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How to Be a Writer
A writer is someone who writes. It sounds obvious, but many people who call themselves writers don't produce enough words in a year to fill a postcard. Other writers churn out thousands of words but never sell their work. This book tackles both it gets you writing, easily and painlessly guiding you through the dreaded "writer's block," and it divulges industry secrets that will help you to raise the quality of your work to a professional level. Writing is a business like any other. Successful writers know the rules and conventions that make their work stand out from the rest of the "slush pile"—rules Stewart Ferris now reveals in How to be a Writer that will help launch your writing career.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Stewart Ferris
65 books2 followersStewart writes The Ballashiels Mysteries, a series of semi-comedic archaeological adventures (The Sphinx Swindle, The Dali Diaries, The Chaplin Conspiracy and others). He is also the author of Oversleeper (under the Matt Mountebank pseudonym), plus The Reluctant Rescue and a number of non fiction books including How to be a Writer. His scriptwriting includes Pokémon and The Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau. He has a PhD in Creative Writing, specialising in P.G. Wodehouse.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 11, 2018
nothing that isn’t really common sense tbh. Self-plugs too which i don’t like.
December 29, 2014
No sex, no drugs and not a sniff of rock 'n' roll in this volume, but more than enough advice on the hows, whys and wherefores of writing and publishing a book.
I raced through this tome in less than 24 hours (and read 44 pages of a weighty history book The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, finished off the last 50 pages of another writing book: A Novel in a Year: A Novelist's Guide to Being a Novelist (and wrote part of a novel), did a full day's work, paid a visit to friends, watched two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and cooked and ate dinner, lunch and breakfast (although not necessarily in that order)) and it was enjoyable, entertaining and elucidating.
..and after all that - I don't have the energy to stay awake another moment - off to bed!
Amendment - 20th May 2014:
Got the book out of the library again and re-read the section on re-drafting a novel (primarily because I have now written a novel - yay!).
These are the notes I made:
Draft 1: An approximation of the whole work
Write it quickly as it flows from you. Don’t worry about stuff – toss coins to decide it. Make notes about problems. Leave it for a few days.
Draft 2: A tightening of the structure
Fill the holes in the plot according to your notes. If you need to explain why someone is the way they are, write a scene to show their development. Weave in a subplot if you need to, but make it relevant to the resolution. Prune away side-tracks if they are not relevant, or make them relevant to the plot or subplot. Make sure the novel is an appropriate length (>40,000 words). A new subplot could be 5,000 to 10,000 words. Are there enough twists? Should there be more description. Should there be more dialogue? Do characters get there way too easily? Add more obstacles and drama to increase word count by making other characters oppose them.
Draft 3: Development of the characters
Keep accurate records of all the decisions taken about characters’ lives. Complete a character questionnaire (from http://dev.stewartferris.com/) so that you can refer back to it to know how they react to decisions. Make them believable, with flaws enough to make the reader care about them. Be able to recount their life story up until the time of the narrative. A character arc: put your hero up a tree, throws stones at him and then bring him down as a changed person having learned valuable lessons about life. The reader must root for them and then have a sense of satisfaction as they see the maturity they attain. Every character that appears more than once must have an arc. They must have wants and needs that, if they are fulfilled, make them happy, or if not, they learn that this kind of fulfilment is actually empty and other things matter more. If they fail, they will either be depressed, or will decide that the failure has brought about success on another level.
Draft 4: Improving the dialogue
Have the aim that if you deleted all the characters’ names, it would be obvious who was talking by means of vocabulary, accent, favourite phrases and manner of speaking, so that each has complete originality. Do not render accents phonetically. E.g. some have catchphrases; some cannot finish sentences; some are cynical in speech; some have formal tone with correct grammar and long words; some use the latest slang; some have an agenda that taints what they say.
