I’ve just finished enjoying “Wannabe a Writer?” by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Most books on writing give the same (good) advice. Like go very easy on the adverbs; pick a better verb in the first place. And, show, don’t tell. In other words, don’t say, “John was cruel.” Say, “As John opened the door, he found a half-starved kitten meowing outside. He kicked it.”
This book is different. It give no advice on the craft of writing. It’s all about the writing life. It has sections on Writer’s Block, Writer’s Can’t Be Arsed (rather timely, to be honest), the serious medical condition of Writer’s Bottom, and Bloody Computers. (That bit goes, “Take back-ups. Definitely take back-ups. You really need back-ups. Watch what you’re doing with that mug of tea and your keyboard. Don’t forget the backups.”)
It also advises keeping several “Get Well Soon” cards inthe living room. That way, any unexpected visitors will assume that you’ve been too ill to keep the place clean and tidy. Genius!
