I currently have three books titled Plot Twist home from the library, but two are romances featuring authors. The third is Harlan Coben’s “Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing”. It’s probably more entertaining than both of the other books, as Coben combines tips on writing with stories from his own life.
I’m not interested in being a writer, but I’m interested in reading how different authors approach their craft. Coben said his book is a writing guide, but also for other people in creative arts. He stresses that writers must read, write, and read. I appreciated the episodes involving his family. He said he doesn’t remember his parents reading to him, but they did instill a love of reading by making family trips to a bookstore where they all browsed, and then Coben’s father neatly packed their books in bags because it was $5 per bag.
Harlan Coben discusses writing prompts, but emphasizes writers start with “what if”. He says one trait the best of the best share is curiosity. He doesn’t mind that question, “Where do you get your ideas?” In one chapter, he covers the places he comes up with ideas. I mentioned the “What if/writer’s prompt.” He covers memoir and the author’s own personal life. I’ve heard other authors say they read news stories, real crimes, or what you’re reading and hearing. Writers shouldn’t use just one idea. Coben combines and blends ideas. As part of that, he, and other writers, keep an idea file. Coben says he goes through that whenever he starts a new book.
Coben uses his own books and television adaptations His comments added some titles to my TBR pile. Although I’m not a writer, I found Coben’s writing advice to be interesting. He blended that advice with stories of his family. He relates his stories of missing people to the losses of his parents, especially his father who died before his sixtieth birthday. His account brought me to tears. It was emotional for me to read since my father also died before his sixtieth birthday when he was in the hospital for his heart.
Harlan Coben’s memoir/writer’s guide was well-done and thought-provoking. It’s entertaining, even if you have no plans to be a writer. One of his sentences caught my attention because Ann Patchett says the same thing. “Books still sell best on world of mouth.”
Thanks for being part of our word of mouth on Thursdays!
Harlan Coben’s website is https://www.harlancoben.com/
Plot Twist: Life, Craft and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing by Harlan Coben. Grand Central Publishing, 2026. 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
