Stein on Writing

Rating:
Summary: The Gospel According to Sol
Review: An agent has taken on my first novel, and it is thanks to this book. I wrote short stories for years; when the inspiration for a novel finally hit me, I felt I was ready, and I wrote it quickly. I was quite pleased with it. It said what I wanted to say, and the way I wanted to say it. Then I thought I should have a reality check.

I skimmed many books, articles, and internet sites on writing. I kept saying, "Yeah, yeah, no problem, got that covered." Then I read this book. By the time I was done, I knew my manuscript could be described with the word Hemingway used for all first drafts. Every mistake Stein warns beginners against was in my novel.

I put the manuscript away. I almost THREW it away. (By the way, never do that. As your skills grow, you may be able to return to old efforts and salvage them.) But then I looked at Stein's book--and mine--with an open mind. He doesn't just point out beginner's errors, he talks you through the process of correcting them. He does it with patience and detail. He really takes the time to sit down and explain it to you. I brought my first draft back out, braced myself to let go of any part of it that Stein said I must, and the rest is history.

I believe Stein's book is meant to be read straight through. It does not teach point-by-point, though he makes countless good points about how to revise your writing. It is the best book of its kind. If you must fill your shelves with lots of writing books to feel secure and prepared, still be sure to include this one--and use it.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book on Writing You'll Read
Review: Any aspiring writer looking to start a library of essential writing books should make Sol Stein's "Stein on Writing" the cornerstone of that library. It captures the craft better than any ten other writing books and does so in a manner that other books do not: it gets to the point.

No review can capture the essence of the book perfectly because the author is so multitalented. As an editor, author, publisher, and book doctor, Stein brings a wealth of wisdom. His greatest skill, though, is cutting through the drivel other books peddle by telling writers what really will take their work to the next level. For instance, his chapter on pacing techniques is unique to all the writing books I've encountered. If you want to know how to cut the flab from your work, Stein gives the best advice you'll find. His recommendations on particularity are especially helpful, and just another of the essential writing tools that others gloss over. Few writing books discuss the importance of choosing an appropriate title for one's work, and again, Stein gives stellar advice. Chapter after chapter is filled with sage solutions to every writer's problems.

The best thing about "Stein on Writing" is that the advice is timeless. Stein himself shows how his answers aren't new, but go back to Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and Melville. This creates a sense of fraternity that gives the new writer the courage and hope to press on. The best thing that can be said about this book is that right after reading a chapter you want to rush to your computer and get to work.

The most deserving of five stars of any book on writing I've read, "Stein on Writing" is the best book on the subject you'll find. Essential reading.

Rating:
Summary: Write It Right!
Review: During our family vacation I wanted to improve my writing skills for my own personal development but was overwhelmed by the vast array of books on the topic of writing. A Princeton literary arts major working at a bookstore in Vail during his winter break recommended Sol Stein as the gold standard on writing. This young lad's enthusiasm for Stein was so infectious that I bought the book. True to his word, I didn't regret it. I skipped snow skiing to read Sol's book from cover-to-cover.

Rating:
Summary: Not great, but not bad either
Review: I bought this book because it came highly recommended. Perhaps my expectations were very high, I don't know. They weren't met anyway.

Granted, I did pick up a few tips along the way, but overall I found Stein's book to be really basic. Perhaps it's best usage is to re-read your work to look for easy fixes. Or, to get the basics upfront, before you start your writing career. If your skills, say creating characters, needs some work, then reading this book won't help you at all, you'd need specialized books. In other words: it's great to fix dumb mistakes but it won't help you in the skills department.

One curious thing I noticed is that Stein quotes from his own work, nothing wrong with that of course. But is it just me or do those examples just not work in the specificed context? They didn't illustrate his point anyway. Some of the other examples he uses don't come across to me as good writing either, it is all so clinical.

If you are a bad writer, this book might help you turn into a mediocre writer. If you are a mediocre writer, this book might still teach you a few tricks and it might point you in the way of more specialized books. On it's own it's just not really interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Want to Sell Your Fiction? Read This Book!
Review: I can't believe anyone would give this book a single star! Its section on 'how to avoid weak adverbs' and the section on dialogue in and of themselves makes this book a wonderful resource. However, Stein's approach goes far beyond. It shows that modern fiction is character driven and provides you the tools to maintain that focus throughout your story. His "Crucible" method also shows how to create instant conflict between your characters that lasts until the end of the story.

After I read it, I sold three speculative fiction stories at a professional rate of compensation. Keep in mind that I've only pursued commercial writing for less than a year!...

Recently, I turned a beginner on to this book and saw a remarkable improvement between the work he sent to me before he read Stein's book to the work he sent after. One can't argue with success and Stein On Writing is one of the best tools available to help you become a published author.

