Live To Write Another Day: A Survival Guide for Screenwriters and Creative Storytellers

Title:  Live To Write Another Day: A Survival Guide for Screenwriters and Creative Storytellers

Author:  Dean Orion

Genre:  Nonfiction

Publisher:  Sky Father Media

Publish Date:  April 11 2013

Pages:  Kindle edition: 204

ISBN:  9780989059312

Obtained:  Review copy from Netgallery

Synopsis: *Obtained from Netgallery*

Crafting a well-written story has always been a monumental task, even for the most talented of writers, and enduring the many harsh realities of doing it for a living can be equally painful.  Using a mix of practical techniques and common sense, “Live To Write Another Day, A Survival Guide for Screenwriters and Creative Storytellers,” demonstrates how writers can solve creative problems in their work and at the same time reduce the stress and anxiety that often comes along with the job.

The author, Dean Orion, draws on his more than 20 years as a “writer in the trenches” of the entertainment industry to explain how he has created original stories for theater, television, videogames and theme park experiences.  The book features a step-by-step walk thru of the process of creating original stories, both “on spec” and “for hire,” as well as helpful hands-on checklists at the end of each chapter, and an intriguing afterword about the future of storytelling.

Written in a conversational style, “Live To Write Another Day, A Survival Guide for Screenwriters and Creative Storytellers,” is both a tell-it-like-it-is approach to demystifying the nuts-and-bolts mechanics of storytelling and an inspirational, heartfelt primer on what it takes to be a professional creative writer.

As a bit of a writer myself I can say that I’ve read a lot of books on writing. I have a lot to learn still but I read such books to help me hone my craft. The one thing about reading so many of those books is it becomes hard to find a book that gives me new information. Or at least old information in a way that works.

This book manages to do both things well for me. While not the most comprehensive guide to writing it still has useful information geared not just to creative writers but writers of other media. Another thing it does that I think it is in its favor is the summery notes at the end of the chapter.

There is also a whole collection of the summery notes near the end of the book. At first I thought that slightly foolish given that people could just go right to that part and read all the notes. Then I remembered that an actually invested writer wouldn’t do that and that to do that would only hurt the reader besides that.

In the end I do find this book helpful. While it shouldn’t be the only book on writing you should own it is worth adding to your library of writing guides.

RATING: 8 out of 10