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Making a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers
As Carolyn See says, writing guides are like preachers on Sunday?there may be a lot of them, but you can't have too many, and there's always an audience of the faithful. And while Making a Literary Life is ostensibly a book that teaches you how to write, it really teaches you how to make your interior life into your exterior life, how to find and join that community of like-minded souls you're sure is out there somewhere.Carolyn See distills a lifetime of experience as novelist, memoirist, critic, and creative-writing professor into this marvelously engaging how-to book. Partly the nuts and bolts of writing (plot, point of view, character, voice) and partly an inspirational guide to living the life you dream of, Making a Literary Life takes you from the decision to "become" a writer to three months after the publication of your first book. A combination of writing and life strategies (do not tell everyone around you how you yearn to be a writer; send a "charming note" to someone you admire in the industry five days a week, every week, for the rest of your life; find the perfect characters right in front of you), Making a Literary Life is for people not usually considered part of the literary loop: the non?East Coasters, the secret scribblers. With sagacity, a magical sense of humor, and an abiding belief in the possibilities offered to "ordinary" people living "ordinary" lives, Carolyn See has summed up her life's work in a book so beguiling, irreverent, and giddily inspiring that you won't even realize it's changing your life until it already has.From the Hardcover edition.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
61 people are currently reading
2485 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn See
37 books76 followersCarolyn See was the author of ten books, including the memoir, Dreaming: Hard Luck and Good Times in America, an advice book on writing, Making a Literary Life, and the novels There Will Never Be Another You and The Handyman.
She was the Friday-morning reviewer for The Washington Post, and she has been on the boards of the National Book Critics Circle and PENWest International. She won both the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Getty Center fellowship. She lived in Pacific Palisades, California.
See also wrote books under the pen name Monica Highland, a name she shared with two others, her daughter Lisa See and her longtime companion, John Espey, who died in 2000.
See was known for writing novels set in Los Angeles and co-edited books that revolve around the city, including a book of short stories, LA Shorts, and the pictorial books Santa Monica Bay: Paradise by the Sea: A Pictorial History of Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Ocean Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga & Malibu, and The California Pop-Up Book, which celebrates the city's unique architecture.
She was the Friday-morning reviewer for The Washington Post, and she has been on the boards of the National Book Critics Circle and PENWest International. She won both the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Getty Center fellowship. She lived in Pacific Palisades, California.
See also wrote books under the pen name Monica Highland, a name she shared with two others, her daughter Lisa See and her longtime companion, John Espey, who died in 2000.
See was known for writing novels set in Los Angeles and co-edited books that revolve around the city, including a book of short stories, LA Shorts, and the pictorial books Santa Monica Bay: Paradise by the Sea: A Pictorial History of Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Ocean Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga & Malibu, and The California Pop-Up Book, which celebrates the city's unique architecture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
September 12, 2017
Making a Literary Life is a unique and enjoyable writing guide. What's unique about it is that, unlike most books of this type, it doesn't focus mainly on process. Sure, there's a chapter on process (and See's own process sounded really solid to me), and there are short (useful!) chapters on things like plot and character, but more than most writer-teachers she seems to have some confidence that her readers know about these things already. The rest of the book is taken up by two topics, one fanciful and one practical. The fanciful parts allow the would-be writer to dream a little: If you were a writer, what would your life look like? Would you go to literary events? Would you have a specific kind of writing space? Would you dress a certain way? Who would you hang out with? These parts are meant to inject some fun into the whole thing, and they do—they were probably my favorite chapters. The practical aspect extensively covers elements of publishing: how to get magazine assignments, how to get an agent, what to do once you finally land a book deal. These are pragmatic to the point of being depressing, but being realistic about this stuff is probably a good idea if you're serious about writing. Balancing the fanciful and the practical, that's where the challenge lies.
Carolyn See, who died last year, was an acclaimed literary novelist and also the mother of the novelist Lisa See. I've never read any of Carolyn's novels, and based on what she's written here, they sound pretty dark. On the other hand, based on this book, See was also an extremely funny person, and this combination of light and dark is intriguing to me. So I appreciate the inspiration this book provides, both in terms of creativity and in terms of making me want to check out the novels of someone who clearly knew what she was talking about.
Carolyn See, who died last year, was an acclaimed literary novelist and also the mother of the novelist Lisa See. I've never read any of Carolyn's novels, and based on what she's written here, they sound pretty dark. On the other hand, based on this book, See was also an extremely funny person, and this combination of light and dark is intriguing to me. So I appreciate the inspiration this book provides, both in terms of creativity and in terms of making me want to check out the novels of someone who clearly knew what she was talking about.
July 12, 2012
Few writing books succeed in keeping you from dozing off. Bradbury's "Zen" is an exception. So is Ayn Rand's "The Art of Fiction." And this. This book reads as quickly as Twilight, and you actually laugh out loud at every other paragraph (so don't read it in public places, unless you don't care if people look at you like you're loony). She covers style, the 'tax man' and other basics- stuff that most writing books stay far away from. She covers style beautifully. But really, this book is more inspiration than anything else. Which is just fine, because that's the most important thing for a writer to have.
The one thing I wasn't crazy about: Ms. See is obviously a feminist (according to my personal def), but she makes no apology about preferring male writers. I was a bit blown away by this, considering that my library is pretty much estrogen-packed. According to her, and I'm quoting loosely but accurately, women mostly write 'wife/mother/lover' novels usually having to do with snagging a man, being abused by a man, ending up with a man, or having insane parents. This bothered me when I read it at first. But then I thought about my favorite books- Alcott, Austen, Montgomery, DuMaurier, Brontes, and I think she's kind of right. The question is, does it matter? For me, the 'wife/mother/lover' books speak to me, so I read them.
