How to Write Everything

By: David Quantick

Narrated by: David Quantick

Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

How to Write Everything is the ultimate writer's handbook. It tells you about every aspect of writing, from having an idea to getting the idea out into the world and getting paid for it, too. It covers everything from journalism to screenwriting, from speeches to sketches, from sitcoms to novels.

With thirty years' experience as an award-winning scriptwriter, journalist, author, and broadcaster, David Quantick is ideally suited, as a writer, to write this definitive writer's guide to writing...everything.

©2014 David Quantick (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Absolutely wonderful book.

I am a published author. I write for two glossy national magazines and have writtren for newspapers, radio and television. I'm also a professional stand up comedian.
I also suffer from all the insecurities, laziness, self doubts and procrastinations the author talks about.
This book is beyond helpful to anyone who wants to write, or for the writer, it's great to hear you're not alone. it's full of genuinely helpful advice on practicality all aspects of writing.

a bit vague and waffling

I was hoping for a bit more but it's mostly just vague waffle about a range of different types of writing and someone telling you if you want to be good at writing to just write. I was hoping for a bit better insight into how to put together you work, what people are looking for in terms of the structure, tips for getting your work notice, writing methods, poetry styles, etc. I wouldn't really bother with this book, instead save yourself a few hours of your life and try and write something yourself. After all that seems to be the main theme of the book.

Inspiration and encouragement

As someone who has written many unpublished words, been a journalist briefly (I got paid) and has ambitions to write more I found this book invaluable. I know that I can write but I struggle to find the time, or when I have the time, the inspiration, or when I have the words, the industry understanding to take it forward. That is where this book excels - providing me with the inspiration and inside information I can use to give my next attempts at writing the best chance of finding an audience. It's an honest, witty and above all warm account and comprehensive overview of many facets of commercial writing. Plus it has quite a few good gags.

Good fun advice

What did you like most about How to Write Everything?

David Quantick is funny and encouraging. I found this book a helpful overview of the world of commercial writing and have taken away some good ideas. Worth a listen

What did you like best about this story?

I like the no nonsense approach. This isn't a book about how to cultivate creativity, there are other books on the market for this, but it is about being realistic in entering the world of writing.

What does David Quantick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A better sense of his personality, his rhythm, the audiobook works well. I probably wouldn't have read this book in paper but I enjoyed the audiobook. Would have happily listened longer.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book is funny and I did laugh out loud at times.

A good introduction

I Enjoyed the book. It's very funny at times and also informative but probably lacked some of the detail I was looking for. That being said, I don't feel shortchanged, there is definitely a lot that can be taken from this book.

Fantastic set of stories to back up tips

This was an enjoyable book to listen to, with stories interspersed throughout to back up the tips and advice it highlighted that this was by someone who actually does what they are writing about rather than a pure theorist.

Practical, honest, inspiring.

Loved this book. Has genuinely encouraged me to write through a range of practical advice and conversations with other professional writers. Some things he says seem quite obvious e.g. You actually need to write - however it really leaves the would-be writer no where to hide. It doesn't matter if you are in the mood to write, or if you don't have an idea; sit down, start writing and the words will come. Keep writing, and you will get better. This book is as practically brilliant as Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic is wistfully lovely. Both great, but Quantic offers the very realistic How to Gilbert's Why.

Honest and Practical Book about Writing

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Write Everything to be better than the print version?

It was certainly well read and brought out the humour from the author although I would have liked to have a print version to make notes and underline in.

What did you like best about this story?

Practical, honest and very funny

Which scene did you most enjoy?

All of it

Any additional comments?

A helpful and real book about the truth of what it means to be an actual writer

A simple and accessible way to write

What a lovely, friendly and accessible way to tap into writing without feeling overwhelmed. This is definitely something I will listen to again and again :)

More practical than inspirational

This is really for people who want to write commercially in some way and for them it probably does provide a wealth of useful advice. I would like to write more creatively and effectively but mainly because I think it would benefit me in my academic work. I downloaded this on a whim and I'm not sure what I was expecting. I did listen all the way through but didn't find lots in it for me.