Elizabeth McCracken's A Long Game is a refreshing breath of air in the world of craft books and writing manuals. Unlike her predecessors, she eschews the chipper tone and encouraging second-person narrator, instead embracing a more nuanced and unapologetic approach to creative writing.
McCracken begins by boldly stating that "nobody knows how to write a book," setting the stage for a scathing critique of the conventional wisdom that has dominated the writing workshops for decades. Her sharp tongue and witty one-liners quickly establish her as a provocative and uncompromising voice in the literary world.
As a novelist, memoirist, and former tutor at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, McCracken brings a wealth of experience to her assessment of what it means to write a book. She rejects the notion that writing can be reduced to a set of rules or formulas, instead embracing the messy, intuitive process of creation. For her, writing is about sustained mischievous truancy – a form of creative rebellion that allows the writer to tap into their own unique voice and vision.
McCracken's take on the age-old advice to "write every day" is particularly noteworthy. Rather than peddling the hackneyed notion that daily writing is essential to producing good work, she reveals her own secret strategy: harnessing the power of self-loathing. This unorthodox approach may not be for everyone, but it's a testament to McCracken's willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and forge her own path.
Throughout A Long Game, McCracken's writing is infused with a sense of irreverence and playfulness, making this book feel like a breath of fresh air in an industry often dominated by self-help and motivational books. Her voice is unapologetically hers, and her words are designed to make you laugh, cringe, and perhaps even question your own approach to writing.
Ultimately, A Long Game is not just a craft book – it's a call to arms for writers who feel stifled by the conventional wisdom that has come before. For those who crave a more authentic, unbridled approach to creative writing, McCracken's book offers a welcome respite from the usual prescriptions and platitudes. So if you're ready to shake things up and challenge your own writing habits, A Long Game is an unmissable read.
McCracken begins by boldly stating that "nobody knows how to write a book," setting the stage for a scathing critique of the conventional wisdom that has dominated the writing workshops for decades. Her sharp tongue and witty one-liners quickly establish her as a provocative and uncompromising voice in the literary world.
As a novelist, memoirist, and former tutor at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, McCracken brings a wealth of experience to her assessment of what it means to write a book. She rejects the notion that writing can be reduced to a set of rules or formulas, instead embracing the messy, intuitive process of creation. For her, writing is about sustained mischievous truancy – a form of creative rebellion that allows the writer to tap into their own unique voice and vision.
McCracken's take on the age-old advice to "write every day" is particularly noteworthy. Rather than peddling the hackneyed notion that daily writing is essential to producing good work, she reveals her own secret strategy: harnessing the power of self-loathing. This unorthodox approach may not be for everyone, but it's a testament to McCracken's willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and forge her own path.
Throughout A Long Game, McCracken's writing is infused with a sense of irreverence and playfulness, making this book feel like a breath of fresh air in an industry often dominated by self-help and motivational books. Her voice is unapologetically hers, and her words are designed to make you laugh, cringe, and perhaps even question your own approach to writing.
Ultimately, A Long Game is not just a craft book – it's a call to arms for writers who feel stifled by the conventional wisdom that has come before. For those who crave a more authentic, unbridled approach to creative writing, McCracken's book offers a welcome respite from the usual prescriptions and platitudes. So if you're ready to shake things up and challenge your own writing habits, A Long Game is an unmissable read.
. As someone who's always struggled with writing advice that feels too generic or formulaic, Elizabeth McCracken's take on it really resonates with me 
. Her honesty and willingness to challenge the status quo is super refreshing - like, if nobody knows how to write a book, then maybe we should just stop pretending to have all the answers? 
. I love that she pokes fun at our own self-loathing tendencies when it comes to writing (yes, I'm guilty of being too hard on myself!) and instead encourages us to tap into our unique voice and vision 
. Can't wait to dive in and see what other unconventional wisdom she has to share 
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. Elizabeth McCracken's approach to tearing down conventional wisdom is so needed in a industry that can feel super formulaic and stifling at times 
. The idea of harnessing self-loathing as a creative strategy might sound weird, but I'm intrigued – maybe it's time to think outside the box (or rulebook) when it comes to writing 
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. Her idea of harnessing self-loathing to write is, umm... interesting? 
The thing that really resonates with me is how she doesn't sugarcoat the truth – no pretending that writing is easy or that everyone's got it figured out 
. It's like she's saying, "Hey, we're all just winging it over here!" 
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Her approach to writing is so refreshing, it's like she's ripping off the bandaid and showing writers that there's no one-size-fits-all formula for creativity. And I'm obsessed with her "self-loathing" strategy - it's like she's saying, "Hey, being a total failure can actually be a superpower!" 
I'm loving how refreshing this book sounds! No more boring, formulaic writing advice 
. I need someone to come along and tell me that nobody knows what they're doing when it comes to writing a book 
! As someone who's been to those writing workshops and felt like they were more about selling you on a system rather than actually teaching you how to write, I can relate to her vibe. She's not afraid to speak truth to power and call out the conventional wisdom that's just not working for everyone. And honestly, her approach is so refreshing - embracing the messy, intuitive process of creation instead of trying to fit into some formulaic mold. The part about harnessing self-loathing as a writer is, like, SO relatable 
her approach is all about tapin into your own weirdness and not bein afraid to get all messed up and experimental 
i mean who needs daily writin anyway? self-loathing is where it's at, fam 
! As a parent, I've seen too many kids get discouraged from pursuing their creative passions because they don't measure up to some arbitrary standard of "good enough". But what Elizabeth McCracken is saying in her book makes total sense - there's no one-size-fits-all approach to writing and that's okay 
. My kid is the same way, always trying new things and not afraid to make mistakes...and you know what? That's where the real learning happens! 
It's refreshing to see someone embracing the messiness of creative process and encouraging writers to find their own unique voice - let's raise a glass to McCracken for being unapologetically herself 
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. No fluff, no sugarcoating, just straight up advice from someone who knows their stuff. And yeah, that "write every day" thing? More like write when you feel like it 
. McCracken's got a point about creative rebellion - sometimes we just need to let our hair down and write from the heart 
. Can't wait to dive into her book and see what other radical ideas she's got up her sleeve! 
. The fact that she's not afraid to poke fun at herself and the absurdity of some writing advice just makes her voice feel so authentic and honest 
! It's like she's speaking straight to my soul as a writer. I mean, who needs all that cheesy motivation and "write every day" nonsense? Her approach is so refreshing, like a big ol' slap in the face (in a good way 
. I love how she rejects all those tired writing clichés and instead tells it like it is - writing's messy, intuitive, and sometimes downright painful 
. Her "self-loathing" hack might not be everyone's cup of tea (no judgment 
. Overall, A Long Game feels like a breath of fresh air in an industry that often prioritizes sales over substance 
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She's definitely not afraid to speak her mind and challenge all the conventional wisdom out there. I mean, who needs daily writing slogs when you can just tap into your own inner self-loathing? 
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. Like, what's the point of having books like Elizabeth McCracken's A Long Game if we're just gonna keep destroying the planet? 
. I love how she's not afraid to get real and talk about the messy, imperfect process of creating something from scratch. It's so refreshing to see someone in a position of authority just being honest and unapologetic about their own approach to writing