Book of the Week for October 29, 2007

Every writer I know has a favorite writing book. Some are obscure titles, some are bestsellers. I came across my favorite long, long ago, so it has a treasured place on my bookshelves. I loaned it out once--and was a nervous wreck until my brother returned it.

Sweet Agony: A Writing Manual of Sorts is written by Gene Olson. While we're told not to judge a book by its cover (and we do) I judge a book by its chapter titles. Olson's got some fun chapter titles:

• Blood on the Walls
• Don't Just Sit There; Write
• Rules and Rubbish
• The Sound of Smog

Olson doesn't so much write about writing. He talks to you about writing. Reading Sweet Agony is like having a conversation with a friend who understands the alternate universe of the writing world. He knows somethings you probably don't know--and is willing to share them with you.

Here's a favorite quote from Sweet Agony:

The first word appears on paper, struggles for survival,then is joined by a second. Then comes the population explosion--numbers Three and Four.
The writing job has begun; for the writer, the battle is half won. Getting started is that important. Any trick a writer can play on his balky mind, no matter how sneaky, is legitimate. All is fair in love, war and getting started writing.