Draft 5: Working on the language and imagery
Look for words that are repeated and replace them with synonyms (how much like cheating does that seem). Change basic phrases into some, more elegant way of using language. Find more interesting words, similes and metaphors than the ones you have been flogging like a dead horse hammering like a dying starter motor. Whenever you spot a cliché, change it to something more original. Read objectively to see if it sounds like mature writing, or a story written at school. Eliminate clumsy phrases and awkward paragraphs. Re-write lines that don’t make sense, revise non sequiturs, and deepen all those shallow descriptions. Revisit the places and people you have described and make sure that none of the senses (touch, smell, vision, hearing etc.) have been neglected.
Draft 6: Restructuring parts of the work
Consider if the story would benefit from changing the order in which events are described (either linear or ‘time jumping’). It may be an option to start with the second, more dramatic, chapter and either re-write or lose the first. It may be possible to start with the big conflict in the penultimate scene, and then jump back to relay the events leading up to this. Another option is to repeatedly use snippets of history to show how the current situation mirrors events faced in the past and demonstrate that lessons learnt then can help now. Think about scenes too – every section should start at the last minute and end as soon as possible, hence omitting anything superfluous or irrelevant to the story. Skip the goodbye at the end of the conversation.
Draft 7: Adding layers of conflict
Add as many layers of conflict as you can. No-one wants to read a story about a walk in the park; they want to hear that you fell in the pond and got soaked on the way to that big interview and that a dog chased you up a tree just after that and as the clock struck quarter to your interview, you were still … but you didn’t give up in your titanic struggle against all the odds.
Draft 8: Improving the crucial opening pages
Come up with an amazing first three pages to hook the reader in. Jazz up any dull description; recheck for clichés and weak language; do anything you can to make those first pages shine. The first sentence should electrify so spend days and days on this alone. Something should happen in the first page that symbolises the theme of the book. By the third page, something should happen that sets the rest of the story in motion and hence keeps the reader licking her finger to turn the pages. Make someone’s day with these three pages.
Draft 9: More work on the character development
Show that you have lived with these characters; each line of dialogue should show who is talking by reflecting their personality. Make sure it isn’t the writer’s voice, but the character’s that shines through. Check that character arcs are believable to the reader and tweak if necessary. Interconnect characters in surprising ways to add strands of meaning. Make one or more character turn out to be the opposite of what the reader expects and thus make them feel that anything could happen from now on.
Draft 10: Logic and consistency
Check that events happen and information is revealed in a logical order and that characters are consistent in terms of how they speak and act. Make sure that any re-writes do not create logical inconsistencies and rectify any forgotten consequences of these changes. Make sure characters have time to move from A to B; don’t describe sunshine in the night-time; and, of course, never wear sunglasses after dark.
Draft 11: Proofreading for mistakes
Fix any mistakes as you spot them. Look up any words you’re not sure about in a dictionary. Check for typing errors. Don’t just rely on your grammar and spell checkers - watch out for things like ‘their’ and ‘there’. Keep an eye out for repeated words; not just consecutively, but using the same descriptive word twice in the same paragraph, and replace these with synonyms.
Draft 12: Read the work aloud
Either read the work aloud yourself, or set software loose on the text so that you can sit back and listen to how it flows. Keep an ear out for missing words, repeated words and other anomalies. Another option is to read the story to someone, or even to get someone to read it to you. Take careful note of any comments and feedback. This should be the first time someone else should see your work. Digest the feedback and then make changes the next day, if you feel it is wise to do so.
I raced through this tome in less than 24 hours (and read 44 pages of a weighty history book The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, finished off the last 50 pages of another writing book: A Novel in a Year: A Novelist's Guide to Being a Novelist (and wrote part of a novel), did a full day's work, paid a visit to friends, watched two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and cooked and ate dinner, lunch and breakfast (although not necessarily in that order)) and it was enjoyable, entertaining and elucidating.
..and after all that - I don't have the energy to stay awake another moment - off to bed!
Amendment - 20th May 2014:
Got the book out of the library again and re-read the section on re-drafting a novel (primarily because I have now written a novel - yay!).
These are the notes I made:
Draft 1: An approximation of the whole work
Write it quickly as it flows from you. Don’t worry about stuff – toss coins to decide it. Make notes about problems. Leave it for a few days.
