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Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Terry Brooks
Publisher: Del Rey
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $22.94 (100%)
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Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 721825
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 208
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.8
ISBN: 0345458281
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780345458285
ASIN: 0345458281
Publication Date: March 4, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
In Sometimes the Magic Works, author Terry Brooks mixes advice on writing with stories from his personal experience in publishing. A seasoned fantasy writer with 19 books under his belt, including the New York Times bestseller The Sword of Shannara, Brooks began his second career in middle age when he gave up his law practice to pursue writing full time. His move was fueled by an obsession with writing, ("If I don't write, I become restless and ill-tempered"), inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien, and constant encouragement from publisher Lester del Rey. Some of Brooks's advice is specific and useful, such as the chapter he dedicates to the importance of outlining. However, the lessons he tries to tell through his own adventures tend to be self-serving. Still, Brooks's experiences could be particularly interesting and valuable to fans of his fantasy novels--and aspiring authors of their own. --Lacey Fain
Product Description
In 1977, the New York Times Trade Paperback Bestseller list—back then the exclusive province of self-help guides, cartoon collections, and any number of cat books—played host to its very first work of fiction: The Sword of Shannara, an epic quest through a mythical land, by first-time author Terry Brooks. Nineteen New York Times bestselling novels later, it would be easy enough to just say: “. . . and the rest is history.” But when it comes to quests, everyone knows that getting there is half the fun. Now, Terry Brooks tells the story of how he got there—from beginner to bestselling author—and shares his secrets for creating unusual, memorable fiction.
Writing is writing, whether one’s setting is a magical universe or a suburban backyard. Spanning topics from the importance of daydreaming to the necessity of writing an outline, from the fine art of showing instead of merely telling to creating believable characters who make readers care what happens to them, Brooks draws upon his own experiences, hard lessons learned, and delightful discoveries made in creating the beloved Shannara and Magic Kingdom of Landover series, The Word and The Void trilogy, and the bestselling Star Wars novel The Phantom Menace.
In addition to being a writing guide, Sometimes the Magic Works is Terry Brooks’s self-portrait of the artist. Here are sketches of his midwestern boyhood, when comic books, radio serials, and a vivid imagination launched a life long passion for weaving tales of wonder; recollections of the fateful collaboration with legendary editor Lester del Rey that changed not only the author’s life but the course of publishing history; and an eye-opening look at the ups and downs of dealing with Hollywood, as a writer of official novels based on major movies by both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
“If you don’t think there is magic in writing, you probably won’t write anything magical,” says Terry Brooks. This book offers a rare and wonderful opportunity to peer into the mind of (and learn a trick or two from) one of fantasy fiction’s preeminent magicians.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Writers Take Hope! October 30, 2008
George R. Murray (Boise, ID USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As an aspiring writer, I nearly despaired about my prospects of becoming an author after reading Stephen King's book on writing, which struck me as demeaning, but this book not only offered me great technical and artistic ideas, it gave me back my hope. Brooks makes a cohesive argument for doing the tough pre-work of writing up front, which many would say takes away from a story's creativity and spontaneity. Given his excellent body of work, though, his methods were nothing less than compelling for me. I was no more successful in putting this book down than I have been with any of his novels.
Great insights June 30, 2008
Laura Lehman (PA, USA)
Brooks gives an insightful look at being a fantasy writer, both in regards to the craft and the business. If you're a fantasy writer or interested in the process, this is a nice title to read.
Easy to read, insightful August 7, 2007
Dave (from the Great State of West Virginia)
I find most of Terry Brooks's work to be hit-and-miss, but this one was a definite hit. He lets us in to his head during the creating process. While there is nothing particularly ground-breaking here, his style is very conversational and easy to read. He doesn't get bogged down in mechanics but tries to convey that writing is a process and a craft, not just a hobby.
Wonderful Book! February 6, 2007
W. Burke (Fort Wayne, Indiana United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Sometimes the Magic Works" is a wonderful book for aspiring authors and fans of best-selling fantasy author Terry Brooks alike. Mr. Brooks has created a truly delightful blend of personal memoir and writing guide that offers a rare peek behind the curtain at the life of a successful writer. In revealing what it takes to "make it" in this incredibly competitive field (discipline, perseverance, creativity, and LOTS of luck, among other things), Mr. Brooks provides the kind of invaluable advice and insight that any young writer would consider themselves lucky to happen upon.
 Not all there. January 2, 2007
Kennedy Brandt (California, USA)
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
Five or six chapters in, I doubt I'll finish. It's probably interesting to Terry Brooks fans, but...
The opening chapter goes into some detail about how he's "not all here," explaining that his attention is usually in the world of his writing instead of on his "real" world surroundings. Unfortunately, he's not all here in the book, either. It feels amazingly superficial, like Brooks was severely distracted while writing it. I can barely remember each chapter by the end of it.
Several pages, I've simply skimmed, looking for something worth reading and coming up empty. I expect I'll "finish" it that way, if at all.
By contrast, I found King's "On Writing" to be inspirational, instructive, informative, and engaging. I sincerely wish I could say the same for this book.
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