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How to Enjoy Writing: A Book of Aid and Comfort
A guide to writing includes discussions of style, humor, genre fiction, editing, promotion, and children's books
163 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1987
89 people want to read
About the author
Janet Asimov
60 books21 followersAlso known as: Janet Jeppson Asimov, Janet O. Jeppson, J.O. Jeppson
Janet Asimov was an American science fiction writer, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. She originally wrote as J.O. Jeppson. She was an accomplished novelist and short-story writer who sometimes worked in collaboration with her husband, the late Isaac Asimov. Among the Asimovs' joint ventures as writers is the series of juvenile novels involving an endearing robot, Norby, and his young owner, Jeff Wells.
Janet Asimov was an American science fiction writer, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. She originally wrote as J.O. Jeppson. She was an accomplished novelist and short-story writer who sometimes worked in collaboration with her husband, the late Isaac Asimov. Among the Asimovs' joint ventures as writers is the series of juvenile novels involving an endearing robot, Norby, and his young owner, Jeff Wells.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 5, 2019
How to Enjoy Writing: A Book of Aid and Comfort, 1987, 161 pp., ISBN 0802709451. Janet (1926¬–2019, Isaac's 2nd wife, m. 1973) and Isaac (1920¬–1992) Asimov encourage writers.
"In my opinion, the writers of English who most clearly use the correct word every time and who most artfully and deftly put together their sentences and paragraphs are Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and P.G. Wodehouse." (p. 9)
"Be simple and clear." (p. 9)
"Think it through first." (p. 10)
"Don't try to be a perfectionist." (p. 35)
"I have to write—I've just got to." —L.M. Montgomery (p. 126)
"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand." —Mark Twain (p. 130)
"If you want to be a prolific writer, you have to be a single-minded, driven, nonstop person. Sounds horrible, doesn't it?
"Well, then, concentrate on being a good writer, and leave prolific for those poor souls who can't help it." (p. 43)
"Life is a journey, but don't worry, you'll find a parking place at the end." (p. 50)
"An editor wrote in the margin, 'I don't understand this' and I wrote, 'I do.'" (p. 57)
"I am rarely rejected, but between 'rarely' and 'never' there is a vast gulf." (p. 64)
"Every author should be judged by his readers, and I am proud of mine." (p. 78)
"As in all other categories of endeavor, the number of good screenwriters is far fewer than the number of screenwriters." (p. 84)
"What a writer thinks of as constructive criticism is six thousand words of closely reasoned adulation." —David Frost (p. 140)
Some of the Asimovs' favorite books and authors: (pp. 152–155)
The Elements of Style, Stunk & White
Strictly Speaking and A Civil Tongue, Edwin Newman
An Almanac of Words at Play, Willard R. Espy
All of P.G. Wodehouse, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens
Agatha Christie
Histories by Bruce Catton, Will and Ariel Durant
Homer
Ellis Peters' medieval mysteries
Rosemary Sutcliffe's historical novels
J.R.R. Tolkein
Gerald Durrell
The three "Emily" novels by L.M. Montgomery. About a writer.
Rex Stout
Contents:
Introduction
1. The Fun of It
2. The Work
3. Coping
4. Editing and Reacting to Editors
5. What Writers Go Through
6. Promotion
7. Critics
8. Words vs. Pictures
9. Bright Future: Writing Non-Fiction
10. Imagination: The Joys of Writing Fiction
11. In Praise of Specialized Fiction
12. Writing Children's Books
13. In Celebration of Humor
14. Writing—Forever?
15. Other Writers
16. Integrity
17. A Last Plea: Write What Makes People Feel Better
18. Meditation for Writers
19. The Writer's Working Library for Aid and Comfort
Index
quiz question:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/work...
permalink:
https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/Tom...
"In my opinion, the writers of English who most clearly use the correct word every time and who most artfully and deftly put together their sentences and paragraphs are Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and P.G. Wodehouse." (p. 9)
"Be simple and clear." (p. 9)
"Think it through first." (p. 10)
"Don't try to be a perfectionist." (p. 35)
"I have to write—I've just got to." —L.M. Montgomery (p. 126)
"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand." —Mark Twain (p. 130)
"If you want to be a prolific writer, you have to be a single-minded, driven, nonstop person. Sounds horrible, doesn't it?
