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C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing: What the Essayist, Poet, Novelist, Literary Critic, Apologist, Memoirist, Theologian Teaches Us about the Life and Craft of Writing
C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing is written for readers interested in C. S. Lewis, the writing life, and in becoming better writers. Lewis stands as one of the most prolific and influential writers in modern history. His life in letters offers writers invaluable encouragement and instruction in the writing craft. In Lewis, writers don't just learn how to write, they also learn something about how to live. This volume explores Lewis's life in, as well as his practice of, writing. From his avid reading life, to his adolescent dreams to be a great poet, through his creative failures, to his brilliant successes, to his constant encouragement of other writers, C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing celebrates one of the twentieth-century's greatest authors.
250 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 2, 2017
C. L. Lewis is one of those rare writers who can speak, in an unforgettable way, to both the head and the heart. And what's more, he does so with consistently beautiful and engaging prose, crafting powerful sentences that, for the great scholar he is, are often disarmingly simple and straightforward. This should come as no surprise, since it's some of the very advice Lewis offered in one of his letters:
"Always prefer the plain direct word to the long, vague one. Don't implement promises, but keep them" -- C. S. Lewis, in a letter to Joan Lancaster
I would highly recommend Corey Latta's well researched book to anyone interested in C. S. Lewis and, in particular, to those who are interested in learning about the craft of writing from the world-class master of The Chronicles of Narnia, and so many more fine creations. Latta's book focuses exclusively on two topics: The vast reading that Lewis continually pursued his whole life, and the breadth of his writing endeavors, both of which began when he was a young boy.
Latta uses plenty of rich writing examples from the published works of Lewis, as well as from a number of projects Lewis abandoned for one reason or another before completing. In addition, he draws many practical insights, from the voluminous correspondence Lewis maintained throughout his life, about reading choices and recommendations, and the mechanics and form of good writing. I found this part, in particular, to be a gold mine. At the end of each chapter, Latta also includes a "For The Writer" exercise, allowing the reader to practically apply, in his or her own writing, many insights and ideas.
I was surprised to learn that one of the chief lifelong desires C. S. Lewis had, which never really came to fruition, was to be a poet. Fortunately for us, and for countless generations to come, his gifts and greatness were abundantly revealed in other forms of writing. And whether you're an aspiring writer or not, you will enjoy this book. Along the way, you may just decide to follow the advice given by Lewis to his friend Arthur Graves:
"Whenever you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago."
"Always prefer the plain direct word to the long, vague one. Don't implement promises, but keep them" -- C. S. Lewis, in a letter to Joan Lancaster
I would highly recommend Corey Latta's well researched book to anyone interested in C. S. Lewis and, in particular, to those who are interested in learning about the craft of writing from the world-class master of The Chronicles of Narnia, and so many more fine creations. Latta's book focuses exclusively on two topics: The vast reading that Lewis continually pursued his whole life, and the breadth of his writing endeavors, both of which began when he was a young boy.
Latta uses plenty of rich writing examples from the published works of Lewis, as well as from a number of projects Lewis abandoned for one reason or another before completing. In addition, he draws many practical insights, from the voluminous correspondence Lewis maintained throughout his life, about reading choices and recommendations, and the mechanics and form of good writing. I found this part, in particular, to be a gold mine. At the end of each chapter, Latta also includes a "For The Writer" exercise, allowing the reader to practically apply, in his or her own writing, many insights and ideas.
I was surprised to learn that one of the chief lifelong desires C. S. Lewis had, which never really came to fruition, was to be a poet. Fortunately for us, and for countless generations to come, his gifts and greatness were abundantly revealed in other forms of writing. And whether you're an aspiring writer or not, you will enjoy this book. Along the way, you may just decide to follow the advice given by Lewis to his friend Arthur Graves:
"Whenever you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago."
November 3, 2019
The book itself is uneventful. It’s a summary of writing tips from his Letters and Surprised by Joy. Mind you, those tips are quite good. Only towards the end, though, do we get anything in terms of a mechanical “how did Lewis use tip x to write.” See Richard Weaver for more writing tips.
Exercises to be a Good writer
1) Think of one idea or image from your childhood that awakened your imagination. Spend 30 minutes free-writing what it meant (and means) to you.
2) Write 750-1000 about a truth or idea that has shaped your life. Be specific. Tell a story.
3) In 300 words write about the ways good literature sponsors good writing.
4) What are some good examples of beautiful writing? What makes them so? In 500 words write about the most beautiful passage you’ve read.