The one thing I wasn't crazy about: Ms. See is obviously a feminist (according to my personal def), but she makes no apology about preferring male writers. I was a bit blown away by this, considering that my library is pretty much estrogen-packed. According to her, and I'm quoting loosely but accurately, women mostly write 'wife/mother/lover' novels usually having to do with snagging a man, being abused by a man, ending up with a man, or having insane parents. This bothered me when I read it at first. But then I thought about my favorite books- Alcott, Austen, Montgomery, DuMaurier, Brontes, and I think she's kind of right. The question is, does it matter? For me, the 'wife/mother/lover' books speak to me, so I read them.
June 19, 2012
What I got from this book:
1. Write from your life. Figure out who the main characters (good and bad) are, as they'll influence the characters you write.
2. Write a thousand words a day (or two hours editing) five days a week for the rest of your life.
3. Write a charming note to an artist, editor, author, agent, publisher, etc., five days a week (build up who you know by being thankful and charming rather than asking favors).
4. Pretend to be a writer by doing things that make you feel closer to your dream, and feed positive energy toward your dreams.
5. Hang out with people who support your work. The most interesting idea in this bit was that an MFA program might not be the best place to encourage your writing because it is often taught by and attended by people who wouldn't be pleased with your success because it would feel like a threat to their own success.
6. Write thank you notes to those who reject your writer (magazines, agents, newspapers, publishers, etc.). It sends the karma back.
Pretty good things. But if you look at the table of contents, you'll see that all of them come from the first part of the book. The other two parts didn't give me much except a headache. Her review of the craft of writing didn't give me much, nor did her dissection of the differences between the writing of male writers vs. female writers (from her lists and examples, it sounds like she thinks more highly of male writers ...). The section on going to New York, oh dear.
Something I wish I had realized earlier in reading is that the author's partner was dying while she wrote it, and during the later parts of the book there is a frantic feel of dread that seeps through every page. It was painful reading. And it made so much sense once I found out what she was going through. But really, it wasn't helpful to have all that grief and anguish and dread dumped on my passion for writing. Nope.
1. Write from your life. Figure out who the main characters (good and bad) are, as they'll influence the characters you write.
2. Write a thousand words a day (or two hours editing) five days a week for the rest of your life.
3. Write a charming note to an artist, editor, author, agent, publisher, etc., five days a week (build up who you know by being thankful and charming rather than asking favors).
4. Pretend to be a writer by doing things that make you feel closer to your dream, and feed positive energy toward your dreams.
5. Hang out with people who support your work. The most interesting idea in this bit was that an MFA program might not be the best place to encourage your writing because it is often taught by and attended by people who wouldn't be pleased with your success because it would feel like a threat to their own success.
6. Write thank you notes to those who reject your writer (magazines, agents, newspapers, publishers, etc.). It sends the karma back.
Pretty good things. But if you look at the table of contents, you'll see that all of them come from the first part of the book. The other two parts didn't give me much except a headache. Her review of the craft of writing didn't give me much, nor did her dissection of the differences between the writing of male writers vs. female writers (from her lists and examples, it sounds like she thinks more highly of male writers ...). The section on going to New York, oh dear.
Something I wish I had realized earlier in reading is that the author's partner was dying while she wrote it, and during the later parts of the book there is a frantic feel of dread that seeps through every page. It was painful reading. And it made so much sense once I found out what she was going through. But really, it wasn't helpful to have all that grief and anguish and dread dumped on my passion for writing. Nope.
February 17, 2009
Honestly, I don’t know Carolyn See from a bump on the log. But her literary how-to is just likely her only piece of writing that will make its mark on me – or pass under my eyes, for that matter. Reflecting on her forty-some-odd-year writing career, See condenses it all down into three succinct sections. The “Before” section is her best as she distills her recipe for writerly success into a simple prescription, humorously referred to as her “18-minute chili”: write a thousand words a day, five days a week for the rest of your life; and compose a note to a writer, agent, or editor whom you admire – also five days a week for the rest of your life. (There’s a more-extensive “18-hour chili” recipe that includes the two former “ingredients” as well as slew of others, including visiting an author signing or writing class once a week.)
“The Writing” comprises See’s riff on the elements of narrative style. You know, the usually cast of narrative personages: character, plot, point of view, etc. Not terribly inspired is this middle part, but a decent, cursory review nonetheless. (Any would-be-writer could find a better analysis elsewhere.)
Yet in “During, and After”, See finally hits the nail on the head when she inadvertently announces that “…a good part of the writing we’ve been given to read and study is lies. We don’t want to tell ourselves the truth.” Take that one step further, and you can turn that into the well-worn adage that art -- which includes writing -- is a lie that tells the truth. But she’s right on one count: A lot of us would much rather drift through life lying like a proverbial bear rug – rather than experience the real pain and genuine pleasure of being fully alive in this our only guaranteed existence on this pale blue dot. (Unless you believe in reincarnation, of course.)
In the over-bloated sub-genre of “what it takes to be a writer”, this is a charming romp that is more of a memoir/confessional than a strict how-to manual. Nothing more, nothing less.
“The Writing” comprises See’s riff on the elements of narrative style. You know, the usually cast of narrative personages: character, plot, point of view, etc. Not terribly inspired is this middle part, but a decent, cursory review nonetheless. (Any would-be-writer could find a better analysis elsewhere.)
Yet in “During, and After”, See finally hits the nail on the head when she inadvertently announces that “…a good part of the writing we’ve been given to read and study is lies. We don’t want to tell ourselves the truth.” Take that one step further, and you can turn that into the well-worn adage that art -- which includes writing -- is a lie that tells the truth. But she’s right on one count: A lot of us would much rather drift through life lying like a proverbial bear rug – rather than experience the real pain and genuine pleasure of being fully alive in this our only guaranteed existence on this pale blue dot. (Unless you believe in reincarnation, of course.)
