Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity

Comme pour [b:Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life 12543 Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life Anne Lamott https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394996112l/12543.SY75.jpg 841198], ce livre oscille entre autobiographie et conseils sur l'écriture. Comme le livre d'Anne Lamott, il ne choisit jamais entre les deux et ne répond ni aux attentes que l'on peut avoir pour l'un des deux genres, ni pour l'autre. Une nouvelle déception donc, alors que j'aime beaucoup l'écrivain qu'était Ray Bradbury.

I wish the essays had focused more on technique, and at times they didn't even really feel to be about writing at all; nevertheless, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It just wasn't quite what I wanted (so the problem was me, not it).

But one useful thing I did learn is that ideas are like cats:

You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won't let you do it. You've got to say, “Well, to hell with you.” And the cat says, “Wait a minute. He's not behaving the way most humans do.” Then the cat follows you out of curiosity: “Well, what's wrong with you that you don't love me?”

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Nobody can tell you how to do it.

They can tell you how they did it.

They can share stories of their attempts to write, good and bad.

But, honestly, after reading five books about writing this year, including this one by a very good writer, a knowledgeable writer, I say that nobody can tell you how to do it.

Ray Bradbury suggests that you, as he has done, should write a lot and write with passion. Try that if you wish. And if it works for you, good. If not, try someone else and test out their ideas.

I really wanted to like this book. As autobiographical rambling, it affords some insights into Bradbury and his unique creative process. The book is a collection of essays with some writing platitudes, like “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” His observations on writing are, of course, inspired from his life, but his advice to writers, well, seems obvious. I would recommend only for insights into Bradbury and for his specific comments on the creative process for his major works.

I've never read anyone so perfectly convey their unbridled joy for the act of writing.

A book that's both brilliantly inspiring and brutally deflating. Write 2,000-3,000 words a day for 10 years to get good? But there's so many shows I'll miss on Netflix :'(

He writes with such passion about the pleasure of creation he almost manages to convince me to get started.

Almost.