Draft 2: A tightening of the structure
Fill the holes in the plot according to your notes. If you need to explain why someone is the way they are, write a scene to show their development. Weave in a subplot if you need to, but make it relevant to the resolution. Prune away side-tracks if they are not relevant, or make them relevant to the plot or subplot. Make sure the novel is an appropriate length (>40,000 words). A new subplot could be 5,000 to 10,000 words. Are there enough twists? Should there be more description. Should there be more dialogue? Do characters get there way too easily? Add more obstacles and drama to increase word count by making other characters oppose them.
Draft 3: Development of the characters
Keep accurate records of all the decisions taken about characters’ lives. Complete a character questionnaire (from http://dev.stewartferris.com/) so that you can refer back to it to know how they react to decisions. Make them believable, with flaws enough to make the reader care about them. Be able to recount their life story up until the time of the narrative. A character arc: put your hero up a tree, throws stones at him and then bring him down as a changed person having learned valuable lessons about life. The reader must root for them and then have a sense of satisfaction as they see the maturity they attain. Every character that appears more than once must have an arc. They must have wants and needs that, if they are fulfilled, make them happy, or if not, they learn that this kind of fulfilment is actually empty and other things matter more. If they fail, they will either be depressed, or will decide that the failure has brought about success on another level.
Draft 4: Improving the dialogue
Have the aim that if you deleted all the characters’ names, it would be obvious who was talking by means of vocabulary, accent, favourite phrases and manner of speaking, so that each has complete originality. Do not render accents phonetically. E.g. some have catchphrases; some cannot finish sentences; some are cynical in speech; some have formal tone with correct grammar and long words; some use the latest slang; some have an agenda that taints what they say.
Draft 5: Working on the language and imagery
Look for words that are repeated and replace them with synonyms (how much like cheating does that seem). Change basic phrases into some, more elegant way of using language. Find more interesting words, similes and metaphors than the ones you have been flogging like a dead horse hammering like a dying starter motor. Whenever you spot a cliché, change it to something more original. Read objectively to see if it sounds like mature writing, or a story written at school. Eliminate clumsy phrases and awkward paragraphs. Re-write lines that don’t make sense, revise non sequiturs, and deepen all those shallow descriptions. Revisit the places and people you have described and make sure that none of the senses (touch, smell, vision, hearing etc.) have been neglected.
Draft 6: Restructuring parts of the work
Consider if the story would benefit from changing the order in which events are described (either linear or ‘time jumping’). It may be an option to start with the second, more dramatic, chapter and either re-write or lose the first. It may be possible to start with the big conflict in the penultimate scene, and then jump back to relay the events leading up to this. Another option is to repeatedly use snippets of history to show how the current situation mirrors events faced in the past and demonstrate that lessons learnt then can help now. Think about scenes too – every section should start at the last minute and end as soon as possible, hence omitting anything superfluous or irrelevant to the story. Skip the goodbye at the end of the conversation.
Draft 7: Adding layers of conflict
Add as many layers of conflict as you can. No-one wants to read a story about a walk in the park; they want to hear that you fell in the pond and got soaked on the way to that big interview and that a dog chased you up a tree just after that and as the clock struck quarter to your interview, you were still … but you didn’t give up in your titanic struggle against all the odds.
Draft 8: Improving the crucial opening pages
Come up with an amazing first three pages to hook the reader in. Jazz up any dull description; recheck for clichés and weak language; do anything you can to make those first pages shine. The first sentence should electrify so spend days and days on this alone. Something should happen in the first page that symbolises the theme of the book. By the third page, something should happen that sets the rest of the story in motion and hence keeps the reader licking her finger to turn the pages. Make someone’s day with these three pages.
Draft 9: More work on the character development
Show that you have lived with these characters; each line of dialogue should show who is talking by reflecting their personality. Make sure it isn’t the writer’s voice, but the character’s that shines through. Check that character arcs are believable to the reader and tweak if necessary. Interconnect characters in surprising ways to add strands of meaning. Make one or more character turn out to be the opposite of what the reader expects and thus make them feel that anything could happen from now on.
