Rating: 
Summary: Not The Typical Book On Writing
Review: Before discovering a dusty old hardcover copy of John Gardner's 'On Becoming A Novelist' in an infamous New York City bookstore (Gotham Book Mart), I was under the impression that every book related to the art of writing fit into one of three catagories. Either it focused on technique (Robert McKee's 'Story'), it offered encouragement (Anne Lamott's 'Bird By Bird'), or it took memoir form (Annie Dillard's 'The Writing Life'). I was wrong.This book is a portrait of the writer as a young man (or woman). After years of teaching creative writing courses and wallowing around the publishing industry, Gardner acquired an opinion or two (major understatement). He correctly believed that writing novels is not a profession or a pasttime for the timid, and so he outlines the prototypical writer's 'character'. The purpose, of course, is to get the young writer to ask himself if he is really cut out for this. In the course of telling you what traits a talented writer must have (verbal accuity, a discerning eye, faith, etc.), Gardner offers up some brilliant insights into the craft. His discussion ranges from writer's block to writers' conferences, and while you may not always agree with him, his views are always thought provoking and perceptive. In the end, this book may be mildly discouraging for the would-be writer who is currently on the fence. Gardner does not sugar coat his opinions, but I am glad for that. He has no qualms in informing his readers that worthwhile writing takes a great deal of talent, and not everyone has that talent. As he says, the worst that can happen after reading this book is that you will realize you don't have the right stuff, and you will move on to something else. In reading this book, you get the impression that he was a brilliant writing teacher, as is evidenced by perhaps his greatest student, Raymond Carver. Carver wrote the brilliant introduction to this book, which familiarizes the reader with Gardner's personality and makes it easier to put the rest of the book in perspective. I, for one, would have loved to have Gardner as a teacher. As that is no longer possible (he died in a motorcycle accident years ago), this book is no small consolation.
Rating: 
Summary: Still fantasic after all these years!
Review: Don't imagine that is book is out dated. It's actually better than most other books on writing out there today. Read it with your highlighter to capture some really helpful and inspiring advice. This is one you'll want to own.
Rating:
Summary: Still fantasic after all these years!
Review: Don't imagine that is book is out dated. It's actually better than most other books on writing out there today. Read it with your highlighter to capture some really helpful and inspiring advice. This is one you'll want to own.
Rating:
Summary: Great insights and counsel to writers
Review: Gardner comes across as a realist and an inspiration to writers. This is not a step-by-step book about how to write a novel. It is more of a big picture approach to developing the mindset, skills and discipline to become a novelist. Gardner illustrates the ingredients to writing novels and to being a novelist. His examples of his own writing experiences are the crux of this book. He has been through the angst and exhiliration of writing and shares his insights in this book. He clearly conveys that writing takes discipline, skill, perseverance and teachability. He elaborates on these areas in the book. Overall, the book is inspiring and educational. It is not drawn out or wordy. He gets to the point and keeps it short, so it is very helpful throughout.
Rating:
Summary: Great insights and counsel to writers
Review: Gardner comes across as a realist and an inspiration to writers. This is not a step-by-step book about how to write a novel. It is more of a big picture approach to developing the mindset, skills and discipline to become a novelist. Gardner illustrates the ingredients to writing novels and to being a novelist. His examples of his own writing experiences are the crux of this book. He has been through the angst and exhiliration of writing and shares his insights in this book. He clearly conveys that writing takes discipline, skill, perseverance and teachability. He elaborates on these areas in the book. Overall, the book is inspiring and educational. It is not drawn out or wordy. He gets to the point and keeps it short, so it is very helpful throughout.
Rating:
Summary: A Discussion.......
Review: Gardner's book reads more like a conversation with a friendly mentoring teacher rather than a 'how-to' book. I highly recommend this book for all writers as words of encouragement and advice that will illustrate why it matters that you care enough to write your best.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for Aspiring Novelists
Review: I can't think of a better book to put in the hands of a young writer: it inspires, teaches, comforts, and offers endless hope. I first read this book in hardback in 1983 -- still saddened by the author's death in a motorcycle accident the year before -- and I've enjoyed reading it many times since. In a beautiful and touching foreword Raymond Carver, a student of Gardner's in the '50s, writes that Gardner gave to the teaching of fiction the same energy and devotion to craft and moral concerns that he gave to his novels. Gardner's main objective in this book, as he states early on, is "to deal with, and if possible get rid of, the beginning novelist's worries." Does he do that? Well, he certainly helps the young writer answer a crucial question: Am I talented enough to write novels? Gardner explores the indicators -- sensitivity to language, an eye for significant detail, the knack of sustaining a narrative ("a vivid and continuous dream"), self-awareness, curiosity, nerve, empathy, a huge curiosity about people. (Gardner believes that lousy people will necessarily write lousy books.) Gardner also addresses some of the darker aspects of the writing life: writer's block, rejection, depression, suicide. And through it all he draws upon beliefs and practices that sustained him through the ups and downs of his controversial career, thus providing beginning novelists with a faith that can sustain them in the years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for writers-to-be
Review: I read a lot of John Gardner's books about 25 years ago, and only recently started reading his books for writers. As an aspiring fictionist myself, I drank up his comments and advice in this book. Gardner was a strange bird, who didn't walk the walk - he rails often in his writings against some of the very types of writing he committed. But he remains one of America's original voices, and this brief book should be read by anyone who wants to write fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Good for creative prose writers in general
Review: I recommend this book for any serious creative prose writer. The wisdom and guidance given in this book is extremely helpful. Gardner covers it all; he says things I wish I could, or don't have the time to say to students in my classes.
Rating:
Summary: A must for every novelist
Review: I recommend this superb book to every fiction class I teach. But I do give warning: Gardner is a pedant. If you find yourself thinking that he wouldn't like your work, you're not alone. Though his own fiction is hard to get into ( I recommend Mickelsson's Ghosts because, in my opinion, it is his best and easiest to read book, and because he talks about Mickelsson's Ghosts at the end of on Becoming a Novelist. ) I even recommend him to people who want to write like Stephen King. The insight he offers is ingenious and rereadable. In fact, if you reread it over a period of time, you may find new discouragement ( think admonishment ), but you will also find new inspiration.
| 
