Review of Live to Write Another Day by Dean Orion

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Description (From NetGalley)

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.

My Review

This is a really useful guide and the first half of the book gave me a number of great tips that I am currently using to help unstick my current WIP. There were certain sections toward the end that did not really apply to me or my situation at present but were non-the-less very interesting. I found the check-lists at the end of each chapter very handy, especially when you want to quickly remind yourself of the facts at a later date without having to re-read the whole thing.

Some may find the 'Writer Gene' theory a little controversial, but whether you agree with him on that point or not, there is still plenty to take away from this book. I can see myself referring back to it in the future and definitely think it is worth a read.

I give Live to Write Another Day 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.