I thought this slim book took a whole lot of patience. Not much of it's to do with writing really, but I'm sure that was by design. I much prefer Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird or Stephen King's On Writing to this read. Not recommended for a first-time reader of Dillard. She's an acquired taste, but oh, once you have tasted and seen that the Dillard is good, you won't regret it (see: Holy the Firm).