Member Review

I’ve filled notebooks with scribbles of made-up places and imaginary people for over thirty years. The places and people I write about today look and act very different than the ones I crafted as a newly-minted ten year old, but the fact remains — I scribble when life careens away from my expectations. Writing fiction is one way for me to try to wrangle control of what often feels like overwhelming chaos. I know I’m not alone.

I also enjoy reading about the craft of writing. I've read many books on this topic over the years and most get abandoned or merely skimmed because they all feel the same after a while. I can't remember one that has stopped me in my tracks and had me taking notes and adding my own comments from the very first page.

Anders new book, Never Say You Can't Survive, has done that. While it began as a series of blog posts that first appeared at tor.com in 2020 the collection is much more than that. It's not just a handbook of writing advice. Nor is it simply a memoir of writing through various struggles of identity, family, or the world at large. It is a map of storytelling treasures providing anecdotes, tips, and insights.

Amid heartbreak and stress, Anders shows how you can write to save and discover yourself. And have fun at the same time.