Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Regardless of whether or not you are a "young writer", this book of letters by McCann is worth the read. Perhaps even if you are not a writer at all! These short letters (or essays) are McCann's advice to those who think they want to write for a living. It is not for the faint of heart, nor is it as romantic as people always seem to think writing for your living is.

McCann is easy to read and entertaining. He doesn't lecture the intended audience but just gives it to them straight. Woven into his advice for writers is some general life advice that anyone could benefit from. As a reader who dabbles, on the outer fringes, in writing, I loved reading "behind-the-scenes" of what it takes to craft something even just one other person might want to read. McCann talks about the things people don't - writer's block (although he doesn't call it that), your first line, punctuation, agents and editors, being a nice person, throwing your work away, critics, and a lot more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was dubuious about whether or not I would like this book, but the author is such a good writer that I decided to try it. It was very informative and helpful. McCann brought his typically good writing to this book, and offered insights I haven't heard before. Definitely a good one to read.

Colum McCann is a genius at distilling the creative process. He writes like a magician. Pure joy.
Any writer can benefit from his wisdom and guidance. All of his books are actually letters to young writers and you could study each of them as a masterclass in writing and prose that reads like water.
I have been a fan since his early days and each new work is a celebration.

McCann is one of my favorite writers and this was a welcome title. As a writer myself, although not young, I'm very appreciative of his tips.

Practical, inspiring, and refreshingly lighthearted, Letters to a Young Writer urges the aspiring writer to relax, read, stop being so self-involved, and be a better person as well as a better writer.

I can't really review this book - I only got through two dozen pages or so, and I could not sustain interest. I've enjoyed McCann's other books, but this one just didn't do it for me. The letter weren't interesting to me, and I found my mind wandering as I read.

Not only interesting for a young writer, McCann's sharp readable advice is pertinent to anyone with an interest in books and literature. The prose he is so famous for in his novels is still evident in these essays - well worth reading

Lovely! I've already bought this book as a gift for a young writer friend!

I can't believe it's been so long since I read this book, but I am behind on my reviews and yes, it's a new year, so I am trying to catch up. The lateness, however, has nothing to do with my love for this book; this was a highlight of the year for me.

I've enjoyed Colum McCann's novels, so when he wrote a book on writing, of course I wanted to read it. (And I wanted to enroll in his creative writing class at Hunter.) When I look at the book again now, I am kind of surprised I didn't highlight passages. So why didn't I highlight this one? It would have taken all of the pleasure out of reading, what with all that highlighting. There are so many inspiring words here, as evidenced by writers and non-writers alike who rave about this book.

I especially appreciated that McCann addresses older writers here as well, and that he credits a whole slew of others with his own writing education. If you are an aspiring writer, this is a book to treasure, and, something I say only rarely — one to read again and again.

For Goodreads:

Why I picked it — Because I love Colum McCann's writing
Reminded me of… My other favorite book on writing, Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
For my full review — click here

'Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice' by Colum McCann is a book for writers, but that doesn't mean that non-writers won't get something out of it.

The book is a series of essays, including the title one. The author states in the intro something he told a class once: "I can teach you nothing. Now that you know this, go learn," but there is a wisdom in these pages to go forth and fiercely write. The reader is encouraged to face critics, not be afraid of a blank page, and to know their characters intimately, even if those details don't make it on the page.

I have read a couple books by the author and this book tells me he is serious and passionate about what he does. There is still quite a bit of humor woven in these pages. I also liked the quotes that begin each essay.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

True to its title, this book pays homage to Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet. The author begins by saying he cannot teach anything and that warning is simultaneously true and false. What McCann offers is a glimpse into a writer's craft and from that one can learn plenty. Aspiring writers and readers should read this book, a short love letter to McCann's calling.

For more experienced writers needing a burst of inspiration, Colum McCann’s Letters to a Young Writer fits neatly into the repertoire of handy writing books.

He begins his collection of letters with a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke: “Nobody can advise you and help you, nobody. There is only one way. Go into yourself.” McCann uses the quote as a disclaimer, to remind writers that even as he offers guidance he does so with the caveat that ultimately a writer has to decide for himself or herself how much of that instruction to apply.

The trick, of course, is to understand the rules and know how to apply them before breaking them.

McCann says he wants Letters to a Young Writer to act more as a casual conversation. He doesn’t want writers to follow it like a manual or to perceive it as a tirade on the rights and wrongs of writing. More than anything, he says, he wants readers of the book to learn about the burning need to write and to strive for the best writing they can achieve.

The essays touch on a variety of topics that, at first glance, will feel familiar to anyone who has spent some time researching how to write well. McCann cautions writers against writing only what they know, encouraging them instead to write towards a topic they want to explore further. He tackles the fear every writer experiences at one time or another in confronting an empty page. He even encourages writers to take a break from the actual writing and to leave their creative spaces to engage with the world every now and again, remembering to take a notebook with them to jot down any bursts of inspiration for later.

A quick rundown of the table of contents reveals the nuts and bolts of writing: punctuation; dialogue; the importance of research; tackling structure; the cruciality of reading broadly; staying open to failure. In essay form, each letter may seem short, but writers shouldn’t let the lengths of the pieces deceive them. McCann makes sure to use every inch of space of every letter to drive home points that every writer needs to remember.

New writers might find some of the advice almost counterintuitive. For example, why should someone embrace failure or expect that s/he will write at least one bad book (and some people have many bad books)? Granted, Letters… is not for the faint of heart. A person just beginning on his/her writing career may want to steer clear of this collection; it’s geared more toward someone who has already spent time and energy building a career.

The book, then, functions as much as a pick-me-up as a tutorial on how to approach the writing life. Writers seasoned and amateur alike will find quite a bit of value in owning a copy of the book. I recommend writers Bookmark Letters to a Young Writer.

How can anyone be brave enough to write? “Letters to a Young Writer” bursts at the seams with advice, often wise, often obvious, sometimes ridiculous, but always from the heart of experience. Although I am not a (compulsive, driven, secretly raging, heart-cut-open) writer , I learned several lessons from these short essays on how to be a better reader, and possibly even a better blurb writer.

This book definitely didn't end up being what I thought it would be. However, as a writer myself, it made me feel less alone in the process. Even highly successful writers have gone through the same things I have, and have felt the same things I have. This isn't a book on the craft of writing, but on the craft of being a writer.

This book was outstanding and one of the best I've read concerning the art of writing. If you want to be a better writer, then do not hesitate: get this short book and read it. Hold onto it and read it again in a year or two. This volume gives practical advice (that I can verify from experience) while counseling writers to understand the rules of the trade before breaking them: this is not a black/ white issue - there are appropriate and inappropriate times to do so. The book also encourages creative types to get out of their internal vortex and to see their work from the reader's perspective. It covers topics such as writer's block (which he refers to as "The terror of the white page"), why we tell stories, and handling critics.

If you loved Stephen King's "On Writing" then this book is definitely for you.

his is an essential work on writing.
Filled with inspiration and tried and tested advice.
This work of his can been added to the Canon of great books on writing like that of The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner, On Writing by Stephen King, Bird is Bird by Ann Dillard, Stein On Writing by Sol Stein, and others.
Words not wasted, no straying into random nonsense, every piece of information and advice vital, his passion is clear, and he gives a lot in this writing, layered down so clearly and precise with voice and heart it will demand many re-reads for the writer or the lover of writing.

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First, the title of this book may lead you to believe that this book is for young adults, not so. I believe the term "young writer" refers to a beginning writer, but this book could be read at any age and any stage in your writing journey. In fact, in one chapter he writes, "how old is the young writer? Seventeen, sixty, forty-six - who cares?" So be a brave writing soul and pick up this book, no matter what your age.

This is an excellent book that includes a lot of humor, as well as an abundance of encouragement and hints at what it takes to be a great writer. One of the funniest was the chapter titled: don't be a dick. He addresses the snooty attitude laden writer. The chapter goes deeper and funnier. I laughed out loud when I started the next chapter title: Then again don't be too nice (in your fiction anyway). I haven't written in a long time, but this book did jump start me right back again. Sometimes you need a book like this to give you a good kick in the pants (and encourage and instruct you as well).

I read this as an avid reader, one who loves the written word, and it offered me a peek into the world of writing. It's often hard for me to articulate why some books speak to me and others don't...that indefinable (to me) quality...and this book helped me to see just what those qualities are.

Much of the book has practical advice and wisdom than can be applied to life (i.e. Don't Be A Dick") , not just writing. And it will make me approach the books I read with a different eye and certainly with a renewed respect for the craft.

Short, entertaining, and often humorous, I highly recommend this one to both writers and readers.

I shared my thoughts on this book in my monthly reading recap post, where I share short reviews of all the books I read during the month: http://www.booksuniverseeverything.com/2017/04/24/polysyllabic-spree-march-2017/