In the over-bloated sub-genre of “what it takes to be a writer”, this is a charming romp that is more of a memoir/confessional than a strict how-to manual. Nothing more, nothing less.
February 24, 2017
This book is subtitled Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers, and that should be a clue to its content. Part II has the standard information on writing--character, plot, point of view, setting, building a scene, and rewriting.
But Part I is what sets this how-to book apart. The author advises the neophyte to build a life as a writer, and this means some very specific goals and behaviors. Keep your entry into the writing life private. Don't talk about your work (that's dangerous, as other writers will tell you, because you can only tell a story once), and keep your writing life private. Figure out what your real material is, and write a thousand words a day, every day. (This is something many are surprised to learn. Real writers write every day, and if the words don't flow, they revise and edit. But writers are at work every day.)
See introduces a task I haven't encountered elsewhere. She advises the would-be writer to get formal stationery or notes, and to write a note to someone else in the writing life you admire every single day of the week except weekends. She also advises you to pretend to be a writer and hang out with the kind of people who support writers.
The book proceeds to other mundane topics, such as getting published and what that means, but the best part is her unconventional advice to be the writer even before you've published anything.
I have written very few notes to writers I don't know, but I probably wouldn't have written even those if not for Carolyn See's insistence. And I got very nice notes in reply.
But Part I is what sets this how-to book apart. The author advises the neophyte to build a life as a writer, and this means some very specific goals and behaviors. Keep your entry into the writing life private. Don't talk about your work (that's dangerous, as other writers will tell you, because you can only tell a story once), and keep your writing life private. Figure out what your real material is, and write a thousand words a day, every day. (This is something many are surprised to learn. Real writers write every day, and if the words don't flow, they revise and edit. But writers are at work every day.)
See introduces a task I haven't encountered elsewhere. She advises the would-be writer to get formal stationery or notes, and to write a note to someone else in the writing life you admire every single day of the week except weekends. She also advises you to pretend to be a writer and hang out with the kind of people who support writers.
The book proceeds to other mundane topics, such as getting published and what that means, but the best part is her unconventional advice to be the writer even before you've published anything.
I have written very few notes to writers I don't know, but I probably wouldn't have written even those if not for Carolyn See's insistence. And I got very nice notes in reply.
June 25, 2012
This is a delightful book that, along with Stephen King's On Writing, composes a couple of the best books written in the last 25 years about the craft and profession of writing.
The words this book brings to mind are "lovely" and "gentle." Whatever Ms. See might be in her classroom or her other novels or life itself, she is a lovely and gentle advisor in Making a Literary Life, the very sort of advisor any beginning or intermediate or advanced writer should be fortunate to encounter. Her advice is practical and delivered in a sprightly voice, even when her points may not be altogether welcomed by some of her readers:
There's a huge difference between getting a Guggenheim, which can support you for a year in a dignified manner, and finding three hundred dollars in the mail for a piece called "Best Brewskies," but there's something very nice about that $300 or $700 or $3,000 or $7,000. Those dollars are real. They're like tips from a night of waitressing. They're like getting cash for mowing the lawn. The dollars don't say you're a "genius," but they say, very reassuringly and definitively, that you can write and that somebody will pay you for it. (They're the opposite of MFA programs, where you pay somebody else in order to "learn" how to write.) (p. 235)
This book's final paragraph probably says as much about its contents as any that precedes it:
Because we live in a beautiful, sentient universe that yearns for you to tell the truth about it. If you love this world and this craft, they will lift you to a place you can't begin to imagine. (p. 255)
And now, like most writers who read this book, I feel obligated to set about writing a "charming note" to its author.
The words this book brings to mind are "lovely" and "gentle." Whatever Ms. See might be in her classroom or her other novels or life itself, she is a lovely and gentle advisor in Making a Literary Life, the very sort of advisor any beginning or intermediate or advanced writer should be fortunate to encounter. Her advice is practical and delivered in a sprightly voice, even when her points may not be altogether welcomed by some of her readers:
There's a huge difference between getting a Guggenheim, which can support you for a year in a dignified manner, and finding three hundred dollars in the mail for a piece called "Best Brewskies," but there's something very nice about that $300 or $700 or $3,000 or $7,000. Those dollars are real. They're like tips from a night of waitressing. They're like getting cash for mowing the lawn. The dollars don't say you're a "genius," but they say, very reassuringly and definitively, that you can write and that somebody will pay you for it. (They're the opposite of MFA programs, where you pay somebody else in order to "learn" how to write.) (p. 235)
This book's final paragraph probably says as much about its contents as any that precedes it:
Because we live in a beautiful, sentient universe that yearns for you to tell the truth about it. If you love this world and this craft, they will lift you to a place you can't begin to imagine. (p. 255)
And now, like most writers who read this book, I feel obligated to set about writing a "charming note" to its author.
September 13, 2021
The late Carolyn See, who spent more than 30 years reviewing books for the Washington Post, wrote this lovely set of essays about writing and being a writer.
I learned about this book during the Historical Novel Society conference earlier this year and picked it up immediately, but only just got around to reading it.
This is one of those books meant to be savored rather than rushed through; little gems about the importance of writing a charming note to an editor just because you like their magazine, or about how literary life is a marriage rather than a romance (in other words, it is fraught with ups and downs) deserve consideration.
I found much to love about this book, as well as some new ideas to try. After all, that's the point of reading an advice book, don't you think?
Highly recommended.
I learned about this book during the Historical Novel Society conference earlier this year and picked it up immediately, but only just got around to reading it.
This is one of those books meant to be savored rather than rushed through; little gems about the importance of writing a charming note to an editor just because you like their magazine, or about how literary life is a marriage rather than a romance (in other words, it is fraught with ups and downs) deserve consideration.
I found much to love about this book, as well as some new ideas to try. After all, that's the point of reading an advice book, don't you think?
Highly recommended.
