This is a book which fits its rather odd categorization of "Memoir/Creative Writing". It is a series of reminisces from the Clarion writing seminar interspersed with advice on creative writing. I was not particularly interested in either topic, but I read it because I heard it was interesting, and it was. Hurrah!

3.5 ( )

Part memoir, part writing advice manual. Liked the memoir more. YMMV. ( )

An enjoyable read, especially for anyone interested in the evolution of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Workshop. More than a memoir or history though, this book has really great advice about the writing of short stories and is worth a read for anyone writing short fiction for publication. There's a helpful summary of all her writing advice and exercises at the end of the book for those who want to pick it up just for the advice. For my part, much of her advice will end up in my writing notebook and on the wall in my office . . . ( )

Much like Stephen King's "On Writing," this book mixes personal memoir with practical writing advice. I greatly enjoyed reading about the formation and evolution of Clarion, thinking back to my own time there in 1992. She tells a lot of great anecdotes, like how the squirt gun fights emerged early on as a way for workshop participants to blow off steam. ( )