Draft 10: Logic and consistency
Check that events happen and information is revealed in a logical order and that characters are consistent in terms of how they speak and act. Make sure that any re-writes do not create logical inconsistencies and rectify any forgotten consequences of these changes. Make sure characters have time to move from A to B; don’t describe sunshine in the night-time; and, of course, never wear sunglasses after dark.
Draft 11: Proofreading for mistakes
Fix any mistakes as you spot them. Look up any words you’re not sure about in a dictionary. Check for typing errors. Don’t just rely on your grammar and spell checkers - watch out for things like ‘their’ and ‘there’. Keep an eye out for repeated words; not just consecutively, but using the same descriptive word twice in the same paragraph, and replace these with synonyms.
Draft 12: Read the work aloud
Either read the work aloud yourself, or set software loose on the text so that you can sit back and listen to how it flows. Keep an ear out for missing words, repeated words and other anomalies. Another option is to read the story to someone, or even to get someone to read it to you. Take careful note of any comments and feedback. This should be the first time someone else should see your work. Digest the feedback and then make changes the next day, if you feel it is wise to do so.
January 3, 2019
This is an amazing book! I loved reading it. There are a lot of interesting things, things I did know about and things I did not know about. The book is at least very motivating. It really encourages me to start and keep on writing.
April 26, 2015
Not a bad book after all ... it contained a lot of the basic stuff a person needs to start thinking of a career (or maybe an adventure) in writing.
There were some good tips that were out of the box, but there were also some suggestions that were just useless.
The writer claims to be a publisher, but I wasn't able to verify this.
There were some good tips that were out of the box, but there were also some suggestions that were just useless.
The writer claims to be a publisher, but I wasn't able to verify this.
July 2, 2018
How To Be A Writer: Secrets from the Inside by Stewart Ferris is a non-fiction title that provides information, tips and techniques on the craft of writing.
The Cover: This cover fits the non-fiction genre and clearly defines what the book is about.
The Good Stuff: There is some great information in this book and it is written in a plain, down to earth style that makes it easy to read. The author is open and clearly conveys his sound knowledge of each of the topics covered. This would be a great book for someone just starting out as a writer. For the seasoned writer, you will not gain as much, you may learn something new or you may not, but at the least I would say you will gain some inspiration or a reminder of something you have let your focus slip from.
The Bad Stuff: There really isn’t anything bad to say about this book. As mentioned in the good stuff, if you are an experienced writer, I doubt that you will gain much from this book, but the experienced writer is not the target audience. So, if this is you, do not expect anything new or ground-breaking, look for the one or two tips, some inspiration or a refresh of something you’ve loosened your grip on.
Overall, if I were new to writing, this would be a welcomed addition to my bookshelf. As a writer with some experience, I still found some value in this book, therefore, I’m giving this one a pen pushing 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books on allanwalshauthor.com
The Cover: This cover fits the non-fiction genre and clearly defines what the book is about.
The Good Stuff: There is some great information in this book and it is written in a plain, down to earth style that makes it easy to read. The author is open and clearly conveys his sound knowledge of each of the topics covered. This would be a great book for someone just starting out as a writer. For the seasoned writer, you will not gain as much, you may learn something new or you may not, but at the least I would say you will gain some inspiration or a reminder of something you have let your focus slip from.
The Bad Stuff: There really isn’t anything bad to say about this book. As mentioned in the good stuff, if you are an experienced writer, I doubt that you will gain much from this book, but the experienced writer is not the target audience. So, if this is you, do not expect anything new or ground-breaking, look for the one or two tips, some inspiration or a refresh of something you’ve loosened your grip on.
Overall, if I were new to writing, this would be a welcomed addition to my bookshelf. As a writer with some experience, I still found some value in this book, therefore, I’m giving this one a pen pushing 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books on allanwalshauthor.com
March 12, 2020
This is a light and easy to read book packed full of basic tips and advice on how to start writing. Some of the information may seem like common sense but it’s reassuring to hear it from a professional. Some themes covered include: word counts, copywriting, agents, writer’s block, using software, blogging, creating characters, drafting and publishing. This book is great for anyone interested in the base line information on how to start writing and how to get yourself out there.