August 4, 2009
A spectacular book on becoming a writer, filled with real-world approaches and habits as well as stories and observations from Ms. See's own experiences.
This book feels like a conversation with a wise and sassy aunt who not only cares deeply about your success, but will also kick you in the butt when you need it.
Who could ask for more?
(I'll now be reading this on an annual basis, along with BIRD BY BIRD.)
This book feels like a conversation with a wise and sassy aunt who not only cares deeply about your success, but will also kick you in the butt when you need it.
Who could ask for more?
(I'll now be reading this on an annual basis, along with BIRD BY BIRD.)
did-not-finish
August 7, 2019Oh Jeez, bored to death. DNF. Maybe I'll come back to this one sometime in a better mood.
June 15, 2021
"Because the last thing on earth people living an ordinary life want to hear about is how you want to be a writer."
An insightful and relatable guide on how to establish yourself as a writer in an industry you may not be inherently grandfathered into, ie. not an Iowa graduate, Hemingway's granddaughter, or of such illustrious pedigree.
This book is awesome! It's a quick read that touches on so many different aspects of, duh, a writer's life. From the perils and benefits of making friends with other writers to committing to writing 1,000 words a day, 5 days a week, for the rest of your life to writing 1 charming note a day to a person in the literary industry 😳 to writing what you know and the power of point of view to making yourself known to your local literary community to the burden of book sales falling on the author's head, See provides a clear, engaging, and inspiring guide on how to get out of your own way and allow yourself to pursue success.
Basically if you want to be a writer, this is a practical guide on how to start acting like one.
Written in 2002, this book is absolutely out of date when it comes to technology and wokeness. Nevertheless it is still a worthwhile read and I recommend it to anybody looking for encouraging and realistic ways to pursue a literary career.
An insightful and relatable guide on how to establish yourself as a writer in an industry you may not be inherently grandfathered into, ie. not an Iowa graduate, Hemingway's granddaughter, or of such illustrious pedigree.
This book is awesome! It's a quick read that touches on so many different aspects of, duh, a writer's life. From the perils and benefits of making friends with other writers to committing to writing 1,000 words a day, 5 days a week, for the rest of your life to writing 1 charming note a day to a person in the literary industry 😳 to writing what you know and the power of point of view to making yourself known to your local literary community to the burden of book sales falling on the author's head, See provides a clear, engaging, and inspiring guide on how to get out of your own way and allow yourself to pursue success.
Basically if you want to be a writer, this is a practical guide on how to start acting like one.
Written in 2002, this book is absolutely out of date when it comes to technology and wokeness. Nevertheless it is still a worthwhile read and I recommend it to anybody looking for encouraging and realistic ways to pursue a literary career.
Read
January 7, 2025Think I'm going to like this one.
Well, I did like it despite the vulgarity. (her father started writing erotica when he turned 68. She mentions this and other erotica/smut more than needed.)
1000 words a day 5 days a week
or 2 hours of revision
Charming letter to a writer 5 days a week
She mentions that her writing advice is not for poetry. I really do like the idea of writing an uplifting letter to a writer every day . And you would think that the internet would make it easier to find addresses for snail mail. But it seems like email/ twitter etc. is the thing now and addresses harder to find. There's more advice in the book about the importance of traveling to NYC, acting like a writer, and networking I wonder how much of it is outdated. Some of the networking seems like it would be outdated.
Well, I did like it despite the vulgarity. (her father started writing erotica when he turned 68. She mentions this and other erotica/smut more than needed.)
1000 words a day 5 days a week
or 2 hours of revision
Charming letter to a writer 5 days a week
She mentions that her writing advice is not for poetry. I really do like the idea of writing an uplifting letter to a writer every day . And you would think that the internet would make it easier to find addresses for snail mail. But it seems like email/ twitter etc. is the thing now and addresses harder to find. There's more advice in the book about the importance of traveling to NYC, acting like a writer, and networking I wonder how much of it is outdated. Some of the networking seems like it would be outdated.
October 2, 2021
According to Carolyn See, "a villain, by definition, is somebody different from 'us.' A villain is indecent, incomprehensible, from the land of 'them.' " If she were correct in her thinking, then See is a villain in my opinion. This was the most indecent book I've ever read in my life. She's vulgar in a way that is incomprehensible to me and she's definitely not someone I'd want in my camp. If you come across the word 'semen' in a book that is supposed to be teaching you how to write a book, chances are you are reading the wrong book!
To be terribly honest, I've never heard of Carolyn See before stumbling upon this book for writers and 'dreamers.' I was researching a title I'd like to use for my own book (to be sure it hasn't been taken already) and this was in the list of books that popped up containing 'dream' in the title. I thought it to be a serendipitous moment and decided to buy it. It must be noted that See was born in 1934 and everything she shares comes from a very different time, where authors were more celebrated as celebrities, (I'm guessing?). It appears she had a very glamorous lifestyle in California as an author. I might be assuming too much, maybe she just had lots of money from her ex-husbands, all of whom she is more than willing to divulge every detail of her personal experience with, and when I say TMI, I mean it! See's idea of being a writer seemed to revolve around a fantasy of the lifestyle of the rich and famous. I don't want to "pretend to be a writer" as she advises, or reinvent myself to "dress like a writer." I definitely don't want to be famous. I don't want to "manifest" a book or "do magic." I don't want to look in the mirror and say words of affirmation such as "money comes to me now in expected and unexpected ways." I just wanted advice on how to write a book that might possibly change or help a handful of people who happen to be interested in my subject matter. Other than her instruction on writing 1000 words a day, which she later attributed to Virginia Woolf, this book was garbage. If you are serious about writing a book, do not waste your time reading this one. In the first couple of pages there were several f-bombs and many more throughout the entire book. Most of the stories she used (just to fill pages) were as unnecessary as the sex and pornography she enjoyed mentioning. I'm no fan of See and thanks to this book, I do not plan to read anything else she's written.
