250 Things You Should Know About Writing

Not your ordinary how-to guide at all. Chuck Wendig kept me laughing as he pointed out the numerous pitfalls on the writer's path. Every penmonkey and aspiring penmonkey should read this, even if you've already read a thousand guides for writers -- the hilarious asides and examples are moca-fudge frosting on a big old chocolate cake of good advice.

Note: There is a bit of bad language, so if you can't stand curse words... well, you'll be missing out.

This is a thorough neural spanking for dawdling, dithering writers. It is useful, authoritative and funny.

If you ever find yourself wanting a soothing, validating book that tells you it will all be okay, read this instead.

Chuck Wendig offers common sense advice that you can also find in many other sources. The reason you should buy this book and not some other one is that it's just so darn entertaining. Profanity, gratuitous sexual references and comments alluding to the author's character abound. The advice is blunt in its delivery but hopeful in noting that even the author himself has been guilty of most of them. All in all, the book is good for advice on writing and what puts it above its peers is the fact that the author's voice is so entertaining that the advice is sure to stick to you.

So many times advice is delivered in a pedantic method that distracts or worse, makes you want to give up. Some are delivered gently but with little practical hard-as-nails advice. This one is different. It's fun and entertaining to read but once you breeze past that the meat is for the taking. Great advice and information. Highly recommend!

This book is an invaluable springboard of ideas; it will get you past the morass of obstacles that befall writers.

Additionally, to those one star reviewers expecting to find inspiration in a how-to book--that notion simply shows a lack of understanding for the craft of writing. Furthermore, you should ALWAYS read the synopsis of a book. Remember the trite saying, "you can't judge a book by its cover," that translates to book titles as well! If vulgarisms offend you--find a more appropriate book--do not pan a book because you did not take the time to read the description provided by the store.

Mr. Wendig provided wickedly funny sraightforward insights into my purpose as a writer - to entertain my readers. He certainly entertained me and helped me become a better writer. I like laughing out loud while learning.

Wendig knows his stuff. He's done his time behind the keyboard and it shows in "250 Things you should know about writing." He's extremely informative and puts all advice in layman's terms. Most of all, he has fun with it. I can't count how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book.

This book was helpful in the most hilarious way. Written with a fabulous and zany sense of humor it still delivers the message it intends and made me, as a writer, feel more comfortable and well informed about my craft and the publishing trade. It is a great read and a fun tool for any writer!

This is an awesome book! It is laugh outloud funny and I am not even done with it yet. Wonderful tips on writing and very motivating. I keep stopping reading in order to write and usually I just read writing books and never actually write. I love this! Can't wait toread more of his books!

This book popped up as a recommendation alongside another writing/self-pub book I had been reading. The cover and the concept pulled me in, so I tried a sample and I was reeled in immediately. The advice in 250 Things You Should Know About Writing is valuable and essential. I've read quite a few books, perused the internets for blog posts, and generally absorbed this stuff for over a decade, but what casts this book (and his whole series of ### Things You Should Know About Blank books) onto another plane is the delivery. Chuck Wendig is not typical in his approach. You don't feel like you're learning when you most certainly are gleaning awesomeness. He's laid back, he's brief, he's obscene, he's straight up weird, son. But that's what makes this book great. 250 quick tips. Nothing drawn out. 98% lean Angus beef. I highly recommend this for anyone who is new to the game or has been writing for quite a while and just looking for fresh outlook on the craft.

This contains good points. The author's language and use of several colorful metaphors are mostly unnecessary and often offensive. Several are just plain gross. Intended for fiction writers, the author doesn't seem to have translated his own advise to a non fiction audience. He looses credibility when he sounds like he may have been a bit too 'medicated' when writting this. I put it down a few times because of this, but decided it was worth the read. I won't read him again.

This is one of those rare books that actually works: teaches the art of writing and generates a laugh or two along the way. It is well written, and one of those easy reads. My own book on Kindle, Consciousness, You and the Caterpillar, a rather serious work, would have benefited from this little companion. If you want useful tips, without pages of unnecessary detail, this book I would highly recommend. Nice work, Mr. Wendig!!

If you can get past the "sassy" language and profanity, this book is an absolute gem with a TON of great insight and information. I love the author's sense of humor and I am so glad that I purchased this book. I highly recommend it.

I understand Chuck has a personality he has to uphold, but a lot of the "funny" parts came off as anything but. Would've been a quicker, more enjoyable, read without them. (And I'm not referring to the use of profanity. I'm all for it!)

