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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/product_reviews/pr_id/113550-The-Company-of-Writers-Fiction-Workshops-and-Thoughts-on-the-Writing-Life
ASIN: B00AYRI4V6
ID #113550
Product Type: Kindle
Reviewer: Joy
Review Rated: 13+
Amazon's Price: $ 9.99
Not currently available.
Product Rating:
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Summary of this Digital Ebook Purchas...
I picked this book because I like to read about writers and writing, and The Company of Writers didn’t disappoint.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is largely about writing groups and the second part is about the craft. About the groups, the author says, “This is not a kaffeeklatsch; it’s a serious professional meeting.” I so agree with her, and this is the very reason why I am not in such a group. Even the most well-meaning writers end up, after a while, such a meeting into a party and sometimes a pity-party. As such, the author reminds, “matter how friendly and sympathetic you feel toward one another, the session should never disintegrate into a kind of group therapy.” I think the only exception could be the groups who meet in a library room, away from the homely atmosphere. Wolitzer, in the meantime, gives pointers on how to hold a successful group meeting, pointers that may well be put to good use.

The second part is much more to my liking as I agreed 100 % with the author’s own tips, as well as the tips from a few selected authors. As an example, one question Anatole Broyard asked—Where is the ache in this story?--made me think. It probably means one should not write a story that is cold and devoid of human feeling as if it is a company report. Wolitzer explains this further as “You could admire a story without an ache, he said, but you might not enjoy it in a deep and enduring way. Our characters had to want something, Broyard told us, and we had to address their desires, whether or not we fulfilled them.”

Wolitzer also points out that fully developed characters have their own say in carrying out a plot. In fact, most good writers who start out with detailed outlines, during the writing of the novel, find out that strong characters refuse preordained plots.

This second part of the book contains a lot of information and small details many other how-to-write books sometimes neglect to mention. This includes every area from writing in genres to writing for children, writing about sex, writing what you know or don’t know, and research and observation. In addition, the author’s language is clear, to the point, and easily understandable. Then at the end of the book, she has a few prompts for readers who might want to use them.

Overall, this is one of the better writing books I have read.

This type of Digital Ebook Purchas is good for...
tuning in to the fine points of the writing craft, even though it doesn't exactly sound like a how-to book. Also, the author covers a wide variety of subjects on the craft.
I especially liked...
the author's treatment of dialog and humor. For example, the author says, "Nothing fails quite so miserably as failed comedy...the problem usually stems from the writer’s earnest determination to be funny, rather than just seeing the humor in the situation."
I didn't like...
the half-of-the-book importance given to writing groups, only because I think most of them don't work well as the people in them are widely varied in experience or talent. WdC is some kind of a writing group, too, but it is a meeting of people online and not face-to-face. It is, therefore, easier to pick and choose the reviews that benefit the writer and discard those that don't.
When I finished n/a this Digital Ebook Purchas I wanted to...
read a book of fiction by this author as she has written a few novels.
This Digital Ebook Purchas made me feel...
good about most of the writing in our site as this author says, "Good story and strong characters, are what matter, not moral instruction...you want to send a message, use Western Union."
The n/a of this Digital Ebook Purchas...
is Hilma Wolitzer (b. 1930), a critically hailed author of literary fiction. She is an editor and a novelist who is also a teacher and winner of awards. She lives in NY city.
I recommend this Digital Ebook Purchas because...
I can bet any writer here in WdC will find something that he or she can use, agree with, or like inside its pages.
I don't recommend this Digital Ebook Purchas because...
If you'd rather use your time for writing or practicing writing instead of reading about writing, this book is not for you.
Further Comments...
Can creative writing be taught? is a good question. Although Wolitzer gives great importance to inborn talent, she contends it can be taught, although not to everybody, as those of us who have been in teaching can agree.

She also believes that although writing is a solitary affair but not a lonely one; thus, the need for writing groups if a novice writer would rather have the opinions of other writers with some experience than his or her family members.
Created Mar 15, 2018 at 7:17pm • Submit your own review...

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