July 2023 - AudioFile
Acclaimed writer Ruta Sepetys exudes an infectious positivity as she uses her own experiences to illustrate the craft of writing from research to conception to revision. In an upbeat conversational tone, she encourages listeners to plumb their own lives for writing inspiration. Sepetys shares personal anecdotes, both humorous and profound, to demonstrate how life experiences are fodder for plot, character development, voice, perspective, setting, and dialogue. You may want to take notes or grab a print copy to work on her many prompts, but it is the audio version that will inspire you. If you're a writer (or want to be), listen up! Ruta Sepetys believes in you. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
04/17/2023
Novelist Sepetys (I Must Betray You) makes her nonfiction debut with a proficient guide on how to write better stories that are informed by one’s life. Sepetys discusses the principles that underlie good fiction and recounts details from her own life to illustrate how personal anecdotes can fuel literary creativity. “The reality of life is so ludicrous” that it provides fertile material for fiction, she contends, encouraging readers to look through old photos of themselves and “invent an entirely new story around the image.” She recounts receiving a backhanded compliment at a Hollywood red-carpet event to illustrate that “dialogue is not only what someone is saying, but how they’re saying it.” The advice largely follows prevailing wisdom, such as the exhortations to show a character’s personality rather than tell readers about it and to “avoid general descriptions and drill into the details.” Still, novice writers will appreciate the bounty of writing prompts, which include contemplating how a vivid childhood memory might inform the backstory of a character and composing first- and third-person accounts of a time when “you might have misjudged a situation.” Sepetys’s suggestions are solid, though there’s not much here that other programs haven’t said before. This is most likely to appeal to amateur writers and fans of Sepetys’s fiction. (May)
From the Publisher
★ "Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Part writing guide, part memoir, Sepetys’ fresh, fun handbook is all inspiration." —Booklist, starred review
★ "With the same skill and craft that Sepetys employs to write relatable and moving invented characters, she paints a picture of her family, friends, and acquaintances, proving she is capable of more than enthralling fiction. . . . This is a must for any collection where young readers have an interest in storytelling, as well as generally a good pick for fans of the author." —School Library Journal, starred review
"This is an inspirational book that gives readers direction as they begin writing and will make them want to keep writing, and rewriting, their own stories." —SLC
"Sepetys discusses the principles that underlie good fiction and recounts details from her own life to illustrate how personal anecdotes can fuel literary creativity. . . . Novice writers will appreciate a bounty of writing prompts." —Publishers Weekly
AudioFile - JULY 2023
Acclaimed writer Ruta Sepetys exudes an infectious positivity as she uses her own experiences to illustrate the craft of writing from research to conception to revision. In an upbeat conversational tone, she encourages listeners to plumb their own lives for writing inspiration. Sepetys shares personal anecdotes, both humorous and profound, to demonstrate how life experiences are fodder for plot, character development, voice, perspective, setting, and dialogue. You may want to take notes or grab a print copy to work on her many prompts, but it is the audio version that will inspire you. If you're a writer (or want to be), listen up! Ruta Sepetys believes in you. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-02-08
A gifted storyteller shares the method and memories behind her magic.
With chapters bearing labels such as “Plot,” “Character Development,” “Setting,” and “Voice,” award-winning teen historical fiction author Sepetys’ first foray into nonfiction may look at first glance like an ordinary book on the craft of writing, but the introductory line, “life is story in motion,” reveals a more sophisticated yet accessible approach: sideways, through the lens of memory. Her parents’ early struggles and lifelong artistry gave her the sense that plots were everywhere. Discussing characterization, she recalls her 12-year-old self asking permission to paint her entire bedroom “brown like poop” (she even saved up for the paint). They agreed—and offered guidance on choosing an accent color. Eavesdropping on strangers trained Sepetys’ ear to write dialogue, and she presents lowlights from her dating career as an exercise in character research. Each themed chapter ends with a recap of the main points presented, a set of writing prompts, and an intriguing set of “Stories To Uncover and Discover.” Diving further into the subject of revision, Sepetys relates an anecdote that reveals how knowing only one side of a story leads to misunderstanding and errors, critical information for anyone writing history, whether theirs or someone else’s. The dedication, hard work, and attention to detail that her fiction is known for show here in every carefully considered line, but most of all it’s her heart that shines through.
Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages. (Nonfiction. 12-adult)
