Going to the Tigers: Essays and Exhortations

Robert Cohen offers advice on the writing process in his collection of essays, The Piano Has Been Drinking, including how to rant effectively, develop one's style, name characters, and manage one's identity as a writer. He demonstrates this advice through the work of writers who have influenced him, such as Roth, Ellison, Kafka, and Robinson. The book teaches writing and shows how these elements come together in the second part.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 134 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

In this delightful and insightful collection, novelist and essayist Robert Cohen delves into the intricacies of the writing process and then applies these prescriptions to his own work. From the art of effective ranting as an essayist and novelist, to cultivating one's unique style, naming characters, navigating the identity of being a writer in both time and space, and the utilization of reference and allusion, Cohen offers valuable insights. He skillfully weaves allusions throughout his writing, demonstrating his mastery of the craft. Rather than instructing the reader on how to master the elements of fiction, Cohen showcases these principles through the works of writers who have profoundly influenced his own development, including Roth, Ellison, Kafka, and Robinson. This collection of essays, rooted in Cohen's personal experiences, empowers readers to harness their influences and experiences to create bold, authentic, and individual pieces of writing. While the first part of the book focuses on teaching writing techniques, the essays in the second part illustrate how these elements come together to form a cohesive and compelling narrative.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472055555