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The Book You Need to Read to Write the Book You Want to Write
Have you ever wanted to write a novel or short story but didn't know where to start? If so, this is the book for you. It's the book for anyone, in fact, who wants to write to their full potential. Practical and jargon-free, rejecting prescriptive templates and formulae, it's a storehouse of ideas and advice on a range of relevant subjects, from boosting self-motivation and confidence to approaching agents and publishers. Drawing on the authors' extensive experience as successful writers and inspiring teachers, it will guide you through such essentials as the interplay of memory and imagination; plotting your story; the creation of convincing characters; the uses of description; the pleasures and pitfalls of research; and the editing process. The book's primary aim is to help its readers to become better writers.
- GenresNonfictionWriting
283 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2022
55 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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September 21, 2022I am not going to rate this book as it was not the book for me. I came to this because a couple of dear friends are constantly nagging me to move away from my non-fiction writing and explore historical fiction, an area I don't feel confident in, nor do I feel the need to attempt. This book arrived as part of their ongoing efforts to encourage me out of my comfort zone.
This would be a good book for budding fiction writers. It covers all of the expected subjects around writing. The usual quotes from well known writers are interspersed throughout. I liked the use of classic texts as examples, and the once or twice when Burton re-wrote passages in different ways to show the effectiveness of, for example good, rather than poor, dialogue.
Sorry, but I am happy in my non-fiction comfort zone.
This would be a good book for budding fiction writers. It covers all of the expected subjects around writing. The usual quotes from well known writers are interspersed throughout. I liked the use of classic texts as examples, and the once or twice when Burton re-wrote passages in different ways to show the effectiveness of, for example good, rather than poor, dialogue.
Sorry, but I am happy in my non-fiction comfort zone.
January 12, 2023
This is the best writing craft book I have read. It's writing for the modern audience, it doesn't give off "my way or the highway" vibes, and it has a plethora of amazing information that every writer needs. It's not pretentious and it truly feels like you can become a better writer after you read this.
January 30, 2023
While aimed at first-time authors, this book is still full of good advice and encouragement for those of us who've been in the game for a while. Chapters cover dialogue, characterization, setting, editing, and more. A good handbook to have on-hand.
February 18, 2023
You might find it laughable why I decided to read this book but the truth stays the same. I am a reader and I chose this book to try and get into the head of the writer. I have always been amazed by the creative process that is the writing of a text that starts as little memos in the notebook and ends with a full-fledged novel.
This book is aimed at beginner writers and gives plenty of support (including friendly encouragement). It is very well structured and gives a new writer an idea about character development, plot and structure of the story, dialogues and descriptions as well as ways of dealing with rejection of the agents and editors.
The examples are fantastic! And there are a lot of references to the variety of sources that could help with a further research.
I probably read this book for all the wrong reasons but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book is aimed at beginner writers and gives plenty of support (including friendly encouragement). It is very well structured and gives a new writer an idea about character development, plot and structure of the story, dialogues and descriptions as well as ways of dealing with rejection of the agents and editors.
The examples are fantastic! And there are a lot of references to the variety of sources that could help with a further research.
I probably read this book for all the wrong reasons but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 1, 2026
I read a lot of craft books. Most, at some point, begin to feel like they are passing around the same handful of writerly chestnuts, all flapping about “structure!” and “voice!” before settling down to discuss three-act arcs. So I approached with cautious optimism but expecting very little.
This one is genuinely terrific, and, for newer writers, probably indispensable.
Burton and Poster are novelists and teachers. They teach the Guardian’s creative writing masterclasses and co-founded the University of Cambridge’s Master’s Programme in Creative Writing. And it shows. The tone is encouraging, serious, and genuinely interested in helping writers understand not just what works, but why.
In the opening paragraph, the authors address a feeling most writers know well – that awful, trembling question of whether we are good enough and audacious enough to even want to write books like the ones that changed our lives.
How dare we?
Well, we dare, and we should.
In the preface, they write, “The surest way to become a published writer is to become a better writer,” which is like being told the surest way to arrive somewhere is to keep going. In other words, CORRECT. This is the guiding star of the book.
Burton and Poster ask writers to accept difficulty, accept initial disatisfaction, and begin anyway. As they remind us, quoting E. L. Doctorow: “Planning to write is not writing. Outlining a book is not writing. Researching is not writing…Writing is writing.” This is disappointing news for anyone who enjoys not writing. (Hi!)
The book moves through the familiar elements (dialogue, character, structure) with an eye toward understanding rather than prescription. The chapter on dialogue is solid, and I found myself returning to their discussion of how writers sometimes have to go back and quietly lay the groundwork for a plot turn that wasn’t there in the beginning. Writing is as much about revision as it is about inspiration.
There are also wonderful examples from literature throughout, along with insights into how other writers approach their work. The book also encourages us to leave our comfort zones. The imagination does not thrive where everything is known and manageable. Getting uncomfortable sharpens our ability to translate our understanding of the world into words.
Now, if you have read a great many craft books, say, enough to construct a small but serviceable fort (hi, again!), you may not find every idea new to you. However, the clarity and depth of the teaching make it stand out, and for beginning writers, it’s hard to imagine a better place to start. For those further along, it offers a thoughtful return to core principles, and a reminder of why the work matters in the first place.
It doesn’t make writing easier. But it makes you want to keep going. You will not escape the need to actually write. But you will, at least, understand much better what you are doing when you do.
This one is genuinely terrific, and, for newer writers, probably indispensable.