November 25, 2019
Large chunks of helpful, interesting facts on general creative writing tips, followed by smaller, basic info about a wide variety of sub-genres of writing and related technicalities, this a good introduction to creative writing as well as bolstering the more experienced with great insights and extra knowledge.
June 9, 2022
I found this book pretty interesting and helpful. It definitely inspires me to pursue writing in a more professional sense and I do feel like it’s possible for me to actually make some kind of career out of it now. A good read and something I think I’ll come back to for reference.
I’m giving it 3.5 stars because the author does plug himself quite a lot and it’s relatively outdated.
I’m giving it 3.5 stars because the author does plug himself quite a lot and it’s relatively outdated.
April 9, 2019
Quite basic and not too much in here that was new to me. Unfortunately far too focused on writing and publishing fiction (journalism warranted just half a page and copywriting two thirds of a page).
December 16, 2021
Nothing special...
However, I do learn something abt copyright protection (copyright protection agency, write name, contact details copyright date on all copies sent out, use security settings)
However, I do learn something abt copyright protection (copyright protection agency, write name, contact details copyright date on all copies sent out, use security settings)
December 4, 2023
Interesting! But pretty straight forward, provided a deeper insight. Publishing aspect especially, man I hope I make it one day
April 11, 2016
He's written episodes for Pokemon and over forty different books, including Don't Mention the War with Paul Bassett (2004), The Key to the Da Vinci Code (2005), Speakingness like Stephen Fry (2005), among others. And in his updated edition of How To Be A Writer (originally published 2004), he offers some tips and tricks on becoming a professional writer that is useful to anyone considering a career in writing, whether you're just starting out or have been writing for years but have yet to be published.
First of all, if you're looking for a book that will help you create unique characters, guide you through an elaborate plot, or offer tips on writing gripping description then this isn't the book for you. He recommends listening to how others speak to improve dialogue, and he advises to be aware of the structures and punctuation and description of the books you read, but that's more or less it. Furthermore, if you're a published author or know a lot about the industry, then you'll likely already know what Ferris has to say in this book.
However, if you're asking questions like, Am I cut out to be a writer? How many words do I write per day? How can I know if my book will sell? How long does it take to write a novel? How will I be paid for my work? then this sounds like the perfect book for you. This book is for the aspiring writers who want to be published but aren't sure how. Ferris will bluntly tell you the harsh realities of being a writer but will then encourage you with some realistic advice that will persuade you to believe you can and will become a successful writer, with enough hard work and discipline.
This is an easy book to read; it won't take you long to get through it all. The language is simple and the chapters are short. Chapters and sub-chapters are clearly labelled, which is useful if you ever want to keep this book close to hand to refer to, you won't have to read countless pages to find the section containing the specific advice you need. It's also inclusive of all areas of writing, from short stories and novels to screenplays and theatre plays. There's also an interesting chapter on sitcoms, which I highly recommend to anyone considering writing a sitcom. However, the highlight of the book is Ferris' recommended drafting process. This process could be what deters you from writing or convinces you that you can do it. It may also be exactly what you need to turn a manuscript into a published book. Ferris does provide some essential information on getting published, but if you're after a more in-depth approach to publishing then he has a book How to Get Published that may be useful.
Although, truth be told, this book is basic. It's the first "how-to" write book I've read, I've always relied on advice from the Internet and creative writing workshops. This book served as a motivator and got me thinking proactively about a future career in writing. It's a good book for those who've never read a book on writing before. However, if you've read other writing books then this book may prove disappointing as Ferris rarely goes in-depth about any particular topic--most topics are covered in a few pages. It's great if you're looking for concise information. Also, whilst his advice is invaluable from a publisher's perspective and shouldn't be undervalued, he isn't a well-known writer from what I can tell. From looking at his list of books on Goodreads, very few have rated and reviewed his books. Furthermore, he hasn't received great reviews from those who have rated. His Amazon ratings are better, but few have rated on that site either. This is not to discredit his work or his advice, I'd just advise--if you're looking for more of a writer's perspective than a publisher's--that you look at other books on writing after this one.
