The reviewer finds the early chapters of Dean Orion's book on writing to be superficial and poorly structured, but praises the middle chapters on giving and receiving notes as insightful and valuable. The book's afterword on interactive media is intriguing but too brief, leaving the reviewer wishing for more depth and focus.
The reviewer starts by expressing disappointment with the initial chapters of Dean Orion's book, Live to Write Another Day. They find these sections to be overly basic, repetitive, and lacking in substance, making the book feel more like a collection of blog posts rather than a cohesive guide. The tone is described as paternalistic and unfocused, failing to provide meaningful advice for either beginners or experienced writers. However, the reviewer's opinion shifts when discussing chapters 7, 8, and 9, which focus on giving, getting, and executing notes. These chapters are praised for their comprehensive and practical advice, making them worth the price of the book alone. The reviewer also appreciates the sections on pitching, writing partners, and the intersection of art and commerce, though they feel these topics could be better explored in a more substantial format. The afterword on interactive media is highlighted as a particular strength, offering unique insights into narrative and character development in games and transmedia storytelling. However, the reviewer is left wanting more, as the afterword feels like an afterthought rather than a fully developed exploration of the subject. Overall, the book is seen as a mixed bag, with some valuable content overshadowed by its structural and tonal issues.
Quick quotes
The early chapters are almost all superfluous.
These chapters cover the obvious, like being respectful and offering constructive hints, but they also get into the more abstract parts of the subject, like figuring out what notes to ignore, and maintaining ownership over your script while others are trying to mold it in ways you may not agree with.
The afterword gives us enough to get excited, but not satiated.