To be terribly honest, I've never heard of Carolyn See before stumbling upon this book for writers and 'dreamers.' I was researching a title I'd like to use for my own book (to be sure it hasn't been taken already) and this was in the list of books that popped up containing 'dream' in the title. I thought it to be a serendipitous moment and decided to buy it. It must be noted that See was born in 1934 and everything she shares comes from a very different time, where authors were more celebrated as celebrities, (I'm guessing?). It appears she had a very glamorous lifestyle in California as an author. I might be assuming too much, maybe she just had lots of money from her ex-husbands, all of whom she is more than willing to divulge every detail of her personal experience with, and when I say TMI, I mean it! See's idea of being a writer seemed to revolve around a fantasy of the lifestyle of the rich and famous. I don't want to "pretend to be a writer" as she advises, or reinvent myself to "dress like a writer." I definitely don't want to be famous. I don't want to "manifest" a book or "do magic." I don't want to look in the mirror and say words of affirmation such as "money comes to me now in expected and unexpected ways." I just wanted advice on how to write a book that might possibly change or help a handful of people who happen to be interested in my subject matter. Other than her instruction on writing 1000 words a day, which she later attributed to Virginia Woolf, this book was garbage. If you are serious about writing a book, do not waste your time reading this one. In the first couple of pages there were several f-bombs and many more throughout the entire book. Most of the stories she used (just to fill pages) were as unnecessary as the sex and pornography she enjoyed mentioning. I'm no fan of See and thanks to this book, I do not plan to read anything else she's written.
September 9, 2008
There were some concrete pieces of advice/guidance that I found useful (such as the write a 1000 words a day), but I really wish that she had been more aware of being more inclusive of her audience. There's definitely some alienating examples around what is "foreign" to her, but may not be to all of us (such as incomprehensible Sanskrit or a "rough-looking Chicano" being 2 examples I clearly remember). Also, I found her discussion of the difference between female and male writers to be somewhat insulting and shallow (and not reflective of my particular reality), and her advice about going to NY ridiculous (at least for me). Lastly, I also think that this book is much more useful towards prose writers. We were assigned this book in a multi-genre class and told that the book was applicable across genre (which some of the poets were annoyed at ... because we're often told that when it's not true, especially by non-poets). Having read the book, I would say that about 20% (the more general advice) pertains to poets, but it would have been great if she had acknowledged the specificity of the book as opposed to coming from a place of universality that was not encompassing.
not-finishing
February 12, 2024Wooooow.
This is a very sincere and heartfelt book written by someone whose gendered assumptions about the world are (to me) so weird and so pervasive I couldn't actually keep reading the book. Male writers are like stalkers, female writers are like women dreaming of lovers! Male writers commit adultery, female writers clean their houses! Everyone has an inner voice but listening to it makes you mentally ill UNLESS you're a writer! Just ... what? I was going to finish off with a flippant remark about Baby Boomers, but then I googled and See was born in 1934, so just -- what???
This is a very sincere and heartfelt book written by someone whose gendered assumptions about the world are (to me) so weird and so pervasive I couldn't actually keep reading the book. Male writers are like stalkers, female writers are like women dreaming of lovers! Male writers commit adultery, female writers clean their houses! Everyone has an inner voice but listening to it makes you mentally ill UNLESS you're a writer! Just ... what? I was going to finish off with a flippant remark about Baby Boomers, but then I googled and See was born in 1934, so just -- what???
October 29, 2019
I quite enjoyed this and it’s definitely worth reading if you aspire to the writing life. Carolyn See is a quirky writer and her stories were amusing but the second half of the book was a little sad as she wrote it while her beloved was dying. I read a few reviews that didn’t like this but to me it made this book all the more real, relatable, and memorable.
June 7, 2020
I read this book twice, and loved it mostly because of the author's uniquely wry and intimate voice. I regret not seeing the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, and I regret not meeting this woman who has inspired me over some difficult periods of my life. We actually corresponded a few times, and her encouragement (by email and later, after she died, through this book about writing) led me to finish my first novel. Sometimes a writer speaks to your heart, and you can almost hear their words in your ear. For reasons I don't understand, this book did that for me. Carolyn See (who, by the way, is Lisa See's mother, whose books are masterpieces of astonishing storytelling and indelible images). So, yes, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for courage to call yourself a writer or just looking for a useful and delightful book to motivate you to buckle down and write. I will probably relish it again, even though my stack of "to-reads" is piling up.
April 18, 2012
This is a writing book that had been recommended to me often, and I can see why. It's a different type of writing book (more like Bird by Bird by Anne Lammott than a traditional how-to-write type book). I'm taking a lot of really good things from it, like the concept of charming notes. It's also one of the only writing books I've read that actually acknowledges zero writing takes place during the type of your book releasing.
I think this book captured really well what the life of a writer is like, the joys and disappointments. It would have been very helpful to read before I was published, though it wouldn't have resonated as much.
The title is very appropriate. This is a great book for anyone interested in the lifestyle of a writer, but it's not one I'd recommend for someone trying to learn more about the craft of writing.
I think this book captured really well what the life of a writer is like, the joys and disappointments. It would have been very helpful to read before I was published, though it wouldn't have resonated as much.
The title is very appropriate. This is a great book for anyone interested in the lifestyle of a writer, but it's not one I'd recommend for someone trying to learn more about the craft of writing.
February 9, 2021
I was hugely disappointed in this book, which clearly makes me an exception when I look at the words of other reviewers. I didn’t find it funny or inspiring or helpful. I thought See tried way too hard to be clever and humorous and failed abysmally at both. There was virtually nothing of process or technique, which was fine with me. I anticipated that a book about making a literary life would be about the writer’s lifestyle, one of my favourite and most inspiring topics. But there was next to nothing about that either. So what was the book about? I’ve just finished it and darned if I know. It was See telling stories about her writing life, many of which made her look like someone I wouldn’t cross the street to meet.
