Hard One to Write!

If other books have given me a passing hello — at best a friendly pat on the shoulder — this one gave me a real, full embrace.

I’ve read many books on writing, but they often left me feeling like the iceberg was only growing instead of melting.

At the beginning of the book, Ekaterina says that to become a writer, you first have to become a bad writer. Okay, I thought, exhale — I must be on the right track.

Then, through examples of well-known classics, I was reminded that everyone starts somewhere — no one is born a genius. Yes, there may be talent, but like a diamond, it begins as a rough stone. It’s almost funny to read how, for example, Leo Tolstoy, in a letter to a friend, curses Anna Karenina, which he couldn’t finish for four years — even though the first draft was written in just a couple of weeks.

The book doesn’t just debunk myths — it also offers practical tools for developing your writing. As the author says: “There are no universal formulas. I can only share how it works for me.” And that’s exactly the kind of living, real experience from a fellow writer I had been missing.

Ekaterina, thank you for your work. I feel like copying the summary of every chapter into one list, printing it out, and keeping it right in front of me.

This book is a treasure trove of tools and a whole wagon of motivation for writers who are just starting out.

I’d even say it’s especially for those who’ve moved past the initial rush — those first months when inspiration flows wildly and everything you write feels exciting. Then a year goes by, and questions start to appear:

Can I even call myself a writer?
Do I have the right to write if I don’t want to tackle big, global issues?
Do good authors really produce a perfect first draft?
How much editing is enough?

There are hundreds of these questions — and where do you even look for answers?

You’ll find answers to many of the most common fears writers face in Ekaterina Hoarau’s book.

What stood out to me most is how accessible it is.
You never feel like you’re being lectured by a строгий профессор — instead, it feels like a friendly conversation with a mentor. Someone clearly more experienced, but never talking down to you.

Ekaterina herself says she wanted the book to read easily and feel like a real, living dialogue — and that’s exactly what it feels like.

Another big plus is the exercises at the end of each chapter.
You read about a myth — for example, about adjectives — and then you’re invited to try writing without using any. It really gets your gears turning, sometimes grinding a little, but pushing you to find more original solutions.

After reading the book, I started seeing my own writing differently. And that’s a huge win.

But the biggest strength of all is the sheer amount of motivation.
You can write. It will work out. No one gets it right on the first try.

And if writing is something that tingles at your fingertips — something you can’t wait to return to every day — then write.

Keep going. And write.

Personally, I couldn’t find any downsides.
Highly recommended for anyone at the beginning of their writing journey.

5/5

Honestly? This is the best book on writing — and on the whole messy, beautiful business of being a writer — that I’ve ever read.

And I’m picky about this. For example, the well-known Bird by Bird felt like empty filler to me — just pouring water from one glass into another.

I don’t even feel like writing a proper review.
What I want is to pull this book apart into quotes and respond to it with my own thoughts.

And it’s not even that I discovered something radically new or uncovered hidden depths.
No — most of what’s in the book I’ve already lived through myself.

But the way the author writes about it — light, clear, and genuinely motivating — is what wins you over.

What will you find in the book?

Common struggles that writers face (and this isn’t just for fiction writers — it’s for anyone who wants to create texts of any kind; the author even emphasizes that this is a great time to experiment with formats).

Stories of how renowned classics were actually written — which is incredibly relieving.

How to recognize clichés, why they weaken your writing, and how you can even play with them.

When to edit — and when not to.

Whether it’s better to create in silence or in a busy café.

Whether to build a close circle of beta readers while the work is still in progress.

And much more.

But the most important thing is this:

The further you read, the more something inside you loosens.
Your inner critic quiets down.
The doubts about whether what you’re doing matters begin to fade.
The resistance softens.
The fear of the blank page disappears.

And you just want to sit down and start writing.

I remember that when I was a teenager, we had these books — the kind that explained who you were, what was happening to you, psychologically and physically, and where to run if something went wrong. Mothers and fathers would quietly pass them to us at just the “right” time (usually defined by them), or we would secretly pass them to each other, because you couldn’t really retell them — and you wanted to share that immense happiness of having an intimate conversation with someone (usually the author) who understood you completely and didn’t judge you at all. Entering adulthood felt like diving into icy water — you wanted someone to support you, teach you how to breathe, how to swim, and then wrap you in a huge, warm towel on the shore :) How good it is that back then, in that pre-internet, pre-YouTube era, our coming-of-age was held safely in printed hands.

Later, I often caught myself thinking — I wish I had that again. I wish I could find a book that would tell me how to keep writing no matter what, how to stay loyal to writing when you no longer believe in yourself and your energy is running out, how to even understand whether there’s any meaning in this constant “you should be doing something useful instead of wasting your time.” There is always meaning.

I went through book after book on writing. Some of them were even a solid 7 out of 10 — but we never made it to shore together. I kept sinking, shouting “why not like this? why not that? why?!” while the cold water closed over my head))) And then — a hand… the shore… a huge warm towel, cocoa, a fire, a conversation… No, this is not a book you just read. This is a book you talk to. It’s someone who knows everything about your struggles. It’s a friend, an ally, a superpower, a living source of creative energy. And there’s no filler in it. No limits, no restrictions — it breaks them all. No lectures, no moralizing — it teaches you not to listen to those voices. It gives you back your belief in yourself and in the power of words — your own words, mine and only mine. It’s not about writing, it’s about — write. Right now. Drop everything and write. And I am writing — after three months of despair and a creative drought. I’m just writing…

P.S. And that letter on page 207 — Hemingway wrote it for me, just so you know.

It’s very easy to start writing. All you need is to decide — enough, it’s time — and begin.

It’s easy to imagine yourself in something wildly stylish, typing away on a laptop by the window. And once your latest masterpiece is done, you meet your friends at a café on the corner, then go off to buy your hundredth — anniversary — pair of shoes. Over coffee, one of your friends suddenly suggests flying to Abu Dhabi, and of course, for a writer it’s the easiest thing in the world to say yes — you can write anywhere…

Want to know how it actually is? Maybe you’ll have the window, the friends, the laptop. But in reality, you’ll only have time for the laptop. Because writing isn’t just sitting down to write — it’s sitting there, sifting through all the reasons why you’re worthless and incapable. Trying to cancel everything, get sick, postpone it.

Only after you fully grasp the depth of inevitability do you sit in front of the blank page and realize: you’re afraid. Afraid of that blinking cursor. Afraid of repeating yourself, of not being good enough, not interesting, not needed. Afraid of clichés, of writing without inspiration, without a big idea, in a style that feels too light.

And then, eventually, you type a couple of sentences, promising yourself you’ll faint if anything goes wrong. It will. Perfectionists don’t have a paradise — only the endless road toward its mirage, in worn-out, anxiety-beaten sandals.

Very often, a person who writes needs support. Many people forget how to believe in themselves, because those closest to them (or their own inner voice) raise skeptical eyebrows and throw out rhetorical questions — why do you need this, nothing will come of it, you should get a proper job instead. But what really needs to be said is simple: you have to try. Even if it doesn’t work, you still have to try.

And here’s the strange thing — it works both ways: when someone believes in you, you begin to believe in yourself.

That’s why Hard one to Write! is the best book on writing I’ve come across. It’s honest, deeply friendly, genuinely useful, and inspiring.

It’s full of great exercises and examples that remind you your first draft should be bad — even if you’re Tolstoy.

I think a lot of people have been missing a book like this — creative ones, observant ones, those who invent, doubt, fear, type and delete, dream… sitting by the window with a laptop.

This book has everything I look for in a teacher: clarity and lightness of language, practical examples, close readings of existing texts, honesty and directness, personal stories and lived experience, unexpected details from writers’ lives — and, of course, genuinely valuable exercises. But the most important thing is this: the entire book is a steady dismantling of myths, one after another. And that approach releases so much energy — energy that’s been tied up in doubts and assumptions — that all you can do is hold on tight… and write! Just write!

The book reads effortlessly. The author manages to maintain a relaxed, conversational tone with the reader throughout. There is room for both a healthy sense of humor and self-irony.

A true desk-side companion for anyone who has ever had the idea of putting their thoughts into written form.

A wealth of practical advice on the craft of writing — clear, to the point, illustrated with examples and exercises for reinforcement.

Alongside this comes a dismantling of many long-standing myths about the writer’s work.

There is also an exploration of subtle nuances and hidden pitfalls of the craft, using both contemporary and classic works as examples. If only literature had been taught like this in my school years… The once over-familiar, almost fossilized classics suddenly feel different — much closer, more human. You start seeing the struggles these writers faced and how they worked through them. It’s as gripping as a detective story. It awakens a fresh, genuine interest in their work.

I’ve read a lot of books on writing, and I thought nothing could really surprise me anymore — but the author managed to do it. There are very interesting examples and unusual exercises. It’s a short book, but a valuable one, and it feels underpriced. I bought the paperback for 7 euros, and the ebook is almost absurdly cheap. Wishing the author success, and thank you for the inspiration!

This book is like a pleasant, intelligent conversational partner. You won’t want to just skim through it. Each chapter is not simply a dismantling of myths around writing, but a carefully “woven” wreath by the author — made of personal teaching experience, her own tools for creating compelling texts, and surprising, little-known facts from the writing lives of the classics.

You learn why Tolstoy was tormented by Anna Karenina, how the famous phrase “Brevity is the sister of talent” actually concludes a sentence in Chekhov’s letter to his brother: “Don’t over-polish or smooth it out — be clumsy and daring,” and how many revisions Pushkin made to texts supposedly “dictated” by his muse.

The author’s desire to support you at every stage of working with a text is subtly present from beginning to end. From chapter to chapter — starting with “how to engage your reader” and ending with “what a creative assignment is and how to finish a text” — you become more confident and less afraid.

The exercises at the end of each chapter are not just tasks, but small doses of inspiration, after which long-postponed writing finally happens, the fear of the blank page fades, and your own ideas — lost in the forests of unsuccessful phrasing — begin to make sense again.

Definitely belongs in the category of the most useful books.

I had the privilege of being a beta reader for the book “Hard One to Write!.” I took several writing lessons with Ekaterina, and when she told me she was going to write a book, I immediately got excited. Getting a glimpse into a writer’s inner kitchen — isn’t that a dream?

So for about six months, I watched the chapters evolve — how they changed, how the structure was built, how the title and cover were created. In short, I became fully immersed in the process. Before that, I had already read quite a lot of different books on dramaturgy, screenwriting, and writing craft in general. With Katya’s book, something strange happened: I kept wanting to put it down — just so I could go and start writing myself.

There are books that are engaging to read but hard to actually put into practice. “Hard One to Write!” is a completely different case. It offers practical advice, exercises, inspiring quotes, and Katya’s own compelling stories. And most importantly, there is a great deal of support and care — something especially important for beginning writers.

This year, the question of New Year’s gifts is solved: at least for all my writing friends, I’ll be giving this book.

With this book, you can’t just casually place it on a shelf and forget about it. It reads easily. Ideas come right away, and inspiration starts to rise. And before you know it, you’re grabbing your keyboard on a wave of writing energy. The book stays close by. And every time you open it, it gives you another breath of fresh air and the joy of writing. It brings together interesting facts about well-known writers. We used to think we could never measure up to them, but it turns out we can. They went through the same creative struggles. With Katya Oaro’s book, the heaviness of self-doubt fades away, and a portal of possibilities opens up. Grateful to the author for this gift!

The book “Hard one to Write” is a real discovery for everyone — whether you are a beginner writer, a professional in your field, a blogger, or simply a reader. This book will teach you how not to panic in front of a blank page, what to do if your muse has taken a vacation, and how long it might take to write your story — a week, a month, a year, or several years. Everything will depend only on you and your desire.

The book contains 29 chapters. After each chapter there is a short summary and exercises designed to help you get into writing flow, find yourself, your voice, etc. Or sometimes simply to step away from your current work, rest a little, and switch to something fresh and light.

“Hard one to Write” is a desk-side book for writers. It should be on everyone’s shelf. You will understand this as soon as you open the first page. Thank you to Ekaterina Hoarau for this book and her support. It is the best non-fiction I have read. “Hard one to Write” is a work of fiction about how to write works of fiction. And that is absolutely true.

This book motivated me to start writing and helped me let go of a whole set of limiting beliefs about myself and writing.

People usually pay psychologists and coaches a lot of money and spend a long time in consultations for this kind of work. And here it is — one book, costing around 300 rubles. Purely in mathematical terms, that’s a highly profitable investment in yourself as a writer. (And after reading it, it’s almost impossible not to become one.)

All writing courses should start with this book!

The book is a delight — from the first chapter to the last. Full of bookmarks and notes throughout. I think it’s useful not only for people who write books, but for anyone who writes at all.

All the myths described are spot on — you read them and think: “Yes, exactly, it’s like she pulled it straight out of my head.” Their debunking is calming and gives you hope. Especially at the beginning of the journey, when the first drafts are just starting to appear.

Fears accompany any creative work, so it’s important to notice an encouraging sign in time — to understand that you’re moving in the right direction. A key idea is that consistent practice and work will inevitably bring results. That things are not easy — and that this is normal.

It’s written in a clear, simple, and living language — about something both important and difficult. Excerpts from letters between classic writers are organically woven into the author’s reasoning, presented in a way that made me want to read more of those letters too — friendly ones, critical ones, joyful and doubtful ones.

My friend described the book like this: “When you read it, you feel like you are not alone.” I completely agree with that.

I came across the book completely by chance, but even the excerpts in the form of “exercises” were enough for me to say: “I want this book immediately!”

The text is written in a wonderfully light and clear language, but the greatest strength of the book is this: after each chapter, each paragraph, you want to put it down and start writing.

Ekaterina Hoarau is deeply motivating. She shares simple, real-life stories from her own path, showing that there is no better time than here and now — on the bus, in the subway, scribbled on your lap or in your phone. In the long-awaited vacation you won’t write anything anyway, and later you’ll blame yourself for not doing it, even though conditions were “perfect.” The author gently removes all writing blocks — everything that weighs on the mind of anyone who writes and sighs over their text for various reasons. And Katya simply takes these blocks away.

This is a book you want to return to again and again, always finding new inspiration in it.

What I value most in this book is Ekaterina's supportive and deeply human approach to the reader. I felt the author’s support like that of a kind friend, a slightly therapeutic presence, and a “sister-in-arms” for anyone who writes.

At the same time, this support is not “fluffy” or unfocused. The book has a very clear structure, it breaks down all kinds of myths about writing, and offers practical recommendations and exercises on how to overcome them and keep moving forward in your writing.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who dreams of writing or already writes — and not necessarily novels, but perhaps diaries or social media posts.

want to sincerely thank the author for this book. It gives me a kind of magical push whenever I fall out of the process. It helps me believe in myself again. Ekaterina, thank you for the words you managed to write so clearly and concisely. They feel almost magical.

Today I thought that this book is like a Bible to me — one I can open on any page.

I have a million excuses for why I sometimes don’t write. And they are all real. During the academic year I truly work a lot and sleep very little. I know I do many things that others don’t manage to do, and people are often surprised at how much I can fit into a day. But I also think that I’m missing the most important thing — what I’m truly interested in, what pulls me in. And time doesn’t stop. No one will write my book for me.

In moments like these pauses, I open “Hard One to Write”. It’s my medicine against inertia.

Right now, my fourth book is in the printing house, and I recently started the fifth — thanks to “Hard One to Write.”

Of all the books on writing, this is the best one. It has everything for a beginner writer, an experienced writer, a blogger, or simply anyone who loves words. The author dismantles all the myths and fears that creative people carry before writing a book or even a story. There are many real examples from the classics and contemporary writers, which is especially valuable and important. Through this book, Katya Oaro allowed me to see how Anna Karenina was actually created. There are also many exercises, and by following them you can quite easily write a piece of your own. Overall, the book is excellent, and I recommend it to everyone.

After reading this book, you just want to keep writing more and more. I recommend “Hard One to Write” to every writer, screenwriter, blogger, artist, journalist, editor, and filmmaker — to beginners, amateurs, and professionals alike. To anyone who wants to write in a fresher, clearer, better way. To those who are searching for their unique style and are ready to master new tools of the writing craft.

Ekaterina Hoarau studies the work of beloved classics and connects it with her own experience working with contemporary authors. The techniques in this book truly work — the text becomes brighter and more alive, and your palette of tools grows richer.

The exercises at the end of each chapter are genuinely something you want to do. After each new chapter, you feel as if you’ve shed another layer of illusion and fear of the blank page. However, it’s important to understand that “Hard One to Write” is not a magic fish that grants wishes — it is a golden key. It opens up the reader’s inner world: a world of freedom and creativity, where texts are created with boldness, patience, and love.