To summarise, How To Be A Writer is an easy read that will give you enough information to help you decide if a career in writing is for you. Ferris also provides in-depth advice on the drafting process that will be useful for any writer looking to get published. However, there are likely better writing books out there that could provide deeper insight into the actual writing process.
RATING: 4/5
More reviews and other posts can be found on my blog: http://wordsaremymedicine.blogspot.co...
First of all, if you're looking for a book that will help you create unique characters, guide you through an elaborate plot, or offer tips on writing gripping description then this isn't the book for you. He recommends listening to how others speak to improve dialogue, and he advises to be aware of the structures and punctuation and description of the books you read, but that's more or less it. Furthermore, if you're a published author or know a lot about the industry, then you'll likely already know what Ferris has to say in this book.
However, if you're asking questions like, Am I cut out to be a writer? How many words do I write per day? How can I know if my book will sell? How long does it take to write a novel? How will I be paid for my work? then this sounds like the perfect book for you. This book is for the aspiring writers who want to be published but aren't sure how. Ferris will bluntly tell you the harsh realities of being a writer but will then encourage you with some realistic advice that will persuade you to believe you can and will become a successful writer, with enough hard work and discipline.
This is an easy book to read; it won't take you long to get through it all. The language is simple and the chapters are short. Chapters and sub-chapters are clearly labelled, which is useful if you ever want to keep this book close to hand to refer to, you won't have to read countless pages to find the section containing the specific advice you need. It's also inclusive of all areas of writing, from short stories and novels to screenplays and theatre plays. There's also an interesting chapter on sitcoms, which I highly recommend to anyone considering writing a sitcom. However, the highlight of the book is Ferris' recommended drafting process. This process could be what deters you from writing or convinces you that you can do it. It may also be exactly what you need to turn a manuscript into a published book. Ferris does provide some essential information on getting published, but if you're after a more in-depth approach to publishing then he has a book How to Get Published that may be useful.
Although, truth be told, this book is basic. It's the first "how-to" write book I've read, I've always relied on advice from the Internet and creative writing workshops. This book served as a motivator and got me thinking proactively about a future career in writing. It's a good book for those who've never read a book on writing before. However, if you've read other writing books then this book may prove disappointing as Ferris rarely goes in-depth about any particular topic--most topics are covered in a few pages. It's great if you're looking for concise information. Also, whilst his advice is invaluable from a publisher's perspective and shouldn't be undervalued, he isn't a well-known writer from what I can tell. From looking at his list of books on Goodreads, very few have rated and reviewed his books. Furthermore, he hasn't received great reviews from those who have rated. His Amazon ratings are better, but few have rated on that site either. This is not to discredit his work or his advice, I'd just advise--if you're looking for more of a writer's perspective than a publisher's--that you look at other books on writing after this one.
To summarise, How To Be A Writer is an easy read that will give you enough information to help you decide if a career in writing is for you. Ferris also provides in-depth advice on the drafting process that will be useful for any writer looking to get published. However, there are likely better writing books out there that could provide deeper insight into the actual writing process.
RATING: 4/5
More reviews and other posts can be found on my blog: http://wordsaremymedicine.blogspot.co...
March 25, 2013
How to be a writer - is a 157 page self-help book that gives a helping hand in the art of writing.
it is presented in the form of a pocket sized notebook which i thought was adorable considering the content and overall theme of the book.
the book itself, is split into three helpful main parts;
part 1 - PREPARATION FOR WRITING
part 2 - PRACTICALITIES OF WRITING
part 3 - TECHNICALITIES OF WRITING
I found it to be a thoroughly interesting read! Perfect for any aspiring writers as is deals with a large list of problems or issues you may face whilst trying to write, such as; developing a voice, beating writers block and even the questions regarding getting published.