June 18, 2012
Oh my. This is jam packed with good advice for writers, the beginner, the pro, everyone of us. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you don't do anything else she suggests, write a thousand words a day for the rest of your life. And writing a charming letter of appreciation is not a bad thing to do, either. Read it. You'll be glad you did.
April 2, 2015
Very good for young writers!
December 1, 2018
Excellent, so very helpful for a newbie writer. I think about this book often like an old friend. Get it, read it, she's so knowledgeable
October 19, 2017
Her book tells writers, dreamers, and even those trying to see their own life more clearly, how to find and identify the characters needed for the plot.
She said that the characters we will be most familiar with come to us from our own life, and that the characters needed in writing a novel can be based on them. Even if you’re a "dreamer" and your plot is just fantasy, it still has to be delivered in a plot by someone. Names can be changed if you draw on your own life, but the personality and essence of the characters can more easily be put in place and worked with if you use them.
To get started finding your own characters make up two lists. For the first list, pick the ten most important people in your life by asking these questions as a guideline: “Whom do you love? Who betrayed you? Whom did you betray? Who drives you nuts? Who is out of your reach? Who is your role model? Who is your benchmark for insanity?”. I would suggest that you also ask "who made a difference"?
On the second list, she suggests listing the other type of people you know. “The ones that gave you the willies. Those who creep you out and you don’t know why?”. I would also suggest "those that hurt you"
Once you have your two lists you have the major characters for your stories and your writings. They will work fine for fiction.
Now if the lists are just your own real life characters you still have made a choice as to which list each person was put on. Weaving the plot into narrative from the "interaction of the characters" is what a novelist does.
Often you find that great writers talk about how they just "listened to their characters" and just sit back and listen to what happens and then wrote it all down. What if you add a new character to your own life story? What if you knew Aristotle, William Buckley, Gandhi, or even Jesus Christ well enough to put them into the dialog? That approach is in part what is called a "Master Mind Alliance". How would the new character respond to what was being said? How would the input of others change, with the new person’s involvement? Would you have turned out different? It becomes a mental approach but it might open some new thoughts, directions, or conclusions for you.
The novelist picks characters that they understand. They listen closely to them. You can decide to listen differently to your characters than maybe you already did.
The book covers approaching writing before you write, while your writing and after your done. It teaches about writing but "it really tells you how to make your interior life into your exterior life".
She said that the characters we will be most familiar with come to us from our own life, and that the characters needed in writing a novel can be based on them. Even if you’re a "dreamer" and your plot is just fantasy, it still has to be delivered in a plot by someone. Names can be changed if you draw on your own life, but the personality and essence of the characters can more easily be put in place and worked with if you use them.
To get started finding your own characters make up two lists. For the first list, pick the ten most important people in your life by asking these questions as a guideline: “Whom do you love? Who betrayed you? Whom did you betray? Who drives you nuts? Who is out of your reach? Who is your role model? Who is your benchmark for insanity?”. I would suggest that you also ask "who made a difference"?
On the second list, she suggests listing the other type of people you know. “The ones that gave you the willies. Those who creep you out and you don’t know why?”. I would also suggest "those that hurt you"
Once you have your two lists you have the major characters for your stories and your writings. They will work fine for fiction.
Now if the lists are just your own real life characters you still have made a choice as to which list each person was put on. Weaving the plot into narrative from the "interaction of the characters" is what a novelist does.
Often you find that great writers talk about how they just "listened to their characters" and just sit back and listen to what happens and then wrote it all down. What if you add a new character to your own life story? What if you knew Aristotle, William Buckley, Gandhi, or even Jesus Christ well enough to put them into the dialog? That approach is in part what is called a "Master Mind Alliance". How would the new character respond to what was being said? How would the input of others change, with the new person’s involvement? Would you have turned out different? It becomes a mental approach but it might open some new thoughts, directions, or conclusions for you.
The novelist picks characters that they understand. They listen closely to them. You can decide to listen differently to your characters than maybe you already did.
The book covers approaching writing before you write, while your writing and after your done. It teaches about writing but "it really tells you how to make your interior life into your exterior life".
July 11, 2022
Overview:
Writing is a major commitment. Writing is a creative act, which tends to destabilize structure and norms. Best to keep what is being written secret, at least until its ready for publication. Otherwise, it might arouse suspicion or other unneeded feedback.
Writing is about writing, and what it needs are words written down. Its good practice to make it a habit to write close to everyday. Not necessary write the whole day, but words need to go unto a page. Writing needs the author to find the author’s own voice, and material. Using mostly what is known, the experiences and people that are familiar, to shape the world within the book. Knowing what ideas and thoughts to stay away from, is just as important. After having written the book, to revise the book. Seeing what is missing, and what can improve the flow of the writing.
Even if the content is great, does not mean people will read it, or understand it. Even after finishing the book, there is still more work to do to get people to read the book. Before and after publishing, the author is required to market their own work. Convincing people to read the book. The people who the author can ask to read and review the book, is everyone. Finding belonging with people who support the author’s writing is needed not just for morale, but also because those people would be more willing to read the book.
Caveats?
The advice is mainly for fiction writing, which might not easily transfer to non-fiction writing. Some of the advice that helped the author, may not help other authors. Need to personalize the advice to make it useful. Most of the advice is relevant no matter the era, but some of the advice is no longer relevant.
Language is explicit. Which may provide humor, or can distract from the advice. Another potential distraction are the personal references. This book is filled with many personal references, mainly to make the case that the personal references are the sources that any author should use. The references are sometimes useful to understanding the context, sometimes distracting.
Writing is a major commitment. Writing is a creative act, which tends to destabilize structure and norms. Best to keep what is being written secret, at least until its ready for publication. Otherwise, it might arouse suspicion or other unneeded feedback.