Rating:
Summary: Tools, not "empowerment"
Review: I have read several books on writing, and this is the best by far. If you are like me, and are looking for a writing book that does more than encourage and empower you, that doesn't waste time talking about overcoming your "fears," then this is the book for you. Sol Stein will teach you how to control the pacing of your scenes, develop characters that work, create a "crucible" and more. I read it to the last page, turned back to page one and started again.There may be people who need empowerment to write. This is not for them. Stein on Writing is professional advice for writers who want to be professionals themselves

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Addition
Review: I have several writing books cluttering up my shelves, this isn't one of them. Sol Stein effectively passes on useful writing techniques while encouraging the creative process. This book is rich with examples and useful exercises. It will definitely remain on my desk for easy access. If you want a book that expands your ability as a writer and allows you to apply various writing techniques, this 'is' one of them.

Rating:
Summary: This book is wonderful.
Review: Really. I learnt a lot of techniques, tricks, tips that helped me achieve a better skill in writing.
Stein offers his experience in a really fascinating way; his book will never bore you.
You must study it if you really want to write...

Rating:
Summary: Very solid but incomplete
Review: There are hundreds if not thousands of books on writing, and having read more than a few of them I can tell you that you'd do a lot worse than to start with "Stein on Writing." The book is fast-paced, clearly written, and offers some very practical tools to improve your fiction.

Most of the brass tacks of this book are in Part II, Fiction. This section includes 16 different chapters on all of the basics -- characterization, plotting, dialogue, point of view, etc. -- with some subchapters that include techniques or exercises that this reader didn't expect. For example, Stein's section on plotting includes two chapters on the Crucible and the Actors Studio method for developing plots. Personally I found his chapters on characterization most useful. Stein briskly walks the reader through quick ways to help shape a character, such as markers, dialogue and in some cases a little exaggeration. Throughout the book Stein sprinkles some very effective examples from what seems like hundreds of authors. I found his writing to be clear and very fast, without any time wasted on "the writer's life" and other such new age nonsense I've seen in a lot of this kind of book. At 300 pages you're getting a very quick, pragmatic read.

I've only got one big criticism of this book: Sol Stein admits from the get-go that his primary interest is in character-driven literary fiction, and that's the entire focus of his book. I didn't expect him to cover genre fiction; honestly if you're going to write mysteries or sci-fi you'd be much better served by purchasing a book that focuses on that market. But I found it frustrating that at least according to Stein, the entire universe of "literary fiction" is driven by character. For the most part he's probably right, but I've also read literary fiction that's driven by theme, plot, and the author's style. I got the sense that most of the authors Stein has worked with were doing their best work 30+ years ago, and that he's a little uninformed on newer literature and authors. Stein also writes in a very diffinitive style that comes off a little arrogant at points and could be offputting, but so many literature teachers are like that anyway.

Overall, this is a great start but not the Holy Bible on good fiction writing his devotees might have you believe.

Rating:
Summary: Very solid but incomplete
Review: There are hundreds if not thousands of books on writing, and having read more than a few of them I can tell you that you'd do a lot worse than to start with "Stein on Writing." The book is fast-paced, clearly written, and offers some very practical tools to improve your fiction.

Most of the brass tacks of this book are in Part II, Fiction. This section includes 16 different chapters on all of the basics -- characterization, plotting, dialogue, point of view, etc. -- with some subchapters that include techniques or exercises that this reader didn't expect. For example, Stein's section on plotting includes two chapters on the Crucible and the Actors Studio method for developing plots. Personally I found his chapters on characterization most useful. Stein briskly walks the reader through quick ways to help shape a character, such as markers, dialogue and in some cases a little exaggeration. Throughout the book Stein sprinkles some very effective examples from what seems like hundreds of authors. I found his writing to be clear and very fast, without any time wasted on "the writer's life" and other such new age nonsense I've seen in a lot of this kind of book. At 300 pages you're getting a very quick, pragmatic read.

I've only got one big criticism of this book: Sol Stein admits from the get-go that his primary interest is in character-driven literary fiction, and that's the entire focus of his book. I didn't expect him to cover genre fiction; honestly if you're going to write mysteries or sci-fi you'd be much better served by purchasing a book that focuses on that market. But I found it frustrating that at least according to Stein, the entire universe of "literary fiction" is driven by character. For the most part he's probably right, but I've also read literary fiction that's driven by theme, plot, and the author's style. I got the sense that most of the authors Stein has worked with were doing their best work 30+ years ago, and that he's a little uninformed on newer literature and authors. Stein also writes in a very diffinitive style that comes off a little arrogant at points and could be offputting, but so many literature teachers are like that anyway.

Overall, this is a great start but not the Holy Bible on good fiction writing his devotees might have you believe.