01 May

Posted at 22:50h in Reviews by

Review of The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker As a book blogger, I often find myself drawn to works that promise to elevate our understanding of language. When I stumbled upon Steven Pinker’s The Sense of Style, I was immediately intrigued—not just because he’s a renowned cognitive scientist, but because I’ve long admired his ability to articulate complex ideas with poise and clarity. The sheer thought of diving into a style guide crafted by someone who has already...

01 May

Posted at 21:03h in Reviews by

Navigating the Craft: A Journey Through Ursula K. Le Guin's "Steering the Craft" As a passionate reader and aspiring writer, I was thrilled to dive into Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft: Exercises and Discussions on Story. It was not just Le Guin’s celebrated mastery of storytelling that drew me in, but also her ability to dissect the intricacies of language and style that make fiction breathe. From her insightful analyses to her thought-provoking exercises, this book quickly became a cherished companion in my writing journey. At its core,...

01 May

Posted at 20:35h in Reviews by

Finding Comfort in the Uncertain: A Review of The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez When I first picked up The Vulnerables, I approached it with no expectations—a rare treat these days! So often, we set ourselves up for disappointment with lofty hopes or grand literary ambitions. But here was a Covid Lockdown book, which often falls flat for me. Yet, within its pages, I found a treasure trove of wit, introspection, and a strangely comforting camaraderie amidst chaos, thanks to Sigrid Nunez's captivating prose. The story unfolds in a deserted New...

01 May

Posted at 19:37h in Reviews by

A Journey Through Plot & Structure: Finding Your Story’s Heart As a writer with a passion for storytelling, I can’t help but feel that a strong plot and a well-crafted structure are the backbone of any compelling narrative. This thought spiraled through my mind when I picked up "Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Fiction" by James Scott Bell. The book came highly recommended, and I was eager to dive into Bell’s rich pool of insights and share them on my blog. From the moment I opened...

01 May

Posted at 18:35h in Reviews by

The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers — A Journey Worth Taking Ah, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler! This book swept me back to my film school days when we pored over Vogler's insights like treasure maps leading us to narrative gold. With the release of its third edition, I felt an irresistible urge to revisit this classic, eager to see how it would resonate with my current writing endeavors. Vogler draws heavily on Joseph Campbell's renowned work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, delving...

01 May

Posted at 17:30h in Reviews by

Reflecting on "Save the Cat! Writes a Novel": A Guide for Aspiring Storytellers As I settled into my cozy reading nook, a title caught my eye: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. With her extensive background in crafting novels and leading writing workshops, I was intrigued to discover how she would merge storytelling mastery with practical writing insights. After years of dreaming about penning my own novel, yet feeling perpetually stalled at the starting line, I eagerly dove into this guide. Brody asserts that all successful novels...

01 May

Posted at 16:26h in Reviews by

Exploring The Anatomy of Story: A Provocative Take on Storytelling As a lifelong lover of stories in all their forms, I was drawn to John Truby's The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller with a mix of anticipation and curiosity. The promise of unlocking the secrets to successful storytelling had me eager to dive in, but I soon found myself wrestling with my expectations versus the content presented. At its core, Truby's manual is a deep exploration into story structure, and his 22-step process is...

01 May

Posted at 15:12h in Reviews by

Exploring Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: A Journey Through Chaos and Creativity When I first picked up The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, I felt a flicker of hope mixed with a healthy dose of skepticism. As an aspiring novelist who has wrestled with my own creative blocks for years, the notion of reconnecting with my "inner artist" felt both tantalizing and faintly absurd. Could this book, with its roots in the Twelve Step Program, really hold the keys to my creative revival?...

01 May

Posted at 14:11h in Reviews by

Honest Reflections on Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Rennie Browne and Dave King I’ll be honest: when I picked up Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself, I was a bit skeptical. After all, I’ve encountered my fair share of writing guides that felt more like rehashed advice than fresh insights. But I found myself intrigued—how could two seasoned editors, Rennie Browne and Dave King, encapsulate the self-editing process in a way that would resonate with someone like me, who has wandered through the labyrinth of roleplaying game...

01 May

Posted at 13:09h in Reviews by

Review of Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark As a passionate writer and eternally curious reader, I stumbled upon Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer, and it felt like a kindred spirit calling out to me. In a world where clarity often battles complexity, this book promises not just to improve your technical skills but to elevate your creative voice—a promise it delivers with finesse. Clark's approach emphasizes style over mere correctness, which immediately piqued my interest. His belief...