Review: Collection of essays on present day writing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 25, 2012
I've followed as closely as possible the stream of consciousness articles as Mr. Antrobus ponders the trends and meanings, or lack of them, of the current self publishing and indie publishing scene for perhaps over a year. I can never get enough. I usually read for the humour, which is abundant, pithy, and enlightening; but I come back for the quiet little insightful subtext he so skillfully leaves filling the blankness between lines.This is a well put together collection of articles on writing written for Indies Unlimited, certainly one of the most useful indie writing sites on the internet. They have been edited and organized into a very worthwhile reference format which I think both the aspiring writer and experienced author can appreciate. Many hints, clues, and leads to further investigations of literature (both classic and modern) are embedded within its modest length. One of many things which makes this book valuable to a broader audience. By broader, I mean anyone who likes to read and is hoping to increase their enjoyment, understanding, and variety of this pleasurable activity.Along with many solid constructive tips on navigating the world of creative writing from the standpoint of both a consumer and a participant, each chapter offers a lot of entertainment in addition to such bonuses as vocabulary building should the reader care to take advantage of a dictionary whilst reading (which I'd highly recommend!) Having said that, I certainly don't want to leave the impression that I found the book excessively verbose. Quite the opposite. It is clear the author values both economy and accuracy of style.Very enjoyable, thoughtful, and entertaining as well as a great value in terms of insights and tips. I will without a doubt read the book again if for no other reason than to revisit some of the great laughs provided just one more time. For all the helpful technical points raised and discussed in this short work, it would be impossible to overstate its humour. It is knee slapping funny, at least from a word geeks perspective. Everyone knows that word geeks tell the best jokes and if you didn't know that you definitely need to read this book.