Description

The must-have companion for any writer, based on Hattie Crisell’s hit podcast.

Hattie Crisell invites some of our most-read authors, poets, journalists and screenwriters to share their secrets, as she asks them: where do ideas come from? What happens when confidence falters or the work fails? And what does writing success look like? The answers are as revelatory and entertaining as they are diverse.

With contributions from Andre Aciman, Jesse Armstrong, Charlie Brooker, Wendy Cope, Cressida Cowell, Elizabeth Day, Kit de Waal, Geoff Dyer, John Lanchester, Emily St John Mandel, Liane Moriarty, David Nicholls, Maggie O’Farrell, Jon Ronson, Michael Rosen, David Sedaris, Curtis Sittenfeld, Brandon Taylor, Barbara Trapido, Meg Wolitzer and many many more.

Publisher Review

Full of such inventive but also life affirming ways of honing one’s craft. This book is the ultimate reminder of why writers do what they do — Katy Hessel, author of The Story of Art Without Men There are lots of books where writers say lots of useful stuff about writing. But this is one of the very best. It’s friendly and realistic. It’s a distillation of wisdom, an incitement to curiosity and an antidote to loneliness. Say hello to your new best writing buddy — Toby Litt This book offers everything a writer needs: solace, companionship, commiseration and inspiration. I loved it — Leah Hazard What a rich and charming stew of meditations on writing – process, craft, courage – by some of my favorite writers ever. This book will be useful and comforting to anyone who is writing, wanting to write – or stuck! — Anne Lamott This book is BRILLIANT. I stormed through it in one go. It’s one of the best books about writing I’ve ever read, and certainly the most reassuring — Stuart Heritage Some of the greatest writers alive, giving excellent answers to incisive questions about their craft. My copy is thoroughly annotated and I already know I’ll read it again. Anyone who’s interested in good writing will love it — Andrew Hunter Murray [In Writing] is filled with so much accessible wisdom for writers, and is written in such an inspiring, energising way that I’ve found I’ve written more while reading it than I have in months. It’s given me my writing mojo back — Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things The must-have companion for any writer; thoughtful, illuminating and reassuring, it’s something I’ll keep on my desk for years to come. It made me laugh out loud, sigh in solidarity, and had me itching to get back to the page — Claire Daverley, author of Talking at Night Fascinating, illuminating and inspiring (and occasionally humbling – check out Brandon Taylor’s daily word count). Buy it for all the writers and readers in your life — Lottie Moggach