Location: Australia
Member Since:
Feb. 10, 2011
Vince A
Smashwords book reviews by Vince A
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Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method
on Feb. 14, 2011
Weinberg is a prolific author (50+ books?), highly regarded in that section of the computing community who love their craft, and love reading thoughtful reflections about it. I would classify Weinberg's writing style as a "simple home-cooked meal". There is nothing pretentious about it. No unfamiliar words, no exotic flavouring, and (dare I say) nothing memorable. Yet it is always pleasurable, warm, nourishing, and filling (in this he is the opposite of the thoroughly enjoyable, enviable Stan Kelly-Bootle who is unable to write a plain sentence; one reads Stan for the pleasure of his words; Jerry for the nourishment) Weinberg's book on writing introduces his "Fieldstone Method". At its most basic, it's a method that simply says: keep a pen and notebook handy, jot down every thought that comes to mind, sort them out and place them in the books (plural) you are writing. And if you do this, you will never have writer's block. But he does not just describe the method. Weinberg covers everything: how to collect ideas, where to get ideas, what to do when an idea hits you while you are asleep, or while in meditation, how to organise the ideas you've collected, how to put them down in your books (again, plural -- he writes several books at the same time, and so will you), how to make sure your writing is clear, how to make sure the collected ideas fit, and how to throw out ideas. He even shows you how he uses the method himself. There is a section that can be called "One day in the life of Jerry Weinberg using the Fieldstone Method". Weinberg just covers every question you might have, or obstacle you might face (real or imagined or hoped for). Weinberg is like that insurance salesman who wouldn't let you say no. After reading, I just cannot think of any excuse not to start writing. He has equipped me with everything. This is no academic book about a new theoretical unproven technique. It is very clear that Weinberg is writing from experience. At the end of the book there is a section of about 20-30 recommended writing / editing / related books, complete with annotations (I love annotations). The venerable Strunk and White is there, plus one or two I recognise. The rest are unfamiliar to me. I enjoyed this book on first reading and it has inspired me to start writing. I am very sure I will be reading it many, many times over. Highly, highly recommended.