Status
Available
Publication
Grove Press (2014), 240 pages
Description
Examines the process of creative writing and storytelling through the author's personal stories and experiences of living a writer's life and offers lessons and insights to aspiring authors.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member rhussey174
As I wrote back when I posted on John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, I enjoy reading books on writing, even though I’m not a writer, or at least a creative one, myself. The same holds true for Dani Shapiro’s new book Still Writing. The book is part memoir, part writing guide, part
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inspirational text. I found it less useful as a reader than some of the other books on writing I’ve read, as it really is aimed more directly toward creative writers than the others, but it was still interesting and enjoyable. The book is written in short sections, generally only a couple pages each, that take on a different aspect of writing — facing the blank page, for example, or developing a writing schedule that works for you, or dealing with feedback from readers. The sections often tell stories from Shapiro’s life — her upbringing as an only child with unhappy parents, for example — as a way of describing what shaped her identity as a writer. By doing this, she gives readers a reason to trust her and to take her advice seriously. Her persona is warm and wise. I imagine that if I were a writer and were looking for inspiration, I would find it here. As it is, the book was a window into the writing life that in moments made me wish I did write. But I believe strongly what people say about writing because you need to. Writers do it because they feel it’s something they have to do, and they would do it whether they got published or not. Mostly, I’m happy to be a reader, and to get to enjoy the fruits of other people’s hard labor. Show Less
LibraryThing member silverarrowknits
I received this book through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Still Writing is a collection of short essays (1-3 tiny pages) about Shapiro's life and writing. The book is divided into three sections: beginnings, middles, and ends. When I started the book,
I loved this book so much. It reminded me of one creative nonfiction class that I took and another one that I didn't take and regret to this day for passing up. I want to buy copies of this book and send it to my friends and to my creative nonfiction professor. I want to read this book again and underline it and write notes in the margin.
I am not a writer with a capital W, nor do I want to be. I like reading and the idea of being a writer sounds lovely, but I don't think I can do the time (I am not what you would call a self-starter, outside motivation is something that I really need). However, this book spoke to me. This is a book that speaks to anyone who lives a creative life or has lost his or her way.
This book is perfect in so many ways. Each sentence is thoughtful and each essay is "tight." At the end of each essay, I never felt like more need to be said. Shapiro was able to say what needed to say in just a handful of paragraphs each time. The flow worked well going from discussing beginnings, to middles, to ends. I want to reread the book again, so I can notice the flow at the beginning of the book better.
My only critique of this book is more of a wonder. Shapiro refers to some of her other books that she has written. I wonder, if you are familiar with Shapiro's writing that some of the essays would feel repetitive, because she discusses some of the events in them in this book.
Still Writing is a collection of short essays (1-3 tiny pages) about Shapiro's life and writing. The book is divided into three sections: beginnings, middles, and ends. When I started the book,
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I was a bit iffy about it. I couldn't get comfortable with the format, and I felt like the essays didn't join together. But just like my friend's dog who needs to yank his blanket around before getting comfortable and going to bed, by the end of the beginnings section, I had fallen in love with this little book. Everything suddenly clicked. I had been reading lots of action SF&F books, and this book is the complete opposite of that. This little piece of creative nonfiction is quiet and thoughtful and needs to be read in small doses. With the constant little breaks with each little essay, you are subconsciously encouraged to put the book down and live your life a little more creatively.I loved this book so much. It reminded me of one creative nonfiction class that I took and another one that I didn't take and regret to this day for passing up. I want to buy copies of this book and send it to my friends and to my creative nonfiction professor. I want to read this book again and underline it and write notes in the margin.
I am not a writer with a capital W, nor do I want to be. I like reading and the idea of being a writer sounds lovely, but I don't think I can do the time (I am not what you would call a self-starter, outside motivation is something that I really need). However, this book spoke to me. This is a book that speaks to anyone who lives a creative life or has lost his or her way.
This book is perfect in so many ways. Each sentence is thoughtful and each essay is "tight." At the end of each essay, I never felt like more need to be said. Shapiro was able to say what needed to say in just a handful of paragraphs each time. The flow worked well going from discussing beginnings, to middles, to ends. I want to reread the book again, so I can notice the flow at the beginning of the book better.
My only critique of this book is more of a wonder. Shapiro refers to some of her other books that she has written. I wonder, if you are familiar with Shapiro's writing that some of the essays would feel repetitive, because she discusses some of the events in them in this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member pvarsenec
At the recommendation of a writing friend who I deeply respect, I picked up this exquisite book. I read a chapter every morning as a meditation. I was sad when I finished the book. It was so nice spending the mornings with Dani Shapiro. Still Writing spoke to me in multiple levels. I enjoy Dani
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Shapiro's depth and beautiful writing style. I look forward to reading all of her work. She is an incredibly gifted writer. I highly recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member devafagan
This book worked best for me when I could nibble it off in small bits. There were many bits that I loved and felt instantly true, and others that I found less applicable to my experience of the writing life.
LibraryThing member eachurch
A lovely meditation on writing, life, and what it takes to follow a passion (for anything, not just writing). I read it slowly and let Shapiro's wisdom seep in. It is a book that I can imagine returning to whenever I need some inspiration or guidance.
LibraryThing member Mithril
Nice rhythm, picks up towards last third of book.
LibraryThing member hardlyhardy
Most tasks — whether one is baking a cake, building a birdhouse or taking out the garbage — have beginnings, middles and endings. Each stage of the process is a little different from the others. This is true of any writing project as well, and Dani Shapiro approaches her advice to writers in
Whether one is writing a book, an article, a term paper or a blog post, the problems, doubts and pressures are a bit different at each stage. How do I get started? How do I stay focused with so many distractions? How do I wrap this up when there are still so many obvious imperfections? Shapiro deals with such questions in a logical, if meandering, manner.
Like most of her books, including her novels, “Still Writing” is part memoir. Having grown up in a home with troubled, secretive parents, Shapiro remains haunted by her experiences, and those memories pop up frequently in illustration of her points. So this is not your typical self-help book.
The wisdom of an experienced writer blends in seamlessly with that writer's life story. Any aspiring writer who reads this will not only learn helpful hints but also be forced to shed illusions about what a writer's life is like.
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“Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life” (2013) in this way.Whether one is writing a book, an article, a term paper or a blog post, the problems, doubts and pressures are a bit different at each stage. How do I get started? How do I stay focused with so many distractions? How do I wrap this up when there are still so many obvious imperfections? Shapiro deals with such questions in a logical, if meandering, manner.
Like most of her books, including her novels, “Still Writing” is part memoir. Having grown up in a home with troubled, secretive parents, Shapiro remains haunted by her experiences, and those memories pop up frequently in illustration of her points. So this is not your typical self-help book.
The wisdom of an experienced writer blends in seamlessly with that writer's life story. Any aspiring writer who reads this will not only learn helpful hints but also be forced to shed illusions about what a writer's life is like.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013
ISBN
0802121411 / 9780802121417