5) In 1000 words write a work of imaginative fiction. Create characters, plot, and story arc.
6) Consider the virtues that go into literary criticism. How would you review a (fiction) book based on the following criteria: ability to stir the imagination, clarity of its writing, and ability to communicate timeless truth?
7) In 300 words write a one act play. Once you are finished, write a 300 word story using the same characters and plot of the play. Finally, write a 300 word history of the story’s world.
8) Take your favorite book and write your own adventure piece based on the book’s style, syntax, structure, etc. How “forced” or “fake” does it feel?
9) For an extended period of time, write 300 words today about a topic, fiction or nonfiction. Do this every day. Practice, practice, practice.
10) Identify a fault in your writing style–passive voice verbs, unnecessarily complex sentences, etc.–and then try to write 300 words on one topic while avoiding that fault.
11) In 350-400 words write about your style.Where did I learn it? What elements do I insist on? Which do I neglect.
12) Select something you’ve already written. Find instances of “abstract” or “ambiguous” language and make them more concrete.
Nota bene:
* Good writers are good readers because good readers keep their ears attuned to language.
* Fancy is a mere mechanical operation of the mind, the accumulation of data. Imagination is something that has an “almost power” to it.
* Index the book by topics. I’ve always done my own index but there was no order to it.
* Create your own system for analyzing the book. Be careful, though. An overly systematic take can blind you to elements in the book.
* Make the abstract concrete. A book’s logos (content) will never escape its form.
* Don’t use words that are “too big” for the subject. Say “very old,” not “extremely old.”
* Never use an adjective or an adverb as a cloak for appealing to the reader to get him to feel as you want him to feel. Never say a “battle was exciting.” Make the reader feel the excitement.
* Muscles of language: hold on to your finite transitive verb, your concrete nouns, and the muscles of language (but, though, for, because, etc.). You need finite “verbs with clear subject and object, specific nouns, and sentence elements like functional conjunctions.”
* Sum up a complex paragraph with a punchy short sentence.
Criticisms
The author says things like “he might have been the most literate man who ever lived.” At best this is impossible to prove, and it is probably false.
Exercises to be a Good writer
1) Think of one idea or image from your childhood that awakened your imagination. Spend 30 minutes free-writing what it meant (and means) to you.
2) Write 750-1000 about a truth or idea that has shaped your life. Be specific. Tell a story.
3) In 300 words write about the ways good literature sponsors good writing.
4) What are some good examples of beautiful writing? What makes them so? In 500 words write about the most beautiful passage you’ve read.
5) In 1000 words write a work of imaginative fiction. Create characters, plot, and story arc.
6) Consider the virtues that go into literary criticism. How would you review a (fiction) book based on the following criteria: ability to stir the imagination, clarity of its writing, and ability to communicate timeless truth?
7) In 300 words write a one act play. Once you are finished, write a 300 word story using the same characters and plot of the play. Finally, write a 300 word history of the story’s world.
8) Take your favorite book and write your own adventure piece based on the book’s style, syntax, structure, etc. How “forced” or “fake” does it feel?
9) For an extended period of time, write 300 words today about a topic, fiction or nonfiction. Do this every day. Practice, practice, practice.
10) Identify a fault in your writing style–passive voice verbs, unnecessarily complex sentences, etc.–and then try to write 300 words on one topic while avoiding that fault.
11) In 350-400 words write about your style.Where did I learn it? What elements do I insist on? Which do I neglect.
12) Select something you’ve already written. Find instances of “abstract” or “ambiguous” language and make them more concrete.
Nota bene:
* Good writers are good readers because good readers keep their ears attuned to language.
* Fancy is a mere mechanical operation of the mind, the accumulation of data. Imagination is something that has an “almost power” to it.
* Index the book by topics. I’ve always done my own index but there was no order to it.
* Create your own system for analyzing the book. Be careful, though. An overly systematic take can blind you to elements in the book.
* Make the abstract concrete. A book’s logos (content) will never escape its form.
* Don’t use words that are “too big” for the subject. Say “very old,” not “extremely old.”
* Never use an adjective or an adverb as a cloak for appealing to the reader to get him to feel as you want him to feel. Never say a “battle was exciting.” Make the reader feel the excitement.
* Muscles of language: hold on to your finite transitive verb, your concrete nouns, and the muscles of language (but, though, for, because, etc.). You need finite “verbs with clear subject and object, specific nouns, and sentence elements like functional conjunctions.”
* Sum up a complex paragraph with a punchy short sentence.
