How Not To Write

Extraordinary Delusions and The Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
Introduction
I heard a story once from an old fellow I know. He used to work for a man who insisted on buying cartons of cigarettes whenever they crossed the border into a state with lower taxes. He was a rich man and so it [...]

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
You’re going to tread some pretty deep water when you step into the pages of The Writer’s Journey. The author, Christopher Vogler, does a good job of playing this up to the hilt too, just like Joseph Campbell did in his day. But think about it, both [...]

In my dreams, people come to How Not To Write and laugh. They snicker and point. They chortle… Then, they wander back out and maybe something they read triggers a thought about their own work. Maybe they even find something useful.
That is my dream…. or one of them at least.
There is [...]

How to Write a Damn Good Mystery by James N. Frey
I know what you’re thinking, but it isn’t that James Frey. Of course, maybe you read other books in this series first and are just out checking for reviews on this version of Mr. Frey’s work. If so, forgive my assumption. [...]

The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
In this review of The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, I am going to say some very negative things about both the book and its author. This is the third time I’ve read the book and I’ve had a different experience each time I’ve dipped into [...]