Writing is about writing, and what it needs are words written down. Its good practice to make it a habit to write close to everyday. Not necessary write the whole day, but words need to go unto a page. Writing needs the author to find the author’s own voice, and material. Using mostly what is known, the experiences and people that are familiar, to shape the world within the book. Knowing what ideas and thoughts to stay away from, is just as important. After having written the book, to revise the book. Seeing what is missing, and what can improve the flow of the writing.
Even if the content is great, does not mean people will read it, or understand it. Even after finishing the book, there is still more work to do to get people to read the book. Before and after publishing, the author is required to market their own work. Convincing people to read the book. The people who the author can ask to read and review the book, is everyone. Finding belonging with people who support the author’s writing is needed not just for morale, but also because those people would be more willing to read the book.
Caveats?
The advice is mainly for fiction writing, which might not easily transfer to non-fiction writing. Some of the advice that helped the author, may not help other authors. Need to personalize the advice to make it useful. Most of the advice is relevant no matter the era, but some of the advice is no longer relevant.
Language is explicit. Which may provide humor, or can distract from the advice. Another potential distraction are the personal references. This book is filled with many personal references, mainly to make the case that the personal references are the sources that any author should use. The references are sometimes useful to understanding the context, sometimes distracting.
October 8, 2023
4.5/5
This is probably one of the best books about writing that I have ever read. It's very detailed from start to finish, the good, the bad, and everything in between. I love the contrast between letting the reader explore their minds & imaginations & reaching for those dreams, while also bringing us back down to earth with the cold hard truth (sometimes a little too hard lol) about how hard it is to achieve these things and the real world troubles you will come across & hard work you have to put in. I feel like it it creates a great balance. It feels real.
She has a seriously fantastic sense of humor. I found this book very easy to read. It was like having a conversation with my mom or a close friend. Like you were getting a no bs talk about the business. This book is packed full of great tips, ideas, and personal stories. I have read Stephen Kings' book on writing, and it's amazing too, but his is much more technical along with his history, and this is much more how to just start all the way to publishing and selling your book & yourself. There is even a chapter with info about taxes and grants, etc. She really gives you a wealth of information.
She has so many amazing ideas for anyone to implement. Helping you find and create your voice. This book really helped me find that starting place that I desperately needed because my brain gets so overwhelmed sometimes. Highly highly recommend this as a book to read for inspiration to start writing or finding your own voice in any creative space.
** I took off half a point because there were a few parts that I was not a fan of, one in particular when she was talking about men vs. women writing. Definitely did not agree with that. Especially being a woman who does not have children. It may be because she is from a different Era, but that kind of rubbed me the wrong way. And a few other things like how she talked about NY and the cab drivers. So yeah, gotta mark off for that.
This is probably one of the best books about writing that I have ever read. It's very detailed from start to finish, the good, the bad, and everything in between. I love the contrast between letting the reader explore their minds & imaginations & reaching for those dreams, while also bringing us back down to earth with the cold hard truth (sometimes a little too hard lol) about how hard it is to achieve these things and the real world troubles you will come across & hard work you have to put in. I feel like it it creates a great balance. It feels real.
She has a seriously fantastic sense of humor. I found this book very easy to read. It was like having a conversation with my mom or a close friend. Like you were getting a no bs talk about the business. This book is packed full of great tips, ideas, and personal stories. I have read Stephen Kings' book on writing, and it's amazing too, but his is much more technical along with his history, and this is much more how to just start all the way to publishing and selling your book & yourself. There is even a chapter with info about taxes and grants, etc. She really gives you a wealth of information.
She has so many amazing ideas for anyone to implement. Helping you find and create your voice. This book really helped me find that starting place that I desperately needed because my brain gets so overwhelmed sometimes. Highly highly recommend this as a book to read for inspiration to start writing or finding your own voice in any creative space.
** I took off half a point because there were a few parts that I was not a fan of, one in particular when she was talking about men vs. women writing. Definitely did not agree with that. Especially being a woman who does not have children. It may be because she is from a different Era, but that kind of rubbed me the wrong way. And a few other things like how she talked about NY and the cab drivers. So yeah, gotta mark off for that.
November 12, 2023
I'm not sure if I wrote a review about this book the first time I read it, but since that was probably about 20 years ago, it's unlikely that it's here on Goodreads. I love this book, and it's been on my shelf of books about the writing life for as long as I've been trying to be a writer. It sits there near Anne Lamott's book "Bird by Bird," Stephen King's "On Writing," Brenda Ueland's "If You Want to Write," and so many other great books that I turn to when my own writing life stalls or I get totally stuck or I start to wonder, "Why am I doing this anyway??"
I had forgotten what a funny book Carolyn See had written until I picked this up this year and read it again. I would think even non-writers would enjoy this book, partly for the fact that every page has something that will make you laugh out loud -- but also because the advice she gives about trying to live a creative life as a writer seems to apply to many creative pursuits.
My copy of this book has paper that's a bit yellowed because I bought it back when it came out, in 2002. Some of the material in here seems a bit dated, for that reason. There was no social media, for instance, and Amazon was still a very new company. The whole idea of self-publishing wasn't really a thing yet. See talks about submitting stories to publishers and magazines using a SASE and a printed manuscript, so that was still a thing back then -- only 20 years ago! So, while some of the advice may not apply directly, the main things, including writing 1000 words a day and building a network of contacts in the business, are still true today.
Before I sat down to write this review, I looked up Carolyn's biography in Wikipedia and was sorry to see that she passed away in 2016. I always loved reading her book reviews in the Washington Post (which is how I first became familiar with her work) and this book is similarly entertaining and informative. Highly recommended.
