The Geek’s Guide to the Writing Life: An Instructional Memoir for Prose Writers

About the Book

The desire to create, to write, to fulfil our artistic dreams is a powerful human need. Yet the number of people who make a living solely by their pen is actually quite small. What does that mean for the rest of us, the self-described writing geeks, who are passionate about writing and who still want to sustain successful literary lives? What does it really mean to find time to build a rewarding writing life while pursuing a career, being a partner or raising a family, in the distracted, time-deprived, 21st-century? In The Geek’s Guide to the Writing Life, based on her Huffington Post blog of the same name, Stephanie Vanderslice shares the secrets and tools to developing a successful, rewarding writing practice in a way that inspires the reader to persevere through the inevitable lows and even the highs of a literary life, so that anyone can pursue the path to realizing their artistic dreams.

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The geeks and the cool kids
1. Making the commitment
2. Doing the work (and, sometimes not doing the work)
3. Connecting with readers: Publishing
4. Writing geeks unite: Finding your tribe
5. Continuing your education: What makes sense for you?
6. Making a living: Careers that support the writing life
7. Being teachable
8. Writing 2.0 or, platform-building can be fun
9. Traditional book publishing today: Finding and working with an agent
10. Making the show: They said, “No.” Now what? Or, they said, “Yes!” Now what?
11. Non-traditional book publishing: What you need to know
12. Before you go: Why we do this

Appendix
Index

About the Author :
Stephanie Vanderslice is Professor of Creative Writing and Director of the Arkansas Writer's MFA Workshop at the University of Central Arkansas, USA and is the Chairperson of the Creative Writing Studies Organization. Her column, The Geek's Guide to the Writing Life appears regularly in the Huffington Post. She publishes fiction, nonfiction and creative writing criticism including Can Creative Writing Really Be Taught?: Resisting Lore in Creative Writing Pedagogy, Teaching Creative Writing to Undergraduates: A Guide and Sourcebook Rethinking Creative Writing.

Review :
A successful writing life is what all writers want to pursue, and it can be difficult to obtain, but Vanderslice’s guide shows that it is possible to have it. She focuses on how to establish this by considering a writer’s personal and career life. The author even gives insightful commentary on being an effective literary citizen and options in different careers. Vanderslice examines topics that are rare in writing guides ... Her take is knowledgeable and informative, with a writing style that is clear and anecdotal. The Geek's Guide to the Writing Life is for every writer at every stage of his or her writing life because even the most experienced writers know those nagging questions—Can I write? Should I write? —never disappear completely. Writing can be a lonely craft but Stephanie Vanderslice inspires, informs and motivates with warmth, humility, and compassionate humor—writers who are fortunate to read this guide (and it is a book I'll be urging my writerly friends and students to read) will hear Vanderslice's voice cheering them on when those nagging questions visit, and that encouragement is a valuable gift. Stephanie Vanderslice is the warm, friendly writer-next-door, sharing her decades of experience as author and teacher. She understands what it takes to be a writer—psychologically and practically— for the long-term and here generously shares her wealth of advice. Practical, witty, and well-organized, The Geek’s Guide to the Writing Life is a good helpmate for beginning writers setting out on a creative journey. The Geek's Guide to the Writing Life welcomes you into the world of writing, offers you a seat by the fireplace, and doles out brilliant advice to the writer who wants not only to build a successful writing career but, more importantly, a fulfilling writing life. This is a deeply generous book, brimming with sustenance, practicality, and honest, hard-earned hopefulness. Take these lessons to heart. The Geek’s Guide to the Writing Life is more than motivational advice. This is a personal heart-to-heart from one writer to others, offering years of experience and reflection on writing and publishing pursuits. Vanderslice shares humble insight for all writers. From supporting one’s self in this profession to furthering craft skills, The Geek’s Guide offers clarity and inspiration with a few laughs along the way. A breath of fresh air when it comes to a writing-life guide. Instead of becoming mired down in must-dos and must-nots, Vanderslice applies her wit and brevity to a broad range of ways to approach writing for those of us who may not be full-time writers. She recognizes and normalizes the fact that most writers, even those with a successful following, lead everyday lives with other jobs that support our writing habits. There are a lot of great tips, and the appendix of resources is invaluable, and I think this book could be valuable to quite a few writers. Four stars. With refreshing and disarming honesty, Vanderslice encourages her fellow non-cool writers while delivering cut-to-the-chase advice.