On Writing (and Writers): A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions

by C. S. Lewis

Overview

“While writing about writing is often deadly, Lewis is as delightful as he is wise.” —The New York Times

A definitive collection of wisdom on every style of writing and a celebration of the transformative power of the written word from one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the modern age, C. S. Lewis, the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia series, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and other revered classics.

Featuring over one hundred excerpts—some short and some essay length—drawn from his wide body of letters, books, and essays, On Writing (and Writers) brings together C. S. Lewis’s reflections on the power, importance, and joy of a life dedicated to writing.

Writers and devoted readers will be enriched and inspired by Lewis’s commentary on a range of genres, including:

• On Good Writing
• On Writing Fiction
• On Writing Poetry
• On Writing for Children
• On Writing Science Fiction
• On Christian Writing
• On Writing Persuasively
• On Other Writers

Wise and practical, On Writing (and Writers) reveals Lewis’s thoughts on both mechanics and style, including choosing adjectives, the art of expression, how to connect with readers, and the core principles of clear, impactful writing.

A window into the mind of one of the greatest public intellectuals of the twentieth century—a gifted writer whose influence and insights remain relevant six decades after his death—this engaging collection reveals not only why Lewis loved the written word, but what it means to “gladly teach” the art of writing, so that wise readers can “gladly learn.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063276451
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	474,439
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) fue uno de los intelectuales más importantes del siglo veinte y podría decirse que fue el escritor cristiano más influyente de su tiempo. Fue profesor particular de literatura inglesa y miembro de la junta de gobierno en la Universidad Oxford hasta 1954, cuando fue nombrado profesor de literatura medieval y renacentista en la Universidad Cambridge, cargo que desempeñó hasta que se jubiló. Sus contribuciones a la crítica literaria, literatura infantil, literatura fantástica y teología popular le trajeron fama y aclamación a nivel internacional. C. S. Lewis escribió más de treinta libros, lo cual le permitió alcanzar una enorme audiencia, y sus obras aún atraen a miles de nuevos lectores cada año. Sus más distinguidas y populares obras incluyen Las Crónicas de Narnia, Los Cuatro Amores, Cartas del Diablo a Su Sobrino y Mero Cristianismo.

Date of Birth:

November 29, 1898

Date of Death:

November 22, 1963

Place of Birth:

Belfast, Nothern Ireland

Place of Death:

Headington, England

Education:

Oxford University 1917-1923; Elected fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1925

Website:

http://www.cslewisclassics.com

Table of Contents

Preface David C. Downing ix

On Good Writing 1

On the Writing Process 21

On Writing Fiction 41

On Writing Poetry 49

On Writing for Children 55

On Writing Science Fiction 91

On Christian Writing 119

On Writing Persuasively 123

On Other Writers 127

Bibliography 189

Editorial Reviews

While writing about writing is often deadly, Lewis is as delightful as he is wise.” — New York Times

From the Publisher

C.S. Lewis, author of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, believed that “you should hear every sentence you write as if it were being read aloud or spoken.” So it seems apt that we should now have the opportunity to LISTEN to Lewis’s observations on the art of writing, all delivered in John Lee’s sonorous Oxbridge tone and phrasings. Lee does a wonderful job of rendering the balance and rhythm of Lewis’s prose so that we feel the British don himself is speaking to us. However, while the audiobook is a short listen, it does consist entirely of brief snippets from Lewis’s longer letters and writings, so it is perhaps best dipped into from time to time, rather than listened to straight through. J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

C.S. Lewis, author of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, believed that “you should hear every sentence you write as if it were being read aloud or spoken.” So it seems apt that we should now have the opportunity to LISTEN to Lewis’s observations on the art of writing, all delivered in John Lee’s sonorous Oxbridge tone and phrasings. Lee does a wonderful job of rendering the balance and rhythm of Lewis’s prose so that we feel the British don himself is speaking to us. However, while the audiobook is a short listen, it does consist entirely of brief snippets from Lewis’s longer letters and writings, so it is perhaps best dipped into from time to time, rather than listened to straight through. J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile