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donfoolery's review against another edition
Highly recommended by a lot of writers I read.
crissytrap's review against another edition
5.0
So far this is one of the top books on writing that I've read.
bugfriend's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual harassment
alexsbradshaw's review
4.0
This was an interesting read. It has a few lectures from Robert Olen Butler as well as some exercises and then some short stories by his students and his reactions to them.
I found this interesting as it's not one of the usually recommended writing books so it was good to see Rober Olen Butler's approach. It has some great nuggets of writing advice in it and has a wonderful part explaining what is meant by 'show don't tell'
Some parts of the advice weren't for me, but overall still a very helpful book (and now my copy has plenty of highlighted passages)!
I found this interesting as it's not one of the usually recommended writing books so it was good to see Rober Olen Butler's approach. It has some great nuggets of writing advice in it and has a wonderful part explaining what is meant by 'show don't tell'
Some parts of the advice weren't for me, but overall still a very helpful book (and now my copy has plenty of highlighted passages)!
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
3.0
Forget everything you think you know about writing. Throw all the information you’ve obtained in school about how to write. All of that is useless. Writing doesn’t come from your logical, thoughtful brain. It’s really out of your control and it’s only when you let go of that control that you can write.
And, thus, my difficulty.
And, thus, my difficulty.
ivydally's review
3.0
"There is no intellect in this world powerful enough to create a great work of novelistic art. Only the unconscious can fit together the stuff of fiction". (Pg. 85)
Butler provides some interesting insights into crafting a novel, suggesting we should write from the level of structure rather than being held hostage by an outline. I've followed his advice,going into my dreamscape/meditation everyday for a month. It has definitely helped me immerse myself in the world I'd like to bring forth. Some of the critiques of the student stories at the end of the book were helpful.
Good advice, an interesting method, but three stars as parts of the book were dry.
Butler provides some interesting insights into crafting a novel, suggesting we should write from the level of structure rather than being held hostage by an outline. I've followed his advice,going into my dreamscape/meditation everyday for a month. It has definitely helped me immerse myself in the world I'd like to bring forth. Some of the critiques of the student stories at the end of the book were helpful.
Good advice, an interesting method, but three stars as parts of the book were dry.
willwrite4chocolate's review
So far, I've found his spin on the writing process one of the best I've seen since Writing Down the Bones. Very similar intuitive approach but with a layer of craft to bring it down to earth.
1. His special form of journaling - very much akin to Nat's writing practice. See pp. 28-29
2. Dreamstorming. pp. 86-103
1. His special form of journaling - very much akin to Nat's writing practice. See pp. 28-29
2. Dreamstorming. pp. 86-103