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Why Write?: A Master Class on the Art of Writing and Why it Matters
From one of America's great professors, author of Why Teach? and Why Read?--an inspiring exploration of the importance of writing well, for creators, educators, students, and anyone who writes.Why write when it sometimes feels that so few people really read--read as if their lives might be changed by what they're reading? Why write, when the world wants to be informed, not enlightened; to be entertained, not inspired? Writing is backbreaking, mindbreaking, lonely work. So why?Because writing, as celebrated professor Mark Edmundson explains, is one of the greatest human goods. Real writing can do what critic R. P. Blackmur said it add to the stock of available reality. Writing teaches us to think; it can bring our minds to birth. And once we're at home with words, there are few more pleasurable human activities than writing. Because this is something he believes everyone ought to know, Edmundson offers us Why Write?, essential reading--both practical and inspiring--for anyone who yearns to be a writer, anyone who simply needs to know how to get an idea across, and anyone in between--in short, everyone.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2016
49 people are currently reading
1280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 20, 2018
Yeah, this is about as white and male as you can get. The women are a bit of an afterthought; in fact, very often, he’ll add “and women” and you can practically see him blinking at his desk and hurriedly scrawling that in. He mentions Mary Shelley, he mentions Woolf, and retells Rebecca Solnit’s “idiot in Aspen” story very obviously without naming her (why?!) because he then tries to imply that she was exaggerating. Rebecca Solnit is a far better writer than Edmundson, although I did like “Teacher.” Oh, and he likes Franzen. All that aside, he says exactly what you need to feel a bit better (realistically) about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. I’m glad I read it.
November 7, 2016
Enjoyed this. Reminded me of so many of my college professors. Very smart. Very well written. Also very white and male, and a touch elitist. Women - both the authors he cited and the writers he was addressing - seem like an afterthought. Still, he got me. Would have given it 3.5 stars if that was an option, but couldn't stomach 3.
I enjoyed it too much. Damn these professors and their wily ways.
I enjoyed it too much. Damn these professors and their wily ways.
June 29, 2017
Despite the chapter on reviews, perhaps designed to discourage reviewing, I will share some thoughts about this book. Overall, it encourages anyone to write though some of the reasons that serve as chapter titles are more small-minded than others (or than I would choose). I did wonder if the subtitle was the publisher's idea (although it's so academic to have the obligatory colon: subtitle), because it reminded me more of the trend in clickbait titles that never really live up to the promise--it didn't seem like a Master Class on the Art of Writing. Aside from Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf, not many women writers were mentioned or given much time or seen as funny, etc, the way white male English-writing authors were. It was kind of fun to realize he might have gone to Tufts with his discussion of "azul azul" learned in the Hillside section of Medford; Ronna Johnson could learn a thing or two about Melville from this book. Oh wait, is that my own [small-minded] wish for "revenge" creeping in, wink wink? Anyway, the book gets better as it goes on. I'm self-conscious again of reviewing it--and the chapter does consider the idea of saving one's time/money, reminding me of the only two movies I'd ever seen and been appalled at having wasted the time/money (one with good reviews), so I should say simply, though parts of the middle were rather sleep-inducing, in the end it was a plus to have read this book.
April 30, 2017
This is a thorough and meditative look at writing and it's purposes, written incredibly well and with lots of consideration of the purposes and reasons of writing. You can tell Edmundson is a teacher, and likely a very good one, with interesting, humorous lectures. He is definitely a man of his era and of the canon, using examples of mid-century postmodernists (mostly those tome writing white men like Mailer, Bellow, etc.) and those classic romantics (Keats, Whitman, Yeats, etc.).
February 7, 2017
This is my fourth Mark Edmundson book. Each is better than the last. Why Write? is definitely not a gimmicky how-to book. This is a sort of love-hate letter to writing as a discipline. Edmundson acknowledges the ups and downs, the neurotic tendencies, the glory, the nonsense, the magic, and all the irrationality that goes into the craft of writing. Short chapters keep things interesting and moving. It's a delightful read and a book I highlighted up and down.
