotal question: If a writer is deemed 'gifted,' who is the giver, and what are the terms of this gift? This inquiry serves as a linchpin, tying together the diverse threads woven throughout the book. Atwood's exploration is not just a scholarly exercise; it is a contemplative journey into the very essence of the writer's vocation.

What sets this work apart is Atwood's ability to strike a delicate balance between erudition and accessibility. Her prose is infused with a lightness that belies the profound thoughts it carries. Drawing from an eclectic array of references to other writers, both contemporary and historical, Atwood crafts an engaging narrative. Her anecdotes, infused with humor and occasional self-deprecation, lend an enchanting quality to an otherwise serious discussion on the purpose and pleasures of writing.

The book is a testament to Atwood's deep familiarity with the myths and traditions of Western literature. Through her explorations, readers are guided through a literary landscape that is at once familiar and unfamiliar, inviting contemplation on the evolving nature of the writer's role. Atwood's keen observations and wit make this book not only an intellectual inquiry but also a delightful journey into the heart of literary creation!

In essence, "On Writers and Writing" is an illuminating read for anyone interested in the art and craft of writing. Atwood's keen insights and playful prose make it accessible to both scholars and casual readers. Her ability to unravel complex ideas with a light touch, combined with a serious engagement with the nuances of literary tradition, makes this book a captivating exploration of the writer's multifaceted existence. Atwood invites readers to ponder the enduring questions of literary identity, creativity, and the timeless dance between writers and their craft.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’ll come back to this book multiple times. It sparks so many ideas and is something I can learn new things from each time.

Hooked me in immediately with her unconventional format and rock solid foundation of knowledge and insights into writing concepts most writers don’t discuss as much. Or rather, they say a word here and there and she’s gone to the enormous effort of bringing them together into themes and make them more meaningful by comparing each example with others she deems related.

I really needed this in my life.

[Colette Coen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Atwood will never disappoint and this book does what it ways on the tin. I found myself nodding along or adding index tabs for nuggets of wisdom to go back to.
Originally presented as lectures, these essays have been beefed up with citations and quotations and provide a rich commentary on writers and writing, going back as far as the first know written text Gilgamesh. As it's Margaret Atwood though, the writing is accessible and is as entertaining as it is enjoyable.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a “how to” book about writing but a witty and erudite study of the philosophy of writing, the motivations of writers, how writers see themselves, and how society sees writers generally. It’s deep, introspective, illuminating, surprising, and very entertaining. A joy to read and, without doubt, to read again and again. It’s full of gems of wisdom and prompts for deeper thought, all of which can serve to improve the practice of writing, much more than most “how to” books.

[Liina Kutja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 Margaret Atwood is a good writer and I was excited to read her thoughts on this matter. She declares in the begining that this isn't a book that gives you instructions how to write. Her point is to look writing and writers from various angles, which she does, but sometimes her examples were too abstract to be applied to anything I personally know about writing. Might also be the foreing language lol

[Zareen Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overall. I did the short overtly philosophical section in Chapter 4 more challenging but I did read on.
Margaret Atwood covers a large section of books, giving a sociological & anthropological perspective on many books she reviews.
I warmly recommend this book to aspiring author.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erudite and thought-provoking. For Atwood, the urge to write is the urge to avert mortality.

[Tommy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I originally envisioned this book would be; it’s more of a Ted talk on the vocation of being a writer, the history of writing, and what it means to write.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute queen and some suuuuper stuff that's a nice alternative to King's 'On Writing' and his obsessive hatred of adverbs 🤷‍♀️

[Nirmalendu Mohapatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

great work as a memoir.
must read for aspiring writers.
enjoyed its style and richness.

[val]

Margaret, thanks for the reading recommendations from the bottom of my heart!