I had forgotten what a funny book Carolyn See had written until I picked this up this year and read it again. I would think even non-writers would enjoy this book, partly for the fact that every page has something that will make you laugh out loud -- but also because the advice she gives about trying to live a creative life as a writer seems to apply to many creative pursuits.
My copy of this book has paper that's a bit yellowed because I bought it back when it came out, in 2002. Some of the material in here seems a bit dated, for that reason. There was no social media, for instance, and Amazon was still a very new company. The whole idea of self-publishing wasn't really a thing yet. See talks about submitting stories to publishers and magazines using a SASE and a printed manuscript, so that was still a thing back then -- only 20 years ago! So, while some of the advice may not apply directly, the main things, including writing 1000 words a day and building a network of contacts in the business, are still true today.
Before I sat down to write this review, I looked up Carolyn's biography in Wikipedia and was sorry to see that she passed away in 2016. I always loved reading her book reviews in the Washington Post (which is how I first became familiar with her work) and this book is similarly entertaining and informative. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2022
A delightful -- but incredibly odd in the best of ways -- book on writing. Carolyn See's slim little volume is part craft book, part guidebook to handling the psychological rollercoaster of a creative career, with more than a few practical notes about money, grant-writing, and planning a book launch. While See's book clearly springs from an age where fewer writers were online (she REALLY pushes magazines articles as an avenue for making money, as well as the value of good stationary and penmanship....) a bit of flexibility will translate these insights into the 21st century easily enough. Her sense of humor is delightfully bizarre, with much of this book coming across as frenzied and outlandish -- again, in the best of ways. Think of Anne Lamott on uppers.
If I could summarize the most important piece of advice in See's book, it would be to regularly reach out to other writers, creators, and those connected with the business to tell them how much you enjoyed their work, WITHOUT asking for anything in return. This kind of networking (whether over email, social media, or old fashioned letter) doesn't get nearly enough attention in most writing books, and while I don't advocate for writing letters every day, aspiring writers at all levels would be wise to heed the spirit of See's advice.
If I could summarize the most important piece of advice in See's book, it would be to regularly reach out to other writers, creators, and those connected with the business to tell them how much you enjoyed their work, WITHOUT asking for anything in return. This kind of networking (whether over email, social media, or old fashioned letter) doesn't get nearly enough attention in most writing books, and while I don't advocate for writing letters every day, aspiring writers at all levels would be wise to heed the spirit of See's advice.
May 20, 2019
This isn't really a review in the general sense of a review but rather a bit of commentary about one of my favorite books. I first read this book years ago when Carolyn See was still alive, and her advice about the charming notes resonated with me so much that I decided to start by writing her one. A short time later, she wrote back to me! I still have that lovely note from her taped in one of my writing notebooks. I receive book release announcements from her daughter, the exceedingly gifted Lisa See, and when I received her most recent announcement, I thought of her mother and this wonderful writing advice book, and I looked Carolyn up to see if she'd published anything recent, only to -- sadly -- learn that she'd died a few years back. So, I wrote to Lisa and told her what a gift her mother's book had been to me and how I still have the note Carolyn had written to me and how much it had meant to me. I also wished Lisa continued writing success, and I told her that I was a writer and that I owed a part of my dedication to the writing life to her mother. A week later I received a note from Lisa See herself. It is now taped inside the same writing notebook where Carolyn's note resides. I've just reread "Making a Literary Life," and I am so happy that Carolyn and I crossed paths through those charming notes. I will treasure this book and her kind personal words to me forever.
November 30, 2017
Making a Literary Life, by Carolyn See, was an interesting and helpful book. It was filled with helpful advice on every step of your journey as an author. What sets this book apart from the others in its genre is how readable it is. Carolyn See has an interesting tone in it, if nothing else. It feels like she alternates between an aloof tone and a friendly one.
On a better note, though, she does something most of these books don't do. She tells you how to actually make a literary life. She talks to you about how to live your life like an author - more than that, she tells you how to live your life as you think an author should live it. She brainstorms with you and dreams with you. And she gives you practical advice while she does it.
All in all, she's like the eccentric aunt who you can't help but admire. It's a good read.
On a better note, though, she does something most of these books don't do. She tells you how to actually make a literary life. She talks to you about how to live your life like an author - more than that, she tells you how to live your life as you think an author should live it. She brainstorms with you and dreams with you. And she gives you practical advice while she does it.
All in all, she's like the eccentric aunt who you can't help but admire. It's a good read.
February 12, 2019
This is a quick read, but definitely not fluff. Carolyn lays out what it means to be a writer, for life. She shows by way of anecdote and personal experience what it takes to be someone that has dedicated their life to the written word. At times she lays it out in plain down to earth language and at times with some salty humor.
This is not a nut and bolts book with lessons to do, it is more of a memoir. As I'm still struggling to find the joy of writing once again, I think this book filled its niche flawlessly. I will be re-reading this at some point. I do recommend it to anyone that loves to write and those that find writing something scary yet so attractive.
This is not a nut and bolts book with lessons to do, it is more of a memoir. As I'm still struggling to find the joy of writing once again, I think this book filled its niche flawlessly. I will be re-reading this at some point. I do recommend it to anyone that loves to write and those that find writing something scary yet so attractive.
November 16, 2022
This was a such a fun and important read. As an aspiring novelist and someone who wants to "make a literary life," I found Carolyn See's perspective so refreshing and supportive. I wish I'd been aware of her when she was still alive so that I could take her advice and write a letter to her. (You've got to write letters to folks, writers!)
Her prose is so easy to read and her tone made me feel like I was part of her team. And her advice on writing is something any interested writer or creator will find value in. Now, to the hard work of writing 1,000 words every day, five days a week, for the rest of my life. Yikes.
Her prose is so easy to read and her tone made me feel like I was part of her team. And her advice on writing is something any interested writer or creator will find value in. Now, to the hard work of writing 1,000 words every day, five days a week, for the rest of my life. Yikes.
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