August 12, 2017
This is, without a doubt, the most pretentious thing I've read in my entire life. Oh dear God is it pretentious. Hence the lower rating. However I did like some of the ideas that Edmundson put forth--there were a couple of chapters that I didn't mind for a while, and I think someone that had a grand idea of what a magic life-changer writing is would get a lot more out of this than I did. But I'm in the "dude, writing is so much fun that's why I do it" camp, so this book for me? Didn't quite do it all of the time.
Sometimes. Sometimes I could nod and be like, "Yeah, that's a good idea/set of words/view on this subject" but that was greatly outnumbered by the times I would just have to laugh at how pretentious and like... elevated most of his diction and his ideas were.
Sometimes. Sometimes I could nod and be like, "Yeah, that's a good idea/set of words/view on this subject" but that was greatly outnumbered by the times I would just have to laugh at how pretentious and like... elevated most of his diction and his ideas were.
April 9, 2024
Most of the essays within are quite good, and several are great. They can be repetitive within certain chapters by almost verbatim recalling the same theme over and over, and at one point early on in my reading I wrote down "more like Commentaries on Schopenhauer" in what'd become a repeating theme of getting a bit too hung up on the authorities of the past, but there's a ton of insight on writing and life to procure from this.
I would be embarrassed to type some of these other reviews, which tell on themselves as being written by barely-literate YA fans who somehow managed to stumble out of their genre playpen and otherwise last read something that challenged them when their age was a single digit, but that's Goodreads for you.
I would be embarrassed to type some of these other reviews, which tell on themselves as being written by barely-literate YA fans who somehow managed to stumble out of their genre playpen and otherwise last read something that challenged them when their age was a single digit, but that's Goodreads for you.
February 3, 2018
Star One: Accessibility and book length.
Star Two: Chapter Titles
Star Three: Sweet sayings sprinkled throughout this dessert of words such as an Ann Marlowe quote of, "...If I had to offer up a one-sentence definition of addiction, I'd call it a form of mourning for the irrecoverable glories of the first time."
Star Four: The gold nugget simply stated on page 120: "Writing is its own reward."
(absent) Star Five: In order to access these pages to the point where a typical aspiring hack can stumble upon enough kindle to light the fire under his ass, a reader must protect his head. That is from all of the literary names dropping down from the sky, enough pompous precipitation to make for another dead bookmark, buried forever in an unfinished manuscript. But if the less-well-read-than-a-professor reader can humble himself to reach the end, many tasty word vittles will be enjoyed. Hi-lighted even. Encouraging memoir writing in old age may be serving for the log in whatever little flame may arise from this reader being educated and coached through this book.
Star Two: Chapter Titles
Star Three: Sweet sayings sprinkled throughout this dessert of words such as an Ann Marlowe quote of, "...If I had to offer up a one-sentence definition of addiction, I'd call it a form of mourning for the irrecoverable glories of the first time."
Star Four: The gold nugget simply stated on page 120: "Writing is its own reward."
(absent) Star Five: In order to access these pages to the point where a typical aspiring hack can stumble upon enough kindle to light the fire under his ass, a reader must protect his head. That is from all of the literary names dropping down from the sky, enough pompous precipitation to make for another dead bookmark, buried forever in an unfinished manuscript. But if the less-well-read-than-a-professor reader can humble himself to reach the end, many tasty word vittles will be enjoyed. Hi-lighted even. Encouraging memoir writing in old age may be serving for the log in whatever little flame may arise from this reader being educated and coached through this book.
August 14, 2017
The subtitle billing the book as a "master class" is misleading, at best. In reality the book is a series of essays ruminating on various aspects of writing. The book is a mix of memoir, writing insight, and life insight, along with occasional writing advice, interspersed with voluminous asides (parenthetically presented, of course). I didn't really learn much about writing from it, though I did enjoy reading it, or at least parts of it. Still, it's worth reading if you're a writer (or aspire to be). The stream of consciousness laced with subtle humor (and parentheses) is a pleasant enough read.
April 18, 2017
I love the fact that this book straight to the point and giving encouragement and enlightenment as you read it. In short this book asks the question, then Listen, then Reflect on the answer and Repeat.
I did enjoy the many questions and another way of looking at a way to answer and reflect upon it as well as listen. A must read for book lovers everywhere.
