Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer

The Artistry, Joy, and Career of Storytelling

By: J. Michael Straczynski

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the words of novelist Harlan Ellison, "The trick is not becoming a writer. The trick is staying a writer."

New York Times best-selling author and British Academy Award nominee J. Michael Straczynski knew he wanted to be a writer ever since he was a child. What he didn't know was how to actually become, or stay, a writer.

Now, he's giving fellow writers the comprehensive guide he wishes he had all along, personalized tips and techniques that can't be found in any other book on writing.

Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer culls from Straczynski's more than 30 years of experience writing for film, television, books, and comics. Designed for writers in any stage of their career, this quirky, insightful and often humorous book provides an inside look at these industries with advice and wisdom covering such topics such as:

• What fledgling writers need to know to improve and sell their work - and avoid wasting valuable time
• Tips for experienced writers who want to get to the next level
• Staying disciplined when writing is your day job
• Why writers should never wait for inspiration
• Story-planning strategies that don't kill your spontaneity
• Expert techniques for effective, memorable world-building
• How to get an agent and survive the writer's journey in more personal relationships
• Revising and editing with precision
• When and how to reinvent yourself as an artist

Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer includes Straczynski's unique, tried-and-true methodologies that will help storytellers sharpen their work so that it's polished and ready for publication. Part toolbox and part survival guide, this book will be an indispensable guide throughout your entire writing career, offering fresh and practical insights every step of the way.

©2021 J. Michael Straczynski (P)2021 BenBella Books

Inspiration & advice from the creator of Babylon 5

If you need me, I will be behind my keyboard.

Strazynski is my new writing drill sergeant.

Joe Hempel is an outstanding narrator.

please listen or read this book after reading Becoming Superman by JMS. You can read or listen to Together We Will go by JMS afterwards.

One of the best

I've been a working screenwriter for about 12 years now, read most screenwriting books that are out there. This ranks among the best. Recommend Becoming Superman as companion book.

Perfect for Writers.

Perfect book for any writer who feels alone with their thoughts and drive. Perfect for anyone trying to understand the writers in their lives. While this isn't a writing manual, it does cover many unsaid realities of what being a writer takes. Read it for insight, not for instruction.

My New Favorite Book

This isn't a How To Write book, but a How To Be a Writer book. Straczynski's charming honesty and his willingness to share failures along with his successes makes this an invaluable book to any new or established writers. I bought it on a whim--I've read quite a few comics by J. Michael Straczynski, but I've never seen Babylon 5--and as I listened to his advice and experiences, I was shocked to realize that I had found a portable mentor. He's insightful and encouraging, and for someone like me, this book was EXACTLY what I needed. There's HEART in these pages. If I ever get a chance to meet the man, I'm going to thank him. There are parts of this book that I won't forget, and even though I just finished it, I'm starting it up again.

If you want books on craft, I recommend THRILL ME by Benjamin Percy and ON WRITING by Stephen King . . . but then come get this book, and Straczynski will tell you how to take what you've learned and apply it to a life where you can BE a writer.

Highly recommended.

Wonderful

Enjoyable and informative book on the writing life. It’s full of gems. I highly recommend it for writers at any stage of their careers.

Narrator was whiney.

I'll need to get the hard copy. By the time I got to the end I had it with the narrator.

Excellent but a little too much ego

I recommend this book to every writer. The advice is unique and the encouragement is true. It is slightly geared more towards the film and tv writer but a lot is applicable too all writers. My only negative is the author often tells stories from his career that seem only to inflate his own ego or work through his own demons by convincing himself he was right in stories that involved him being a bit of a jerk.

Concise, thought provoking, and practical

The first section was a little harrowing. Sharing his experiences was an act of vulnerability that set the stage for his reasoning and realism. JMS provided an outlook that is often forgotten. I found it relevant even as an indie author.