Criticisms
The author says things like “he might have been the most literate man who ever lived.” At best this is impossible to prove, and it is probably false.
February 25, 2021
What does C.S. Lewis say about writing? Latta takes us on a delightful walk through many of Lewis's works. The unique application questions at the end of each short chapter are formative directions that any level of writer can use to practice their craft.
January 23, 2021
A great look into Lewis’s writing processes, largely taken from letter he exchanged with his friend, Arthur Greeves.
April 13, 2017
4.5 stars. A solid read. Look for my full review in the forthcoming edition of Christianity and Literature.
July 4, 2020
As a C.S. Lewis fan and a writer myself, I found this book to be very engrossing. It was fascinating to learn so much about this noted author and how his gift developed from childhood, then matured over the years. And his guidance is invaluable for all who would hone the ability to communicate clearly through the written word.
October 30, 2024
As an avid reader, writer and Lewis fan, I loved this book! So many great nuggets of wisdom! I am sure I will re-read it often.
June 23, 2020
A heartfelt and accomplished analysis of the master and his craft. Well worth the read.
December 17, 2020
This book gives quite an interesting look into the life and writings of C.S. Lewis. What I found really helpful were the writing exercises at the end of each chapter. I think all writers could benefit from this excellent book.
May 12, 2020
I spent a few weeks picking my way through Corey Latta’s book on C.S. Lewis and the Art of Writing. The author seems to have done his research, but I have to admit that I don’t love Latta’s writing nearly as much as I love that of C.S. Lewis, the reason why I have kept slogging through this study despite annoyances.
I read an online version (through Hoopla), and perhaps that mode of intake influenced how I processed and reacted to the book. At the beginning Latta suggested the study would follow Lewis’s life chronologically, as his writing develops. But references to events in Lewis’s life seem mere glances (I was thankful that I had recently read Alister McGrath’s fine biography C.S. Lewis, A Life and could thus better understand the events and friendships mentioned).
I failed to ascertain a progressive flow in Latta’s approach. He seems to bounce around, revisiting and rehashing rather than developing (restating with a variety of words does not constitute development).
The online version of Latta’s work doesn’t show indentations or italics for long quotes, and I often found myself doing double-takes trying to place the speaker (is the author making an assertion himself or quoting something from one of Lewis’s many letters or works).
The book seems to be structured for use by a writing group, with each of the 50 chapters ending with a suggested writing assignment. The author typically refers to the reader/writer using feminine gender around that stage in the chapter, a ploy I found confusing and condescending.
Part of me cringes thinking of how C.S. Lewis would have reacted to reading this book about himself. However, I did learn some interesting details about how some of the other Inklings viewed Lewis and/or some of his works, and I came to better appreciate Lewis’s courage and tenacity in the face of opposition.
I read an online version (through Hoopla), and perhaps that mode of intake influenced how I processed and reacted to the book. At the beginning Latta suggested the study would follow Lewis’s life chronologically, as his writing develops. But references to events in Lewis’s life seem mere glances (I was thankful that I had recently read Alister McGrath’s fine biography C.S. Lewis, A Life and could thus better understand the events and friendships mentioned).
I failed to ascertain a progressive flow in Latta’s approach. He seems to bounce around, revisiting and rehashing rather than developing (restating with a variety of words does not constitute development).
The online version of Latta’s work doesn’t show indentations or italics for long quotes, and I often found myself doing double-takes trying to place the speaker (is the author making an assertion himself or quoting something from one of Lewis’s many letters or works).
The book seems to be structured for use by a writing group, with each of the 50 chapters ending with a suggested writing assignment. The author typically refers to the reader/writer using feminine gender around that stage in the chapter, a ploy I found confusing and condescending.
Part of me cringes thinking of how C.S. Lewis would have reacted to reading this book about himself. However, I did learn some interesting details about how some of the other Inklings viewed Lewis and/or some of his works, and I came to better appreciate Lewis’s courage and tenacity in the face of opposition.
July 27, 2020
Latta is oozing words like an open festering wound, starting with the simple yet eloquent title of the book.
January 20, 2024
This book is two things: first and foremost, it is an appreciation of Lewis as a writer; second, it is a resource which privides exercises for writers early in their journey. I always enjoy reading Lewis's advice on writing. The main thing holding me back from thinking more highly of this book is the structure. There seems to be no rhyme or reason (in large part) for the order each chapter is put in. This, coupled with the shortness of many chapters, creates tiring redundancy (there are about 50 chapters). I suppose if used as a workbook, one chapter per day followed by the accompanied exercise, the overlap would be less noticeable.
