Letters to a young writer : some practical and philosophical advice

McCann, Colum, 1965- author.

First edition.

Book

New York : Random House, [2017]

xix, 166 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

"Drawing on the lessons learned throughout a distinguished writing career and nearly 20 years as a teacher of creative writing, McCann delivers a collection of essays that combines practical advice, creative inspiration, and a profound call to arms for a new generation of writers to bring truth and light to a dark world through their art. Addressing subjects such as "The Terror of the White Page," "Embrace the Critics," and "If You're Done, You've Just Begun," this collection is a testament to the bruises of writing as profession and as calling, and a paean to the power of language."-- Provided by publisher.

Creative writing.

Authorship.

Authorship -- Vocational guidance.

Introduction: The unsayable ecstasies -- Letter to a young writer -- There are no rules -- Your first line -- Don't write what you know -- The terror of the white page -- No ideas without music -- A hero of consciousness -- Out from the dust : creating characters -- Shaping the truth -- Carry a notebook -- Be a camera -- Fuhgheddaboudit : writing dialogue -- Read aloud -- Who what where when how and why -- Seeking structure -- What matters : language and plot -- Punctuation : it's not just a throwaway thing (comma) -- Research : Google isn't deep enough -- No rust on your sentences please -- The habit of hoping -- There are no literary Olympics -- How old is the young writer? -- Don't be a dick -- Then again, don't be too nice -- Fail, fail, fail -- Read, read, read -- Rejoyce -- Writing is entertainment -- Take a break -- Who's your ideal reader? -- How to get an agent -- What if I don't get an agent? -- Finding the right editor -- Bringing (your own) fresh eyes to your stories -- Throw it all away -- Allow the reader's intelligence -- Success -- If you're done, you've only just begun -- Blurbs (or the art of literary porn) -- A secret hearing -- Where should I write? -- To MFA or not to MFA? -- Should I read while I'm writing? -- Smash that mirror -- The dark dogs of the mind -- Write yourself a credo -- The bus theory -- Why tell stories -- Embrace the critics -- Be exhausted when you finish -- Your last line -- Letter to a young writer, redux.

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