Anyway, it gets 4 stars because it's packed with solid advice. I don't write novels or screenplays, but I am a full time non-fiction writer and many of the ideas were directly useful.

As usual, Chuck Wendig cuts through the BS and gives the aspiring writer both a friendly push and a big heads up when it comes to writing -a anything. Feeling down or discouraged? Chuck Wendig will give you a CHUCKLE and a pat on the shoulder. I read all his stuff, and you should as well.

Funny as hell. Important advice for writers breaking into the field and super-important for writers already in the biz. You are likely following your own rules too closely. Read this to learn why! Oh, also, it's NSFW.

I know that may people found this book funny, but I found the language offensive. I love a good laugh, but it can be done without the smut. I have to wonder why, anyone who can write well, would choose to be so vulgar. This book may be full of good advice but I couldn't get past the language. If you are a reader who is not concerned with raunchy language, this book may help you. If you don't appreciate an arrogant, foul prose, don't waster your time or money.

I excitedly downloaded this book to my Kindle and could hardly wait to begin reading it. My excitement soon turned to dismay and disappointment when I came across vulgar, profane, and crude language in every chapter that I read. Thinking that maybe I should just choose another chapter, I linked to the one on storytelling, and soon found the f-word twice. Call me an old fogey, but I can't understand how a person as well-read and talented as Wendig resorts to such low language.

So although I want to learn as much as possible about writing, I'm going to stick to King, Lamott, and Goldberg and have already deleted this book from my Kindle.

I was a bit disappointed after reading the first section and seeing how many foul words were used to explain the subject at hand. I don't think using foul language is a good way to promote ideas on writing professionally. It was very distasteful and I don't think I'll be reading anymore of this book nor will I suggest this author to anyone. Very poor taste.

Would give this a negative star if it were possible...
"You've got all the words in the world at your disposal", yet all you can do is try to be "cool" & "hip" with you endless sexual rant...totally unnecessary.
Don't buy...

I found Chuck Wendigs blog through a friend on twitter just before I finished the draft on my novel. I bought this ebook first, and several more, because Chuck is brilliant, nutso, gritty and utterly hilarious.
Being a writer is an exercise in insanity, and the process is an up and down roller coaster of mad laughter at the sheer endorphin pumping high of slaughtering a room filled with fictional people, to the soul crushing brain debilitating CERTAINTY that NOTHING WILL EVER MAKE THE WORDS GOOD ENOUGH!
So when I get lost, can't figure out my next step, or HATE THE WORDS with the BURNING PASSION OF A THOUSAND SUNS, I turn to Chuck's ebooks. Then after he threatens me with violence, references a dozen inappropriate bodily functions, makes me laugh while providing important knowledge, he gives my brain the vital slap upside the head it needs to soldier on.

If you aren't sure if this book is for you, google "25 Reasons Writers are Nuts" then follow the link to terribleminds. I cannot post a link here or the store will ban the review. It's my absolutely FAVORITE blog post by Chuck, and an ideal peek into his writing style before you spend your dollar.

If you loved that, open your wallet and buy ALL his ebooks. If you didn't like that... Well, um... Maybe Emily Post wrote something somewhere about writing that might be more your speed.
Chuck's writing has earned my utmost loyalty, and when I destroy the planet in fiction, in my mind he will be one of the survivors.
Thank you Chuck!

As an aspiring author I found this title and mistakenly thought this would be instructive. Actually I never finished the book as the constant references and comparisons filled with trash talk offended me. As an author I believe one has the responsibility to uplift the world not spew filth at it.

I bought 250 Things You Should Know About Writing along with a few others (500 ways/500 more ways) and these books are truly a unique find.

Chuck comes with a raw intensity rarely seen in today's politically correct corporate ran fast food style media market. This guy is a beast and it shows in his writing. 250 things is a great resource for any writer wanting to know the ins and outs of the business side of writing. This book is also a roller coaster thrill ride of epic information. Chuck presents valuable insight with black humor, the likes which is rarely attempted, and even more rarely successful. At this, 250 things excels.

The information presented could only be rejected by the self righteous, arrogant know it all. As with the other books I mentioned, even the things you know already are reenforced like a mall entrance during a zombie apocalypse, thanks to the insight given here. Buy this book. You don't be disappointed! (unless you already know it all- in which case you don't)