I did enjoy the many questions and another way of looking at a way to answer and reflect upon it as well as listen. A must read for book lovers everywhere.
December 1, 2017
I like reading about writers and books about books. I all just fascinates me. I felt right at home with this book, certainly kept my interest throughout. I like how this man writes, so now I'm on to Why Read and Why Teach and I don't think I'll regret it.
July 6, 2017
Why Write? A Master Class on the Art of Writing and Why it Matters by Mark Edmundson (Bloomsbury, New York 2016)
Mark Edmundson is a professor at the University of Virginia with books to his credit like Why Teach? and Why Read? Why Write? un-limbers the old cliché that the mind is a muscle and then cobbles together a hyperbolic set of examples that demonstrate the truth of the cliché by reference to “writing” as psychological, moral and spiritual weight-lifting. Not only has modern neuroscience and cognitive psychology begun to give a frame to what philosophers used to call “mind”, but the frame itself has come to fruition in works by Nobel prize winners like Daniel Kahnemann and serious philosopher/scientists like Daniel Dennett, Stephen Pinker, Jeremy Rifkin, Antonio Domasio and many others. Edmundson makes explicit his claim that “the mind is a muscle”; then, he continues to pile error on error by claiming that the muscled-up mind produces a muscled-up memory. Modern science now knows that, at best, memory is a hit-and-miss proposition, though certain feats of memory can be produced with training of a specific sort. Even taken as “metaphor”, the “mind as muscle” idea is false.
Edmudson claims that he’s examining the “art” of writing, but almost nothing about the “art” itself is mentioned. Short chapters explore why writers write (for revenge, to get the last word, for money, etc.) and a section or two explores revision and related items. However, the “art” of writing is pretty much untouched, either as a theory of creative cognition or as aesthetics. Here again modern neuroscience and cognitive psychology ride to the rescue: If one wants to understand the relation between creativity and aesthetics there are modern scientific masters at work like the pioneering Howard Gardner and Eric Kandel (among many others).
One thing Edmundson says rankles: Writing is not about publishing, he says. Writing is about writing. Sadly, this is untrue. Writing to be read is about the only thing worthwhile about real writing. If you do not wish to present your work for publication, then consort with your “daily diary” for a few minutes a day, then keep it hidden under lock and key.
This chatty, banal book has Kafka spinning in his grave.
Mark Edmundson is a professor at the University of Virginia with books to his credit like Why Teach? and Why Read? Why Write? un-limbers the old cliché that the mind is a muscle and then cobbles together a hyperbolic set of examples that demonstrate the truth of the cliché by reference to “writing” as psychological, moral and spiritual weight-lifting. Not only has modern neuroscience and cognitive psychology begun to give a frame to what philosophers used to call “mind”, but the frame itself has come to fruition in works by Nobel prize winners like Daniel Kahnemann and serious philosopher/scientists like Daniel Dennett, Stephen Pinker, Jeremy Rifkin, Antonio Domasio and many others. Edmundson makes explicit his claim that “the mind is a muscle”; then, he continues to pile error on error by claiming that the muscled-up mind produces a muscled-up memory. Modern science now knows that, at best, memory is a hit-and-miss proposition, though certain feats of memory can be produced with training of a specific sort. Even taken as “metaphor”, the “mind as muscle” idea is false.
Edmudson claims that he’s examining the “art” of writing, but almost nothing about the “art” itself is mentioned. Short chapters explore why writers write (for revenge, to get the last word, for money, etc.) and a section or two explores revision and related items. However, the “art” of writing is pretty much untouched, either as a theory of creative cognition or as aesthetics. Here again modern neuroscience and cognitive psychology ride to the rescue: If one wants to understand the relation between creativity and aesthetics there are modern scientific masters at work like the pioneering Howard Gardner and Eric Kandel (among many others).
One thing Edmundson says rankles: Writing is not about publishing, he says. Writing is about writing. Sadly, this is untrue. Writing to be read is about the only thing worthwhile about real writing. If you do not wish to present your work for publication, then consort with your “daily diary” for a few minutes a day, then keep it hidden under lock and key.
This chatty, banal book has Kafka spinning in his grave.
