".the right mix of seriousness and wit, anecdote and insight." -- Billy Collins ".offers not only the author's amazingly informative narrative, but points us toward.the trial and error inherent in creativity." -- Ann Beattie "[Ben Yagoda] is witty and offhandedly erudite and unafraid to read between the lines." -- Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler and Secret Parts of Fortune "This is an ingenious and memorable exploration of writing's soul." -- Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down and Killing Pablo "Ben Yagoda [is] the best kind of close reader, attentive to writerly choices that most of us take for granted.

" -- Wall Street Journal "A shrewd, welcome meditation on literary style. that rarest of tomes: a splendidly written book about writing." -- Philadelphia Inquirer "This entertaining and instructive book should be part of any writing collection." -- Library Journal "A stylish exploration of developing a distinctive voice and writing style." -- Chicago Tribune.