Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies

As with all of Sol Stein's books, you get more than you pay for. It's a valuable resource for novelists. Keep your highlighter nearby.

I am a writer and if I could only buy one book on writing this would be it. I nodded in agreement through every page as Stein made one astute observation after another. The business.

Stein's book is full of great tips about writing. There are no "rules," but writers need to be aware of landmines. I paid full price, and that thought that I got my money's worth out of Stein's book. It's a great reference to thumb through.

Hi I am Vince.

I purchased this book Stein on Writing it was recommended to me from someone in my writing workshop. http://vincea51.writing.com I am currently writing a Science Fiction novel called: THE ROCK OF NEREID. by Vincent J. Arcuri
and hope to sell it here on Amazon.com

The book is well outlined with a full informative content index right up front where it should be. Sol Stein is a great editor

I've read several books about editing and style, and this is one that stands high above the rest as the most awful book I've read of any subject. The tone is so condescending that I was struggling to finish this - only the fact that I'd thrown my hard earned money on this rubbish kept me reading.

A lot of the advise is actually sound and the writer knows his stuff, no doubt about it. But he's so full of himself that he comes across as an overbearing ego-maniac. He only approves of literature novels (so if you're writing anything else be warned that you will be put down at every page of this book) and he thinks the novels he's penned are the examples of perfection. There are pages and pages of excerpts of his novels which are not in any way helpful. All other books of this type manage to bring the point across with way shorter examples and do it by presenting a wide variety of novels.

Far better book is Elizabeth Lyons Manuscript Makeover. You will get every single advise that's in this book plus tons of others which this book completely misses.

The tone of the writer prevented me to actually gain any real benefit of his (so called) advise - so I was torturing myself for nothing. At the end of the book I just wanted to throw it across the room or preferably set on fire.

If you enjoy being critiqued and talked down to go ahead and get this book. However if you're interested in getting some helpful advise and support on how to make your novel a better one, skip this book. There are dozens of other books that don't leave a bitter taste in your mouth and won't ruin your day.

I really wish Amazon had zero stars option in the reviews.