Burton and Poster are novelists and teachers. They teach the Guardian’s creative writing masterclasses and co-founded the University of Cambridge’s Master’s Programme in Creative Writing. And it shows. The tone is encouraging, serious, and genuinely interested in helping writers understand not just what works, but why.
In the opening paragraph, the authors address a feeling most writers know well – that awful, trembling question of whether we are good enough and audacious enough to even want to write books like the ones that changed our lives.
How dare we?
Well, we dare, and we should.
In the preface, they write, “The surest way to become a published writer is to become a better writer,” which is like being told the surest way to arrive somewhere is to keep going. In other words, CORRECT. This is the guiding star of the book.
Burton and Poster ask writers to accept difficulty, accept initial disatisfaction, and begin anyway. As they remind us, quoting E. L. Doctorow: “Planning to write is not writing. Outlining a book is not writing. Researching is not writing…Writing is writing.” This is disappointing news for anyone who enjoys not writing. (Hi!)
The book moves through the familiar elements (dialogue, character, structure) with an eye toward understanding rather than prescription. The chapter on dialogue is solid, and I found myself returning to their discussion of how writers sometimes have to go back and quietly lay the groundwork for a plot turn that wasn’t there in the beginning. Writing is as much about revision as it is about inspiration.
There are also wonderful examples from literature throughout, along with insights into how other writers approach their work. The book also encourages us to leave our comfort zones. The imagination does not thrive where everything is known and manageable. Getting uncomfortable sharpens our ability to translate our understanding of the world into words.
Now, if you have read a great many craft books, say, enough to construct a small but serviceable fort (hi, again!), you may not find every idea new to you. However, the clarity and depth of the teaching make it stand out, and for beginning writers, it’s hard to imagine a better place to start. For those further along, it offers a thoughtful return to core principles, and a reminder of why the work matters in the first place.
It doesn’t make writing easier. But it makes you want to keep going. You will not escape the need to actually write. But you will, at least, understand much better what you are doing when you do.
June 29, 2024
Over several decades I've read more books on 'How to Write' than I can remember. Some of them were too smart for their own good and basically told you next to nothing. Others were too 'thin' to bother much with. A few were excellent, each in their own way, and enabled me to take stock of how I was writing and what I could do improve it.
This book fits into the latter category in particular because the examples it uses to make its points are excellent, and are all examples of quality writing. Some readers may feel too many of them date from too far back, even the 20th century ones. The point is that they show the writer at the top of their game and show also how he or she achieves their object.
Burton and Poster's book is still worth reading for its actual writing instruction. For one thing it proves in itself how necessary it is to keep a reader turning the page. While much of the information is familiar (as it no doubt should be, given the number of books on the subject I've read!) it's presented in a readable and helpful manner, always trusting that the wannabe writer will have brains enough to follow the advice.
Certainly recommended as one of the books a fledgling writer should read, but also helpful and encouraging to writers who are way past the early stages of their work.
This book fits into the latter category in particular because the examples it uses to make its points are excellent, and are all examples of quality writing. Some readers may feel too many of them date from too far back, even the 20th century ones. The point is that they show the writer at the top of their game and show also how he or she achieves their object.
Burton and Poster's book is still worth reading for its actual writing instruction. For one thing it proves in itself how necessary it is to keep a reader turning the page. While much of the information is familiar (as it no doubt should be, given the number of books on the subject I've read!) it's presented in a readable and helpful manner, always trusting that the wannabe writer will have brains enough to follow the advice.
Certainly recommended as one of the books a fledgling writer should read, but also helpful and encouraging to writers who are way past the early stages of their work.
December 28, 2024
It's not fair (to other people) that I'm rating this only 3 stars because it may actually be very helpful. My rating is highly subjective because I expected to learn much from it and I haven't. The fact that I already knew most of this should not make other people think they wouldn't, either. It's rich in explanations and examples from a wide variety of books. Therefore I recommend it to whomever may need it - don't mind my three stars.
June 17, 2024
I found this very helpful. I’m currently doing an introduction to fiction writing course, and this was recommended by the tutor. It’s relevant to the exercises we are doing and beyond that to whatever direction I decide to go. It was very readable, and interesting.
July 5, 2022
Great book for any newbie writers. Full of questions you need to think about before writing, and everything after that. Lots of examples from other books.
October 24, 2022
good read
June 25, 2023
Comprehensive guide
April 17, 2026
Sólo queda aplicar lo leído.
February 23, 2026
such an interesting read
I came to this book as yet another attempt to unlock the secret of how to write a novel. I’m not sure I found the key but I did get plenty of encouragement and examples to spur me on.
I came to this book as yet another attempt to unlock the secret of how to write a novel. I’m not sure I found the key but I did get plenty of encouragement and examples to spur me on.
June 1, 2024
Thorough and Comprehensive
This was a very thorough and comprehensive book on writing that was filled with great examples from great writers. Recommended.
This was a very thorough and comprehensive book on writing that was filled with great examples from great writers. Recommended.
March 2, 2026
This is a contemporary guide for any developing or established writer, or anyone who wants to write a piece of fiction. It provides detailed advice on your journey of writing, both on the aspects of technical counsel and psychological guidance. With extracts from the classic novels, passages are researched and analysed on a comprehensive level so that the readers have an intelligible understanding of methods for writing about the characters, plot, pacing and so on.
It took me 5 months to finish it, but it was totally worth it.
It took me 5 months to finish it, but it was totally worth it.
September 5, 2025
A friend bought me this because he knew I wanted to write a novel. I read the novel and got some good advice. Plus, three days ago I managed to get said novel published! I guess I owe that friend and this book something.
October 27, 2023
Currently my favourite writing book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews