Take Joy: A Writer's Guide to Loving the Craft

Sorry I cannot give a first hand review but I did select it as a gift for a young college student who aspires to write. I gave it 5 stars because I hope it turns out to be the perfect gift under the circumstances. She has responded in the form of a thank you with the note that she can't wait to begin reading it in support of her writing aspirations.

TAKE JOY is a book that contains some advice for writers, some suggestions on how to write, a review of writing terms such as plot, character, voice, and point of view, mixed together with advice that the author provides from her own experiences as a writer. While there are many other books on writing that contain much of the same information, this book does have some qualities that I believe make it worth reading. First, the author assumes that the reader is also an active writer even if the reader is a bit of a discouraged writer, and is somewhat familiar with much of the material in the book so she dispenses herself from much of the theoretical information and speaks about how the information she provides is practical. Second, she doesn't claim that her way of writing is the only way to write and knows that readers will find some of what she has to say helpful and other parts will not be as important, and that the needs will vary from reader to reader. She's not so much a guru as she is a guide. Jane Yolen wrote this book primarily for people who want to write but have been discouraged by rejection, writer's block, the overwhelming task of trying to complete a book, or trying to find time to write in the midst of busy schedules. Her supportive and helpful tone will no doubt be helpful to many readers and anyone who enjoys writing will probably find at least one helpful bit of information, whether it be with her advice, her alphabet of writing, or her personal quips.

Checked this out from the library, and it wasn't far in reading that I realized that I had to get my own copy. This is a book that you will want to underline, highlight and keep out on your desk to refer to often! My personal collection of books on writing is small. I read all I can about writing (the how-to's, the work, the life, etc.) but most all of my reading material is from the library, and I am choosy about what books I buy. This book is a must have to my personal library, and tops on my favorites list! This is a book from a woman who LIVES writing. She has written over 250+ books! WOW! Her advice is Inspirational,Obviously Experienced, Honest, and Funny. Great book for writers!

This isn't a book about writing so much as a book about people who love to write. People who have thoughts racing through their heads of what-ifs and wouldn't-that-be-neats. I enjoyed this book because it spoke to me. One of the reasons why she writes is just to find out how a story turns out, and I have felt that too. She mentions stories that tell her about herself, and I have sensed this as well. She reminds me that you can't please everybody so you might as well please yourself. And she writes because she wants to, isn't that the only reason that will make it worthwhile? After reading this book, I felt a kinship with her. I'd love to meat this woman.She had many clever ways to present different aspects of writing and even though I already knew the basics that she presented, her approaches made me look at simple things in a new light. This book was sweet, playful, cheerful, and still serious at the same time.

It would have been worth the [$$] simply to read the excerpt quoted on the back cover of this book, where Jane Yolen defines 'saku-taku-no-ki' (the Japanese word for the instant a chick pecking on the inside and a mother peacking on the outside of an egg reach the same spot, the egg cracks open and new life emerges) and compares it to the conception of story in a writer's mind.From ethereal and poetic words of advice meant to settle lightly on the brain and tint your thoughts with new shades of color, to concrete discussions of plot and voice (including memorable descriptions of the Bardic Voice, the Schoolboy Voice, the Boogerman Voice, and more), Ms. Yolen's writing is elegant and earthy by turns, and always seems to describe what you have known deep-down to be an essential truth but could never put into words.I have heard Ms. Yolen talk about her writing twice, and highly recommend this book as the next best thing to sitting at the feet of this master storyteller and listening to her speak.