"Well, then, concentrate on being a good writer, and leave prolific for those poor souls who can't help it." (p. 43)
"Life is a journey, but don't worry, you'll find a parking place at the end." (p. 50)
"An editor wrote in the margin, 'I don't understand this' and I wrote, 'I do.'" (p. 57)
"I am rarely rejected, but between 'rarely' and 'never' there is a vast gulf." (p. 64)
"Every author should be judged by his readers, and I am proud of mine." (p. 78)
"As in all other categories of endeavor, the number of good screenwriters is far fewer than the number of screenwriters." (p. 84)
"What a writer thinks of as constructive criticism is six thousand words of closely reasoned adulation." —David Frost (p. 140)
Some of the Asimovs' favorite books and authors: (pp. 152–155)
The Elements of Style, Stunk & White
Strictly Speaking and A Civil Tongue, Edwin Newman
An Almanac of Words at Play, Willard R. Espy
All of P.G. Wodehouse, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens
Agatha Christie
Histories by Bruce Catton, Will and Ariel Durant
Homer
Ellis Peters' medieval mysteries
Rosemary Sutcliffe's historical novels
J.R.R. Tolkein
Gerald Durrell
The three "Emily" novels by L.M. Montgomery. About a writer.
Rex Stout
Contents:
Introduction
1. The Fun of It
2. The Work
3. Coping
4. Editing and Reacting to Editors
5. What Writers Go Through
6. Promotion
7. Critics
8. Words vs. Pictures
9. Bright Future: Writing Non-Fiction
10. Imagination: The Joys of Writing Fiction
11. In Praise of Specialized Fiction
12. Writing Children's Books
13. In Celebration of Humor
14. Writing—Forever?
15. Other Writers
16. Integrity
17. A Last Plea: Write What Makes People Feel Better
18. Meditation for Writers
19. The Writer's Working Library for Aid and Comfort
Index
quiz question:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/work...
permalink:
https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/Tom...
October 15, 2011
This book mostly seems like a lazy attempt to recycle some old material into new revenue. It's basically a handful of Isaac Asimov's old articles and letters mixed with a bunch of random quotes about writing, with some new material by Janet Asimov to fill in the gaps. The result is a wildly disjointed work which seldom has anything to do with its title. If you can get past that, though, some of Isaac's insights are really quite interesting, though the parts written by Janet are virtually useless.
March 16, 2020
This is more of a "mentoring" book than a "how-to" book. Janet and Isaac Asimov sort of put their arms around your shoulder and speak in one ear about writing. It's mostly composed of their personal experiences, and a profusion of quotes by other authors.
It's a fun and encouraging book to read, one that says more about the ambiance and character of writing, than it does technique. Well worth the time--if you're a writer, and if perhaps you might be a tad discouraged by the fact that you never have and probably never will hit a best-seller list. Asimov's humor and generally blunt statements are quite enjoyable.
It's a fun and encouraging book to read, one that says more about the ambiance and character of writing, than it does technique. Well worth the time--if you're a writer, and if perhaps you might be a tad discouraged by the fact that you never have and probably never will hit a best-seller list. Asimov's humor and generally blunt statements are quite enjoyable.
April 3, 2014
First, the thing I really didn't like about this book: It had a few too many quotes from other writers, and some of the essays it collected were only excerpts (I think), not the full piece.
Now, what I really did like about it: It's the only writing book I've ever read that focuses on the pleasures of writing. All the other books focus on the all the hard work and drudgery of it, the craft, the dedication you need, blah blah blah. The Asimovs assume you already are dedicated to writing. They assume you already know how to do it. They don't write down to you. It's refreshing. And Asimov writes with a dry humor that's funny and enjoyable.
Some of the things in here are a bit outdated (typewriters), but the advice is all still applicable. And it's so sensible! So reasonable! Like, don't try to be a prolific writer if you want your work to be perfect, because it's not going to be.
I would definitely recommend this to any writer, especially anyone who's feeling sad, lonely, or depressed about their writing.
Now, what I really did like about it: It's the only writing book I've ever read that focuses on the pleasures of writing. All the other books focus on the all the hard work and drudgery of it, the craft, the dedication you need, blah blah blah. The Asimovs assume you already are dedicated to writing. They assume you already know how to do it. They don't write down to you. It's refreshing. And Asimov writes with a dry humor that's funny and enjoyable.
Some of the things in here are a bit outdated (typewriters), but the advice is all still applicable. And it's so sensible! So reasonable! Like, don't try to be a prolific writer if you want your work to be perfect, because it's not going to be.
I would definitely recommend this to any writer, especially anyone who's feeling sad, lonely, or depressed about their writing.
August 21, 2013
This book came at a great time in my own development as a writer. Stuck between becoming a "good" writer and a "prolific" one, I found Asimov's sentiments entirely encouraging. With over 400 books under his belt, he knows a thing or two about the subject.
My only real qualm with the book is that the longest chapter is actually about something "the authors of this book have practically no experience with..." (see chapter 8 Words vs. Pictures for an example of "empty" writing). I ended up just skipping that chapter entirely.
Otherwise - a brilliant read and very encouraging for a budding sci-fi writer such as myself.
My only real qualm with the book is that the longest chapter is actually about something "the authors of this book have practically no experience with..." (see chapter 8 Words vs. Pictures for an example of "empty" writing). I ended up just skipping that chapter entirely.
Otherwise - a brilliant read and very encouraging for a budding sci-fi writer such as myself.
July 1, 2008
This is a great one written by the great one. And Isaac's wife, a lesser known writer, is also an accomplished writer. But almost anyone pales in comparison to Isaac. After all, he wrote some 500 books. I love his advice about writing and getting things done. He said that if it's a nice day out, close the blinds and get to work. Couldn't say it better myself.
February 7, 2023
Like most prolific writers, Isaac Asimov had little tolerance for writer's block or other artistic excuses not to write. Still, his cheerful skewering of critics, editors, fans, and the publishing industry is kind of inspiring in itself. Carpe diem, and don't let anyone or anything keep you from your art.
Accompanied by other author quotes and cute cartoons, this collection of short essays (compiled by Janet) can provide a needed nudge toward finishing the first draft.
Accompanied by other author quotes and cute cartoons, this collection of short essays (compiled by Janet) can provide a needed nudge toward finishing the first draft.
January 21, 2008
An absolute pleasure written by both Janet and Isaac Asimov. Even if you already write, skip the how-to bits and just read the fun, larky stuff - like where Isaac goes on about not understanding why anyone would have a hobby since reading and writing are the only worthwhile things to do. Great stuff.
December 16, 2019
This has some very good advice, and both Janet and Isaac are very good writers, obviously, but the book suffers from its disjointed contents. Much of the book is filled out by quotes and letters and essays rather than giving you a consistent reading experience. Worth a look through but I did find myself skipping around a bit.
November 21, 2014
I kind of enjoyed this haphazard collection of writing and life advice from the Asimovs. The opening and closing chapters were the best -- I found myself skimming some in the middle. Also, a lot of the Assimovs' concerns are very 20th century. We hardly ever have to buy stamps any more!
March 6, 2015
Great book with many wonderful quotes. My favorite part of the book is the story about Asimov attending a lecture about cassettes at a seminar. Two days later he was asked to speak and comparing them and the technological advances to a book.
Very upbeat and encouraging.
Very upbeat and encouraging.
November 6, 2010
nice comforting book on how to love writing.
May 20, 2020
Isaac Asimov's wife Janet,with the collaboration of her partner, collects quotations, essays by Isaac, personal experiences from the couple's writing life into an excellent guide to would be writers.
Couple advices from the book:
- write about topics you love; write for the joy of it
- write but have yourself financially secured from a different source of income first.
- write things that bring joy and hope to people
- being a prolific writer is hard. Aim to achieve good writing even though your pace is slow.
- To write about science you don't have to be a scientist
- stick to your guns when your story is butchered by an editor.
- accept criticisms and be aware of the crtics' agenda.
. Use humour
. Don't choose to wite about vulgarity and evil.
.
.
.
One of the most enjoyable essays in the books were those in which I.A talks about how he defended the written word against a cassette taking its place in the future by deliberating about why books will always be the most important tech to trasmit information, and how it is always better than images alone or soumd alone, because, he argues, that human's most powerful invented tool is speech,and speech is transmitted through words alone which readers can decode into sounds,intonations, feelings, all while imagining what is happening. So writers are here to stay is how he concluded his talk. The other essay was when he discussed science fiction and its role society; how it inspires scientists and engineers, makes the public aware of the existence of better futures, and more supportive of science. The writer's responsibilty is to kinda open the public eyes to a hopeful life full of possibility.
