Welcome to Litsy!

A collection of essays about writing your way through unprecedented times.

This was such a great addition to my collection of books on writing. My own writing really fell to the wayside over the past four years, because it always felt like so much of my energy was going into surviving. This book reminded me of the therapeutic value in writing, as well as provided lots of helpful tips I really want to try using! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

I expected more about writing as a coping strategy and it‘s largely very basic writing advice

3/5⭐ This series of essays focuses more on the “making up stories“ than “getting through hard times,“ though the author's point about writing (and reading) being an act of resistance is well taken. The writing advice isn't anything I haven't heard before, but it covers a wide range of topics. The rapid-fire pace of each piece of advice makes this a quick read that offers writers lots to think about for their craft.

Solid and amusing book of writing advice. I won‘t buy it, but I did write down a lot of quotes.

This book is very good, but has a super irritating design choice—these skinny, multi-page sidebars. I don‘t like sidebars much at the best of times (I am a “read it all in order” person and sidebars mess with an explicit reading order), but these are the worst I‘ve seen. It‘s ridiculous to have to keep turning the pages back and forth!

Nonfiction about writing your way out of hard situations. It's a mix of how-to and what stories mean. The humor was delightful - I want to read more of the author's fiction now! I did a lot of laughing and a lot of highlighting, nodding along like, "SO true."

And if you feel like working erotica, write erotica. Make it dirty and obnoxious and queer and sweet and righteous, and build a fortress of horniness to protect you from this cold, ugly world.

Nita says books are boring; I should play with her instead.

As someone who writes as well as reads I found this quote from Charlie *deeply* relatable. I must retire to my daybed bring my fainting couch indeed!

(Also I'm really enjoying the humor in this book on writing - makes me want to read more of this author's comedy!)

I want to read these books. I have these books on my shelf! But! Library holds keep coming in and I keep reading those first.

It's hard to beat the pressure of a deadline. I've cleaned out my current holds, though, and I'm determined to delay everything else until I get through at least a couple of my physical books. Right now I think I'm going to start with the tags - any recs from the others?

I'm not a writer but I had to read this collection from one of my favorite writers on writing to live. Charlie Jane makes me feel like there is good in the world. Reading her work is like getting a Care Bear Stare right to the heart.

Also, there's good practical advice here for writers and yada, yada, yada - just read it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anders reminds us how creativity can provide a respite during the worst of times. And these times are pretty damned awful. From big themes to the nuts and bolts of putting pen to paper, this guide will encourage you to try, or at least think, and that‘s what matters. It just made me feel good, ya know? Now, I need to try some of her fiction!

Seems appropriate! It‘s been a tough week teaching in Florida… #TeachersofLitsy #GetVaxxed #MaskUp #PandemicLife

New book!!! I love Anders‘ writing and am excited to dive into her new book, an expansion of a writing advice column she wrote for tor.com (if I remember correctly) during the pandemic. Love the focus on how writing and/or stories can help us get through and/or process the good, the bad, and whatever falls in between.