Jeff P. (jeffp) reviewed Steering the Craft : Exercises and Discussions on Story Writing for the Lone Navigator or the Mutinous Crew on + 201 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've read a few books on writing over the years. Some were just too silly (write words and draw arrows between them) or were focused on things I honestly don't care about (writing as therapy, or finding my inner whatever).
The things that interest me are:
* How do I make my writing better?
* What are the ways that various writers find that let the be effective at it?
Steering the Craft falls squarely and wonderfully into the first camp.
Le Guin presents a series of exercises along with supporting text and descriptions that drive home specific points about writing well. In addition, she discusses some of her own opinions about a few things in the writing field. It turns out she's simply a practical writer with both a great feel for language and an excellent ability to distil that knowledge into usable tools and techniques.
This isn't a long book, but it is quite clear to me that if you follow though on it by doing the exercises and evaluating the results honestly - possibly with a group of like minded people - you have a good shot at becoming a better writer.
I've begun that process, and I look forward to following it all the way through.
I expect Steering the Craft will be an excellent resource.
The things that interest me are:
* How do I make my writing better?
* What are the ways that various writers find that let the be effective at it?
Steering the Craft falls squarely and wonderfully into the first camp.
Le Guin presents a series of exercises along with supporting text and descriptions that drive home specific points about writing well. In addition, she discusses some of her own opinions about a few things in the writing field. It turns out she's simply a practical writer with both a great feel for language and an excellent ability to distil that knowledge into usable tools and techniques.
This isn't a long book, but it is quite clear to me that if you follow though on it by doing the exercises and evaluating the results honestly - possibly with a group of like minded people - you have a good shot at becoming a better writer.
I've begun that process, and I look forward to following it all the way through.
I expect Steering the Craft will be an excellent resource.
