How I Write: The Secret Lives of Authors

At first glance, I didn't like this book: it looked like a coffee-table book — cool design, but no substance, I thought. I was wrong.

It's an anthology of very short statements from over sixty authors on how they write — specifically on the wierd habits or objects that have become an essential part of their process. Johathan Lethem's list of names, Jay McInerney's axe artifact, Lionel Shriver's toy Clippity, A.S. Byatt's "Antonia Writing Time!" notice, Jonathan Franzen's old and ugly office chair, Claire Messud's graph paper pad and fine .005 felt-tip pens ...

I came away with a fuller understanding that the process of writing is magical, that for many writers, it requires some sort of incantation, totem or ritual.

Yes, it's another art book, but this one has more words in it!

How I Write: The Secret Lives of Authors arose from a simple idea. Editor Dan Crowe sent letters to a bunch of writers asking them if they have some kind of talisman or good luck charm than helps them to work. If you do, he asked them, could you send it to me? Or at least a picture of it?

Many replied, including such luminaries as Nicholson Baker (he digs earplugs), Anthony Bourdain (cigarettes), Arthur Bradford (his dogs), Douglas Coupland (chocolate), and Alain de Botton (a large desk). They wrote little essays, which are accompanied by photos of the enchanted objects. Writers are strange and fetishistic. They don't quite know how they accomplish the things they do, and so show more they invest objects with mystical powers. It's a harmless kind of mysticism, I suppose...and makes for a handsome book, beautifully done (as Rizzoli books tend to be).

In case you're wondering, my writing fetishes change over time...there are years in which I need purple pens, and then there are days when only a typewriter will do. All this fetishism is usually just a way to stall before getting down to work. show less

I loved the idea behind this book, but I wish there were a few more mainstream authors included.

Beautifully laid out and designed with inspiring and motivating words from a diversity of Authors.would like to own for reference one day.

Nothing to write home about. A coffee-table size book with not a lot in it. Some pretty pictures. The less better said.