Also discussed in the book is the difference between movies and books, amd why we should look at them as a two seperate art forms with each having their own characteristics. In the same spirit,we shouldn't say oh,the movie is not true to the book, or the book is better. But rather,lool at the movie and the book as two different stories.
Every reader builds a personal connection with the story in the book; it becomes his story, because,unlike the movie,the book is a collaboration between the author and the reader.
Couple advices from the book:
- write about topics you love; write for the joy of it
- write but have yourself financially secured from a different source of income first.
- write things that bring joy and hope to people
- being a prolific writer is hard. Aim to achieve good writing even though your pace is slow.
- To write about science you don't have to be a scientist
- stick to your guns when your story is butchered by an editor.
- accept criticisms and be aware of the crtics' agenda.
. Use humour
. Don't choose to wite about vulgarity and evil.
.
.
.
One of the most enjoyable essays in the books were those in which I.A talks about how he defended the written word against a cassette taking its place in the future by deliberating about why books will always be the most important tech to trasmit information, and how it is always better than images alone or soumd alone, because, he argues, that human's most powerful invented tool is speech,and speech is transmitted through words alone which readers can decode into sounds,intonations, feelings, all while imagining what is happening. So writers are here to stay is how he concluded his talk. The other essay was when he discussed science fiction and its role society; how it inspires scientists and engineers, makes the public aware of the existence of better futures, and more supportive of science. The writer's responsibilty is to kinda open the public eyes to a hopeful life full of possibility.
Also discussed in the book is the difference between movies and books, amd why we should look at them as a two seperate art forms with each having their own characteristics. In the same spirit,we shouldn't say oh,the movie is not true to the book, or the book is better. But rather,lool at the movie and the book as two different stories.
Every reader builds a personal connection with the story in the book; it becomes his story, because,unlike the movie,the book is a collaboration between the author and the reader.
July 12, 2020
Una gran desilución este libro. Habré leído unos veinte libros de Isaac Asimov, la mayoría no ficción (historia, matemática, astronomía, autobiografía). En mi búsqueda de herramientas para escribir me interesaba especialmente la visión de un autor tan prolífico (+500 libros calculo si descontamos los refritos), de campo tan amplio (la Biblia, Shakespeare, ciencia ficción, y más) y al que siempre admiré por su eficacia.
El problema principal es la autoría y originalidad del contenido. La primera es que es mayormente de su mujer (curiosamente en Goodreads lo indican así a pesar de que la imagen de la tapa indica lo contrario). De ella no leí nada ni tiene mayores pergaminos, y es quien seleccionó textos viejos de cartas y ensayos de su marido para este libro. El resultado: un texto desordenado, sin hilación, que pocas veces habla sobre la propuesta del título. Lo más rescatable son algunas citas de otros autores que le dan un poco más de vuelo.
Más allá de que sabía que era un autor pragmático, que no reescribe las primeras versiones, esperaba un poco más de consejos y propuestas después de medio siglo de experiencia y con logros tan altos como la saga Fundación y tantas novelas y cuentos memorables.
Ahorrensé la plata y compren una de sus ficciones de la que seguramente aprendan más analizando su estilo que de este rejunte de fragmentos.
El problema principal es la autoría y originalidad del contenido. La primera es que es mayormente de su mujer (curiosamente en Goodreads lo indican así a pesar de que la imagen de la tapa indica lo contrario). De ella no leí nada ni tiene mayores pergaminos, y es quien seleccionó textos viejos de cartas y ensayos de su marido para este libro. El resultado: un texto desordenado, sin hilación, que pocas veces habla sobre la propuesta del título. Lo más rescatable son algunas citas de otros autores que le dan un poco más de vuelo.
Más allá de que sabía que era un autor pragmático, que no reescribe las primeras versiones, esperaba un poco más de consejos y propuestas después de medio siglo de experiencia y con logros tan altos como la saga Fundación y tantas novelas y cuentos memorables.
Ahorrensé la plata y compren una de sus ficciones de la que seguramente aprendan más analizando su estilo que de este rejunte de fragmentos.
November 10, 2025
This pep talk for writers by prolific science writer Isaac Asimov and his wife Janet is really a scrapbook of quotes from articles by Isaac and dozens of authors he admires. Overlook dated references to the technology of writing and savor their descriptions of delight in the process. I admit that I do not enjoy reading a patchwork of quotes such as this, so I am biased toward an unfavorable review.