August 19, 2018
At times inspiring, at others comical, Mark Edmundson manages to cover an array of motivations, reasons, and benefits connected with writing. Each chapter reads almost like an independent essay, so this is a book that you can take your time with, reading a bit here and there.
He relies a bit too heavily on European classics. Obviously he has a preference that limits his appreciation for contemporary and diverse writers. However, he only uses these as examples or to highlight his points, so adding in more diversity would enrich rather than significantly alter the book. He does make some efforts in this regard, but there is more to be said by more authors than the ones he repeatedly turns to.
Overall, however, this book is inspiring for anyone who wants to live a writing life. Edmundson makes a case that writing is a worthy endeavour in its own right. Publishing and all the things that come along with writing (or not) are not his focus. He doesn't ignore the realities and challenges of writing, but it's not an advice book. It's a book that transcends the material reality of writing to delve into what we gain on a personal, "spiritual" level (for lack of a better word).
He relies a bit too heavily on European classics. Obviously he has a preference that limits his appreciation for contemporary and diverse writers. However, he only uses these as examples or to highlight his points, so adding in more diversity would enrich rather than significantly alter the book. He does make some efforts in this regard, but there is more to be said by more authors than the ones he repeatedly turns to.
Overall, however, this book is inspiring for anyone who wants to live a writing life. Edmundson makes a case that writing is a worthy endeavour in its own right. Publishing and all the things that come along with writing (or not) are not his focus. He doesn't ignore the realities and challenges of writing, but it's not an advice book. It's a book that transcends the material reality of writing to delve into what we gain on a personal, "spiritual" level (for lack of a better word).
April 12, 2023
I've been reading this book, a chapter at a time, for quite a while. It was due back at the library, so I finally dug into the last few chapters and finished it up this morning. I feel like the title is a bit deceiving. I didn't feel like I got a "master class" in writing. I feel like I got a series of essays about writers and one man's personal experiences or the experiences he's gathered from others. It was bad...it just wasn't what it said it would be. The English major in me enjoyed the essays and commentary, but I felt like all the authors he mentioned and analyzed were not very diverse and were generally white American males who were writing at a certain time. Not that there isn't a lot to consider and applaud these authors for...I enjoyed studying them in college...but there are so many others who could have been included in the story.
October 11, 2023
Edmundson, a literature theory professor, attempts to bridge the gap between literary students and common readers, but often the book veers into overly intellectual territory. The constant references to Keats and Yeats, Thoreau, and Emerson can feel overwhelming. Moreover, the repetitive nature of the content makes the reading experience tiresome. Oh yeah, and he’d love to travel back in time, very specifically, to 1814 so he could be among the first ever to read a Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. FFS….
While “Why Write?” offers insights into the world of writing, it misses the mark on engaging a broader audience effectively. It feels like a treatise for a specific academic crowd rather than a genuine attempt to connect with readers interested in the art of writing.
While “Why Write?” offers insights into the world of writing, it misses the mark on engaging a broader audience effectively. It feels like a treatise for a specific academic crowd rather than a genuine attempt to connect with readers interested in the art of writing.
February 16, 2024
Good Lord! I never thought this book would end! There were some chapters I liked and some jokes I found funny, but for the most part I was internally screaming, “Get on with it!” As much as I love writing and reading books about writing and other writers, this one reminded me too much of college courses I took with professors who spoke over everyone’s heads.
Edmundson strikes me as a romantic—made apparent by all the poets he references—who loves writing. Good on him, but this book rambled! Most of the chapters would begin with the initial topic, volley back and forth between literary references and Edmundson’s musings (at this point, I would inevitably get lost or bored) to then have the point be neatly summarized in the last paragraph or two.
Clearly, I’m not the target demographic.
Edmundson strikes me as a romantic—made apparent by all the poets he references—who loves writing. Good on him, but this book rambled! Most of the chapters would begin with the initial topic, volley back and forth between literary references and Edmundson’s musings (at this point, I would inevitably get lost or bored) to then have the point be neatly summarized in the last paragraph or two.
Clearly, I’m not the target demographic.
August 31, 2022
The subtitle is misleading: It is not a master class in the art of writing, although it does have useful information which can help. Nevertheless, an excellent read to which I will keep coming back.
