I appreciated the writing advice, but more than that, the personal insights from Charlie Jane. This is a book about writing, but it’s also kind of a memoir about being a writer; she expertly uses her own experiences, and most importantly, mistakes, to make points that always land on the affirming and inspirational side of the rhetorical garden. It’s a warm book, written by someone who very obviously cares, and very obviously wants to help. That counts for a lot.
Charlie Jane Anders provides a throughout and heartfelt expression of not only what it means to be a writer in the modern day, but how to push through the rougher patches. This guide-book for the troublesome days of writing is full of inspirations, references, suggestions, and more. My only complaint is that I wish the book has a glossary of recommended media!
There can never be enough stories about characters building rapport, and learning to see outside themselves, and finding their people, and saving each other.
I first read Never Say You Can't Survive when it was published on tor.com as an ongoing series of essays, and I was delighted to re-read the entire collection gathered under one cover. I think this is my favorite writing craft book yet, not least because it's so unlike most others I've read.
In most cases, writing craft books, even when they are infused with personal anecdotes and character, are to some extent like textbooks. They are about providing the reader with instruments and methods. They are about achieving goals. Here's how you write a novel. Here's how you construct a character arc. Here's a story structure template and a guide on how to follow it.
And those books are great; I love taking glimpses into …
There can never be enough stories about characters building rapport, and learning to see outside themselves, and finding their people, and saving each other.
I first read Never Say You Can't Survive when it was published on tor.com as an ongoing series of essays, and I was delighted to re-read the entire collection gathered under one cover. I think this is my favorite writing craft book yet, not least because it's so unlike most others I've read.
In most cases, writing craft books, even when they are infused with personal anecdotes and character, are to some extent like textbooks. They are about providing the reader with instruments and methods. They are about achieving goals. Here's how you write a novel. Here's how you construct a character arc. Here's a story structure template and a guide on how to follow it.
And those books are great; I love taking glimpses into other writers' toolboxes, and I always end up borrowing at least one instrument from each, even though I don't always use those instruments in accordance with the original instructions. But this book resonates with me especially, beause—even though there's a great number of tips and tricks to try here—it's not at all a manual on achieving a goal.
Instead, it focuses on the process.
Charlie Jane Anders isn't here to provide us with a new set of rules, or a framework, or a collection of methods that should result in a novel. Instead, this is simply a book about the joy of storytelling. About making the most of every mistake we make along the way and finding exciting new ways to screw up. About using our stories to learn more about ourselves, and the world around us. About the fun one can have both following and breaking rules, and how every alleged bad writing habit (like having a lot of WIPs, for instance) can be turned around to benefit from it. About relying on our stories to see us through hard times, just like the cover says.
It's not a writing guide; it's a great collection of thoughts on being a writer, and it's incredibly inspiring.
Review of "Never Say You Can't Survive" on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I struggled with this book. I genuinely love Anders's voice and geekdom. I find her endearing as shit and someone I'd love to hang out and geek out with. But our processes are just SO different. There were entire chapters that I didn't understand on a fundamental level and my mind just kept wandering. Granted, it kept wandering to thoughts about my various projects and how Anders's advice either did or did not apply, so I suppose that is value enough.
But it also made me question myself a bit. I just don't think about my writing THIS much. Or at least, not all of my writing? Idk, it's hard to describe in a Goodreads review, but I started to wonder if I'm doing things wrong? Which is isn't necessarily a bad thought to have. The point is to analyze my process and learn and grow...
I think I'll be …
I struggled with this book. I genuinely love Anders's voice and geekdom. I find her endearing as shit and someone I'd love to hang out and geek out with. But our processes are just SO different. There were entire chapters that I didn't understand on a fundamental level and my mind just kept wandering. Granted, it kept wandering to thoughts about my various projects and how Anders's advice either did or did not apply, so I suppose that is value enough.
But it also made me question myself a bit. I just don't think about my writing THIS much. Or at least, not all of my writing? Idk, it's hard to describe in a Goodreads review, but I started to wonder if I'm doing things wrong? Which is isn't necessarily a bad thought to have. The point is to analyze my process and learn and grow...
I think I'll be stewing over this book for awhile yet. I think I learned more than I even realize.
