"How To Become A Famous Writer Before You're Dead", by Ariel Gore is an essential book for writers seeking to make their craft a more profitable part of their lives, or at least a more prominent one. For starters, if you are an aspiring writer or have any inkling to try out writing, this book is for you.
The book can literally be read in three or four sittings as the content is broken up into small, easy to handle portions - with titles such as "Get Cinematic" and "Develop A Super Hero Alter Ego". Each of these sub-chapters revolves around a pearl or two of wisdom and more than an occasional anecdote to hit the point home. Taken as a whole, these stories, strategies and words of encouragement flow into a remarkably inspiring book - whether you are interested in writing the next "great American novel", becoming the next cult blogger, or just getting enough momentum to finish an idea you've been working on seemingly forever. If you have read any of the reviews elsewhere, you'll know that this book, at its heart, isn't so much about the physical act of writing - its more about what to do to get your writing "out there", in the public arena.
If you want a more detailed look into the actual work of creating and structuring your writing, I would recommend "On Writing", by Stephen King. If you are itching for ideas on how to get your work noticed (or if you just need the extra kick in the pants to get you moving), I definitely would recommend "How To Become.." by Ariel Gore. Among other things it set me onto my current challenge to myself - writing a novel in three months (if you want to keep up with my counts or my blog, gohere
).
The book also deals with much of the marketing and business-related tasks that follow the actual writing. Gore straight-talks the reader through the ins-n-outs and ups-n-downs associated with dealing with agents and publishers. She also provides information on self-publishing - this is definitely the path I am planning to take to reach my novel-in-three-months goal. In reading her book, I felt I was getting more practical truth than many similar books that go into similar areas. Ariel Gore is a confident writer who knows what she is talking about, having run the publishing gauntlet as the author of such works as "The Hip Mama Survival Guide", "The Mother Trip", and the novel "The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show".
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to feel reinvigorated to go out there and do what they know they want to do - write! Where the book lacks in actual writing "how-to", it definitely makes up for by providing practical (and do-able steps) to get even the laziest writers (me included) up and on the way to making what they love a more important aspect of their lives.