November 1, 2022
So good, my friend Damon found this at a community library box and brought it back for me, was really easy to read and hard to put down
February 20, 2024
I liked this so much that I bought a copy!
December 13, 2021
The Asimovs have a very pleasant and conversational writing voice. This is not a book on "how" to write a novel, it is a collection of thoughts and essays on why it's fun to write a novel and why books are just plain awesome! It's also filled with quotes from other famous authors on the joys of writing. The whole thing is very inspiring!
They do have some writing advice, mostly to keep things clear and use the most straightforward language possible. I love the essay Words vs. Pictures which explains how movies and books are such different mediums that it's silly to complain that a movie based off a book does not follow the book.
I also love the following essay, Ancient and Ultimate, on why words are superior to images. Asimov quickly debunks the old aphorism "a picture is worth a thousand words." After all, if you are trying to follow the story of a television show, which is easier to follow: the sound, dialogue, etc. without images, or just the images and no idea of what anyone is saying?
What's more, books do have images, he argues, and better images because they are personal and come from your imagination, making reading an interactive activity rather than a passive one. Asimov debunks the myth that books will become obsolete, stating that reading has always been a minority activity.
"Those people, those non-readers, those passive receptacles for entertainment, are terribly fickle. They will switch from one thing to another ... But through it all, the faithful less-than-1-percent minority stick to the books. Only the printed word can demand as much from them, only the printed word can force creativity out of them ... only the printed word can give them what nothing else can. The book may be ancient but it is also the ultimate, and readers will never be seduced away from it. They will remain a minority, but they will remain." (p. 98-99)
He admits that the way we view books may change, but that we will still be reading words, which is exactly what happened with the advent of eBooks.
They do have some writing advice, mostly to keep things clear and use the most straightforward language possible. I love the essay Words vs. Pictures which explains how movies and books are such different mediums that it's silly to complain that a movie based off a book does not follow the book.
I also love the following essay, Ancient and Ultimate, on why words are superior to images. Asimov quickly debunks the old aphorism "a picture is worth a thousand words." After all, if you are trying to follow the story of a television show, which is easier to follow: the sound, dialogue, etc. without images, or just the images and no idea of what anyone is saying?
What's more, books do have images, he argues, and better images because they are personal and come from your imagination, making reading an interactive activity rather than a passive one. Asimov debunks the myth that books will become obsolete, stating that reading has always been a minority activity.
"Those people, those non-readers, those passive receptacles for entertainment, are terribly fickle. They will switch from one thing to another ... But through it all, the faithful less-than-1-percent minority stick to the books. Only the printed word can demand as much from them, only the printed word can force creativity out of them ... only the printed word can give them what nothing else can. The book may be ancient but it is also the ultimate, and readers will never be seduced away from it. They will remain a minority, but they will remain." (p. 98-99)
He admits that the way we view books may change, but that we will still be reading words, which is exactly what happened with the advent of eBooks.
January 15, 2017
Two things I really liked about this book: They mention that when writing dialogue that they just use the word said. That anything else tends to put a pause when reading while the word said is very quickly absorbed and understood. The second and favorite part of the book was when writing was compared to a stained glass window versus a clear pane of glass. This beautifully put in words why I've so enjoyed reading Asimov so far. It is so very clear and easy to absorb. It's important that he writes this way because many of the topics he covers aren't so clear. I understand now why many called Isaac 'the Great Explainer'.
Yes, the book is short. Yes, there are many quotes and some recycled material. That doesn't really take away from it too much. I think fans of Asimov or writers looking for a few reasons to keep slogging through their latest work will find this a good read.
Bought this for my wife for Christmas 2016.
Yes, the book is short. Yes, there are many quotes and some recycled material. That doesn't really take away from it too much. I think fans of Asimov or writers looking for a few reasons to keep slogging through their latest work will find this a good read.
Bought this for my wife for Christmas 2016.
March 31, 2011
I wish it had had more Isaac, less Janet, and fewer outside quotes. Otherwise, a decent book of advice and experience on writing.
The best section, in my opinion, was on pages 100-108.
The best section, in my opinion, was on pages 100-108.
Want to read
December 16, 201310/16/89. No library.
December 18, 2015
1.5 stars
Saw this at the library when picking up another book.
Published in 1987. Reads as if written two decades earlier than that.
Saw this at the library when picking up another book.
Published in 1987. Reads as if written two decades earlier than that.
April 30, 2014
Quite choppy, although enjoyable enough.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews