The One with all the Writing Advice [EXCLUSIVE Review]

The One with all the Writing Advice is the book I never knew I needed.

I should preface this review by saying that I was given an advanced review copy by Sterling and Stone. The book can be found for pre-order here: https://goo.gl/fUMZ39

Having been a long-term fan of friends since the late 90’s, I suppose it’s easy to assume that I’d enjoy this book. I’m a writer too, so it sorta makes sense, right? But when I was sent the book to read, my first thought was, ‘How are they going to get a full book’s worth of writing advice from one show?’

From the off this book is a beautiful cocktail of nostalgia, combined with writing conventions, techniques and tidbits. I should probably say that it’s not so much in ‘writing advice’, but more in the story structure and the devices that the writers of Friends employed to tell three-dimensional stories. I haven’t watched Friends in a little while now, and this book has definitely made me want to watch again. Their knowledge of the backstory matches my own, and I would often read quotes or story arcs and find myself smiling at the memory of a favoured episode – there were even a few that I’d forgotten.

Reading this book as a writer, though, I can see it being a bit of a double-edged sword. For those who are familiar with the show of Friends, this book is a riot. Pages turn quickly, and you find yourself thinking about how you can apply a ‘Jellyfish’ or a ‘Box’ to your story. It helps you think a lot more about the wider structure of a story arc and the way that you can manipulate the audience with shock and awe, through your favourite characters.

But on the other hand I wonder whether those unfamiliar with the show would have the same readers’ journey. I can see that some lessons can still be extracted. I mean, you don’t need to ‘know’ who Joey is, to understand his character – you can just sub with your own version in your head. But the beauty of this book for me was the merging of a cultural phenomenon that took my heart at an early age, combined with the practical addition of writing advice.
Then again, what you see is what you get. If you buy a book that tells you on its cover that it’s a book about Friends, then it’s all on you if you’re disappointed that you don’t understand the references.

Just buy another book and PIVOT!

All in all this is a fun, nostalgic kickback to one of the greatest shows on Earth, combined with the added value of detailing how storylines, characters, and situations from Friends can give you lessons in your writing.

Definitely a book I want sitting on my shelf.