The book which is a collection of essays, is about the common motives of becoming a writer, about the rewards and dangers of it, but mostly it is about how writing relates to life, and how writing makes one a better person.
Mark Edmundson writes in such a fluent style that it feels as if he is sitting in front of you and you are having a one-way chat with him, which is part entertaining and part enlightening.
Strongly recommended.
The book which is a collection of essays, is about the common motives of becoming a writer, about the rewards and dangers of it, but mostly it is about how writing relates to life, and how writing makes one a better person.
Mark Edmundson writes in such a fluent style that it feels as if he is sitting in front of you and you are having a one-way chat with him, which is part entertaining and part enlightening.
Strongly recommended.
January 9, 2020
Infinitely better than the elitist, pompous Why Read? In this book, the reader can actually appreciate Edmundson's writing because the content is not off-putting. Sure. it's still all about (dead) white men (this time Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf get a line or two, though), but as the book is about the reader more than the author's opinion, it comes off as a less distracting prejudice. However, be warned: this is no writing guide (the 'Master Class' in the title is misleading). But it may be a guide to a writing life.
July 30, 2021
I was initially drawn in by the richly embellished copy, I thought Mr Edmundson wrote beautifully but I didn’t expect the whole book to read like this, so it got really boring for me after a few chapters in, I didn’t complete the book.
I thought this was supposed to be a masterclass in writing but really it’s more of a personal opinion piece broken down into chapters and made into a book.
Not recommended if you are looking for inspiration or as a guidebook.
I thought this was supposed to be a masterclass in writing but really it’s more of a personal opinion piece broken down into chapters and made into a book.
Not recommended if you are looking for inspiration or as a guidebook.
February 22, 2024
Good book. But a bit of misinformation here and there and a lot of over-reliance on english classic era writers. Making them look like unnecessary grand and undeservingly great.
The author never seems to have read books from other cultures or languages(translated) except english.
This book has tunnel vision.
You know there are other great writers outside english too.
Not reading at least some of them is like viewing just a snippet of the entire world.
The author never seems to have read books from other cultures or languages(translated) except english.
This book has tunnel vision.
You know there are other great writers outside english too.
Not reading at least some of them is like viewing just a snippet of the entire world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2020
This would be a challenge for some as the author uses many acedemic words that I've not heard others use is in this type of paper. And it is, more of a paper than a novel. I did enjoy learning a few things about what not to do, however the content did not really answer the question for me, Why Write? I read it word for word nonetheless.
August 22, 2021
Very different to “Why Read?” which I loved, so I had to get past my own expectations at first. As I settled into the structure and rhythm of this book, I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the chapters address different purposes, motivations, approaches and forms of writing. I liked how it explored writing without resorting to formulaic answers.
December 27, 2023
There were parts of this book I really liked, and parts I really didn't. The author is mostly fascinated by poets, and so his thoughts on writing are a bit of a different level than I believe the average novelist may be. In some ways it seemed good to stretch to something great, but sometimes the author seemed to be gate-keeping writing a bit.
July 7, 2019
Interesting
Many have thought about writing. Mostly people who read. This book gives you some ideas on the process and a bit of history of motivations for historical authors. Worth the time for certain.
Many have thought about writing. Mostly people who read. This book gives you some ideas on the process and a bit of history of motivations for historical authors. Worth the time for certain.
May 3, 2021
I liked this one. I thought it would be more about the rules of writing, not the spirit behind it. But he told good stories. I could tell he was an English prof b/c all of his writers were at a certain level, but once you get past that, it was pretty good.
July 4, 2023
just finished this one. I really enjoyed it. 4 not 5 stars because pretentious at times. ideal for reading a chapter before writing each day, which I did when I was in Santa Monica. several insightful passages- would be great for discussion
June 28, 2017
Some excellent advice and insight for the aspiring writer!
August 25, 2017
This is a writing class in a book, a good one, and better than many I've taken.
September 28, 2018
This is the very class that I needed. Enjoyed every word
December 26, 2018
Excellent book, was definitely inspired and he spoke to my soul as well. I was very surprised to find such great information related to the title that was more than skin deep.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews