Making a Literary Life
by Carolyn See
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Book Reviews of Making a Literary Life
Book Review: This one is about YOUR writing life.....
Summary: 5 Stars
Carolyn See writes "Making a Literary Life" directly from her heart. Naturally, then, it is angled from her particular point of view and has suggestions some of the other reviewers might find a bit unattractive - and what I read in her words was this: Create your life as a writer who is fully herself. If that "fully herself" means writing personal notes - so be it. (I think this is something which sets a writer apart. I know as a publisher and editor who occasionally receives hand written notes.... They stand out from the onslaught of form letters, hastily scribed emails, etc.)
What is YOUR "fully yourself" action or practice which makes YOU are writer and forms YOUR literary life?
See glides through her examples with heartfulness, with truth, with integrity and with a wry sense of humor which helps you to say "Thank goodness she is human, and just like me... and survived being obsessed with the written word."
My favorite words in this entire book are these: "We live in a beautiful, sentient universe that yearns for you to tell the truth about it. If you love this world and this craft, they will lift you to a place you can't begin to imagine."
The writers who "get" those words will enjoy this work. Those writers who don't understand those words might be disappointed upon reading this book.
My heart-hope is you will both believe those words and live those words as you create your literary life.
Book Review: A Wild Literary Ride...Now Can I Have Your Address?
Summary: 5 Stars
I read many books on writing, and most of them I can at LEAST get some good information from. I take notes, underline key points in them etc., then I leave the book feeling mildly informed, but never really feel totally ready to face the publishers, editors, critics and/or, my readers. Then I read Ms. See's book, and ummmm......POW!!!! I learned more than I did from any and every other writing book out there. Ms. See has so many wonderful idea's for aspiring and already published writer's, it mad me dizzy with excitement! I just LOVE her idea's on the fancy thank you note's, making a list of all the people you know in life (and using them to your advantage later), her useful idea's on ways to make money WHILE your writing your great novel (writing for magazines or writing for grants)....the list goes on.
She is smart, silly, cranky, strong, amazing and most of all, human! She tells the truth, so all of us can go through the writing and publishing process a little easier.
Please buy her book. It will help you, truly it will. This will go back up on my shelf, for reference, for reassurance, for enlightenment...it will be a forever cherished book, in my writing reference library.
Now, I just have to find her darn address, so I can get that 'ever so sweet' thank you note out to her........
Ms. See, if your reading this...THANK YOU!!!
Book Review: Nothing new...
Summary: 3 Stars
Here it is -- the book you enjoy that you can't recommend highly. I thoroughly enjoyed "Making A Literary Life" when it was called "Bird by Bird" and "The Artist's Way." If it has never occured to you to give yourself short assignments and see the world through an artistic lens, then this book will be groundbreaking. If you're already familiar with these concepts (and those espoused by EM Forester in "Aspects of the Novel") you might wonder why this book was necessary.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it. It's just not very original. Some of the fresher suggestions are downright corny. See advises that all readers of this book write five fan letters a week to their favorite authors. Honestly? That didn't work for me when it was the "chain letter" concept in sixth grade. Another chapter encourages readers to behave in petty and pretentious ways (such as requesting Tab while on book tours) all under the guise of "thinking like a writer." How silly. The world doesn't need that.
I'm sorry to say that the most I got out of this book was insight into the woman who raised Lisa See, author of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan." And, no, that's not why I read it... it was just one interesting tidbit I got from putting together the pieces.
Book Review: Unique Voice & Style Make This Book a Joy to Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Carolyn See, novelist, memoirist, teacher, and book reviewer for the Washington Post, has written a wonderful volume about writing well while striving to live a literary life. Starting with a person's first glimmer of an idea about wanting to write, and then carrying on through the whole process of writing, revising, and publishing, See shares her advice and often laugh-out-loud observations. For instance, writing about revising, she says: "Revision is when you first get to recognize the distance between what you wanted to write, what you thought were were writing, and what you actually did write. That recognition often makes you want to throw up" (p. 177).I loved this book! Carolyn See does a marvelous job describing the pitfalls and peaks of making a literary life while at the same time telling the reader about her own process and experiences-sometimes as guides to follow and other times as cautionary tales. Her sage take on things coupled with a unique voice and style make this book a joy to read. Whether you are already a writer or merely contemplating a literary life, this lively, touching, and entertaining book will speak to you. Highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
Book Review: Excellent, practical "how-to" for writers (& other dreamers)
Summary: 5 Stars
"Making a Literary Life" isn't just for writers. It is a practical, common-sense guide on how to approach your dreams, with advice than can be tweaked for anyone who fantasizes about being an artist. Carolyn See starts with the seed - the beginnings of the fantasy of the "artistic life" - and describes how to nourish that seed, how to make it grow in soil both rich and sparse.
Specifically for writers, the intended audience for the book, she delivers practical advice that I've not read elsewhere. She describes for writers how to become part of the literary world... How to knock on it's door and, if no one answers, how to turn the knob and walk inside yourself. The "literary world" is not some elusive thing that is blocked. Even if a writer never actually gets published, he/she can still communicate, begin a dialogue, become part of the scene, find fulfillment, and thrive.
Her encouragement is peppered with large doses of humor and personal anecdotes, so this is a lively, quick read. If I could describe the book with one word, it would be "generous" for all the practical advice that she could've kept to herself, but didn't.