Summary of Thomas C. Foster's How to Write Like a Writer

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 We expect writers to know the rules before they can write, and this expectation creates insecurity and inadequacy.

#2 The world is filled with writing that is no fun and not optional, and we can’t eliminate the five-paragraph theme or the what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation essay, but we can invest them with meaning beyond the assignment affliction.

#3 The personal is indeed central to writing. We need to inject the intelligence and personality of the writer into the five-paragraph theme, and we must understand that every writing act is ultimately an exchange between two people.

#4 Writing is hard, and it will always be hard. Don’t expect anything less than a lot of sweat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Oct 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798350040036

IRB Media

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Insights on Thomas C. Foster's How to Write Like a Writer

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The author thought of Marty when he saw student writers struggling with self-sabotage. He realized that they were trying to launch their verbal shots directly at the front rim, which is perfect for producing the loudest possible clang.

#2

The world is full of writing that is no fun and is not optional, and young writers are forced to write by coercion. Most people never write for their own purposes, never find pleasure or joy through writing, and never experience fun via playing with words.

#3

The I at the center of writing is the key to making the work meaningful for the individual. It means creating space for the writer’s intelligence and personality to flourish within the task.

#4

Writing is a skill that requires discipline, commitment, and thought. It is not easy, and it will never be easy. But it can be enjoyable and enriching. Once you learn to write like a writer, the rest is just details.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

The most striking feature of writing anxiety is its manifestation as a lack of confidence. The Watcher at the Gate, a voice that tells you that you’re a nobody, has stolen your self-assurance and stopped your word-flow with doubt.

#2

Writing is not impersonal. It is the result of a person with consciousness and conscience, intelligence and knowledge, experience and imagination, uncertainty and confidence. Your writing can be as distinctive as you are.

#3

The first person is usually not welcome in the writing world other than in the classroom. This is because teachers and guidebooks can inadvertently squeeze the person out of the writing.

#4

The I is at the center of write. Readers are looking for a voice that is in control and confident. That voice should seem anxious or lacking in conviction, but it should be in control of what it is