This brings me to my confusion regarding who this is actually for. The exercises seem to be designed for someone looking to revitalize their writing, but also someone who has had little self-awareness regarding their relationship to writing. For my part, I have written a screenplay, I am working on my debut novel, and I have developed this novel and a few others over a number of years. All this to say I am not an accomplished writer, but I'm also not new to the craft. I also teach high school English. I enjoyed the first several exercises, but, like the chapter content, these quickly became repetitive or elementary. I am certainly not above these, but I have simply already considered or had conversations about these topics. They did not lead me to discover much truth about myself. I also preferred not to use this as a workbook and rather hoped to simply sit down and read a few chapters. I can always go back to the exercises in the future. It just causes me to question the purpose, functionality, or audience of the book.
In all, this is an illumination look at the writing life of Lewis, if a little unorganized.
This brings me to my confusion regarding who this is actually for. The exercises seem to be designed for someone looking to revitalize their writing, but also someone who has had little self-awareness regarding their relationship to writing. For my part, I have written a screenplay, I am working on my debut novel, and I have developed this novel and a few others over a number of years. All this to say I am not an accomplished writer, but I'm also not new to the craft. I also teach high school English. I enjoyed the first several exercises, but, like the chapter content, these quickly became repetitive or elementary. I am certainly not above these, but I have simply already considered or had conversations about these topics. They did not lead me to discover much truth about myself. I also preferred not to use this as a workbook and rather hoped to simply sit down and read a few chapters. I can always go back to the exercises in the future. It just causes me to question the purpose, functionality, or audience of the book.
In all, this is an illumination look at the writing life of Lewis, if a little unorganized.
October 21, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and as an aspiring author, it was not only educational but encouraging!
Latta explores the writings of C.S. Lewis in an informative yet entertaining way. He explores how Lewis was both a reader and a writer, and that these similar actions had positive effects on one another. In evaluating how writers must be readers, and how readers make better writers, Latta presents insightful and thorough questions "For the writers," which allow for consideration of how our reading and writing habits mirror (or perhaps fail to mirror) those of Lewis. By reading this book and contemplating these questions and my own reading and writing throughout the years, I have come to enjoy Lewis at a deeper level, improve how I read and evaluate books, and have seen noticeable improvements in my writing. This is a must have for readers, writers, Lewis fans, and Lewis novices alike, and one which I highly recommend!
Latta explores the writings of C.S. Lewis in an informative yet entertaining way. He explores how Lewis was both a reader and a writer, and that these similar actions had positive effects on one another. In evaluating how writers must be readers, and how readers make better writers, Latta presents insightful and thorough questions "For the writers," which allow for consideration of how our reading and writing habits mirror (or perhaps fail to mirror) those of Lewis. By reading this book and contemplating these questions and my own reading and writing throughout the years, I have come to enjoy Lewis at a deeper level, improve how I read and evaluate books, and have seen noticeable improvements in my writing. This is a must have for readers, writers, Lewis fans, and Lewis novices alike, and one which I highly recommend!
April 11, 2020
A perfectly cooked steak of a book. The writer will be filled and satisfied who eats this. What does it mean to live as a writer and to write well? This is a book that goes into good depth on academic formalities, but goes beyond them and touches the imagination and soul of writing. “Do try!”
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December 30, 2025“The test of whether someone is a real writer is not what or where he has published; neither is it if he writes professionally for a living. Rather the mark of a real writer is whether his writing gives meaning to life.”, p. 5
November 8, 2020
CS Lewis recommendations about writing, all in one place.
July 19, 2022
Pretty good. Short snippets of his writings.
May 2, 2020
How very helpful. Though I have not until recently considered myself a writer, I have been writing professionally since 1973, first as an engineer and then as a gospel minister. How I wish I had grasped the importance of cultivating writing skill and appreciating writing as an art when I was much younger. To discover the wisdom of Lewis at this stage of my life and career is very late, but it is appreciated nevertheless. Oh, the importance of writing. What a great service to us the author has provided in introducing the readers to Lewis as a mentor.
July 21, 2018
Quite encouraging and insightful! It got a bit repetitive at places and had a few typoes, but not too many. It could do with another good edit, but otherwise the contents were very good!
I liked it so much that I'm considering gifting a copy to my writing buddy, The Water Rat. :-)
I liked it so much that I'm considering gifting a copy to my writing buddy, The Water Rat. :-)
December 31, 2024
Jumping around through this book again. Highly recommend
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