Being in pocket form makes the book extremely easy for travelling, it's compact but does not lose any of it's content due to it's size, it also is a very handy book to have to hand for those aspiring writers who want to learn about creating a plot, structure and characters.
the retail price on the book surprised me, it's super cheap considering how helpful the books content is and is a definate must have accessory to aspiring writers of all industries; magazine, television, memoir, fiction, plays, etc.
overall, i totally recommend it.
it is presented in the form of a pocket sized notebook which i thought was adorable considering the content and overall theme of the book.
the book itself, is split into three helpful main parts;
part 1 - PREPARATION FOR WRITING
part 2 - PRACTICALITIES OF WRITING
part 3 - TECHNICALITIES OF WRITING
I found it to be a thoroughly interesting read! Perfect for any aspiring writers as is deals with a large list of problems or issues you may face whilst trying to write, such as; developing a voice, beating writers block and even the questions regarding getting published.
Being in pocket form makes the book extremely easy for travelling, it's compact but does not lose any of it's content due to it's size, it also is a very handy book to have to hand for those aspiring writers who want to learn about creating a plot, structure and characters.
the retail price on the book surprised me, it's super cheap considering how helpful the books content is and is a definate must have accessory to aspiring writers of all industries; magazine, television, memoir, fiction, plays, etc.
overall, i totally recommend it.
April 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it is written in a very clear and easy to understand style, that not only encourages you to write, but also lets you know that the job of a writer is not an easy one, and not very romantic either :)
Stewart Ferris approaches the subject of writing a book, in a humourous and informed style, being a writer and publisher himself, it is truely a book written from the inside.
I love his 12 drafts plan (editing your book 12 times, each time with a different end in sight), before it's ready to be even read by someone. I heartily recommend it to any prospective writer, and anyone that is just starting out at the job of being a writer, as he doesn't just cover novels, but also screenwriting, poetry, children's books et al.
So, what are you waiting for, pick it up and have a read, get it in your local library, this is defo one to keep in your own personal library.
Stewart Ferris approaches the subject of writing a book, in a humourous and informed style, being a writer and publisher himself, it is truely a book written from the inside.
I love his 12 drafts plan (editing your book 12 times, each time with a different end in sight), before it's ready to be even read by someone. I heartily recommend it to any prospective writer, and anyone that is just starting out at the job of being a writer, as he doesn't just cover novels, but also screenwriting, poetry, children's books et al.
So, what are you waiting for, pick it up and have a read, get it in your local library, this is defo one to keep in your own personal library.
January 9, 2017
Although a little long in some places, this book has loads of tips, exercises and some wonderful quotes throughout to help with being a writer of all genres including non-fiction. Looks at all stages of writing including questions from past students with answers, and a look at the modern world of publishing and what it really means to get there and get noticed. Both creative and reality check lists involved in how to become a writer. Suitable for teens and adults.
April 14, 2016
I love the reader's questions, as they definitely made it feel like real world advice, but with the author plugging his website at least three times a chapter it kind of made it feel a little unprofessional. The range of advice is good though, and his idea of twelve steps of drafting your novel will definitely help me in the future.
March 26, 2016
Briefly covers the aspects of writing different types of texts required by writers in today's markets. If you need something a little more technical and specific, this book won't help, however, it was a quick and informative book to get started with.
"Amateur writers write, professionals rewrite."
"Amateur writers write, professionals rewrite."
May 25, 2013
Fantasticly down to earth and inspiring all at once. Deffiantly a good book if you want to start writing.
August 22, 2014
very useful book
January 25, 2015
Found this great little book so easy to read with some great advice and helpful tips. Would recommend this book to anyone who is considering writing that book you have always wanted to write.
December 26, 2017
Full of helpful tips. Written in a light and engaging style. Recommended.
April 14, 2015
Every writer should read this.
May 10, 2015
Some excellent tips
October 21, 2015
States the obvious. Fine for beginners.
December 13, 2015
Very helpful information :) Totally recommended
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