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susannes_pagesofcrime's review against another edition
3.0
Quick, informative read on the ins and outs of being a writer in the current climate. Covers writing itself and getting the finished product out there. Sprinkled with a generous serving of curse words, Birmingham tries very hard to "keep it real". It is inspiring and has me thinking again that I need to set up a blog soon!!
tahinikill's review against another edition
4.0
The structure of this book reflects the structure of the university writing course I did... where John Birmingham was a guest lecturer at one point... so I was not surprised! Very good content, and much cheaper and more efficient than a university degree if you can kick your own ass into gear with the help of just a book, assuming Birmingham speaks your language - a bit belligerent, slightly dubious, and a touch of geek: check, check, check.
There is a degree of luck and talent involved in establishing a successful creative writing career - certainly epic shyte-tonnes of elbow grease is necessary but that alone won't guarantee pay cheques - but hard work is a good place to start if you're to have any hope of ever living in a solid gold hovercraft. This book is a good outline of the self-smashing and other crushinating that's required to establish a freelance journo and/or creative writing career... but I'd add that 10,000 hours of practice probably has to come first for most people - of both writing AND reading - and don't forget that some good networking skills are required as well. It's not just what you know, it's who... which is difficult for many introverted hermits aka writers.
Bonus: How to Be a Writer is entertaining af - a sign of a good writer - so take heed of old man Birmingham and you'll go far... Well, you'll at least go somewhere, which is better than sitting on your lazy ass and going nowhere. HAVE AT IT, KIDS.
There is a degree of luck and talent involved in establishing a successful creative writing career - certainly epic shyte-tonnes of elbow grease is necessary but that alone won't guarantee pay cheques - but hard work is a good place to start if you're to have any hope of ever living in a solid gold hovercraft. This book is a good outline of the self-smashing and other crushinating that's required to establish a freelance journo and/or creative writing career... but I'd add that 10,000 hours of practice probably has to come first for most people - of both writing AND reading - and don't forget that some good networking skills are required as well. It's not just what you know, it's who... which is difficult for many introverted hermits aka writers.
Bonus: How to Be a Writer is entertaining af - a sign of a good writer - so take heed of old man Birmingham and you'll go far... Well, you'll at least go somewhere, which is better than sitting on your lazy ass and going nowhere. HAVE AT IT, KIDS.
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