In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield examines the difference between professional writers and amateur. He writes,

“The conventional interpretation is that the amateur pursues his calling out of love, while the pro does it for money. Not the way I see it. In my view, the amateur does not love the game enough. If he did, he would not pursue it as a sideline, distant from his “real” vocation. The professional loves it so much he dedicates his life to it.”

I’ve never seen a better analogy in print!

The War of Art is a book about writing and being a writer. It has no writing tips in it, not one. Yet it’s going on my shelf next to On Writing, Starting from Scratch and The First Five Pages. This is because there’s never been a more dead-on approach to what it takes to turning pro. Need a kick in the pants? Buy it – read it – LIVE IT! And write.

L. L.

Like most people who want to write novels for a living, I read a lot. I devour books. The urge to read overpowers me the way a bottole does an alcoholic. It’s part of learning how to write a novel. If you don’t read a lot, you won’t be a good writer. It’s about as simple as that.  

This week I read, for the second time, James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider. Now say what you will about Patterson – some literary types believe his tight, compact prose hardly warrants writing. Those guys are welcome to their opinions and may freely share them with the students they torutre in their Sophomore Year English Lit classes. The truth is, Patterson undertands STORY and he is a master. (So is Stephen King and don’t let any snotty lit-type in a sweater vest tell you otherwise. That’s a different rant, however.)

WARNING – SCENE SPOILER BELOW. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK THE BELOW WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU.

For example – Along Came A Spider begins December 21, 1992. (The prologue takes place in 1932, at least in the antagonist’ imagination, but the story opens Dec. ‘93.) In part IV, we cross November 11, 1993. That’s a lot of time and a helluva lot happens. Every chapter raises the stakes, increasing the tension and keeping one flippen pages. And when you think you’ve got it figured out, a plot twist punches you in the eye. I like that in a story.

I didn’t like that Sampson shoots the bad guy. Come on, we all know the good guy has to win his own war. He can’t be rescued. I was disappointed to see an otherwise solid craftsman break that rule. Thoughts?

By today’s standards this book is old news. It’s alrady an international bestseller (I so like the ring of that phrase) and a movie. I just found it a while back and loved it, so I want to write about it.

Let the Right One In is a chilling novel about a lonely boy developing anti-social tendencies and the vampire who moves in next door. Any kid who suffered under the fists of a bully or two will see the value of having a hungry vampire next door, especially one that’s protective and wise for her years. The author, John Ajvide Lindqvist, creates a likeable little demon and it’s easy to see why the protag falls for her.

I’m not going to tell you the ending, but don’t read it before bed. Seriously…