Wordsmithy: Hot Tips For The Writing Life (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
A quick and enjoyable read, sharing seven good practices (and/or attitudes) for the writing life, each expanded upon with seven more points. I appreciated the clear organization, the takeaway points summing up sections, and the recommended reading lists (many more books to explore from there!). I'm encouraged to continue certain practices (and attitudes) and also to cultivate other ones (such as exploring languages "upstream" from English and keeping a commonplace book). I loved this book. Devoured it in an afternoon (which isn't actually a surprise, given that it's a fairly short book. But I like things that get right to the point). The subtitle strikes me as weird, as a side note. "Hot tips" somehow doesn't fit the tone of the book. Maybe I'm missing an inside joke or something.One of Wilson's points is that your writing will be shaped by the authors you read. Perhaps that's part of why I liked this book a lot--I appear to share a fondness for P.G. Wodehouse and G.K. Chesterton with Wilson, and I feel like I can hear their influence on his writing. I laughed quite a bit while reading this book.Good solid advice for the lifestyle of a writer, not the mechanics.
What do You think about Wordsmithy: Hot Tips For The Writing Life (2011)?
Not only a good book about writing, but a good book about reading as a writer.
—brandeekinz
Very fine book. Highly recommend it, for all you word-lovers out there.
—adlemi
