A Writer's Nightmare

{{Short description|Collection of essays by R. K. Narayan}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox book |

| name = A Writer's Nightmare

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = File:AWritersNightmare.jpg

| caption = First edition

| author = R. K. Narayan

| illustrator =

| cover_artist =

| country = India

| language =

| series =

| genre = Essays

| publisher = Penguin Books

| release_date = 1988

| english_release_date =

| media_type = Print

| pages =

| isbn = 978-0-14-010791-3

| dewey = 824 20

| congress = PR9499.3.N3 A6 1987

| oclc = 20542881

| preceded_by = Talkative Man

| followed_by = The World of Nagaraj

}}

A Writer's Nightmare is a collection of essays by R. K. Narayan published in 1988 by Penguin Books.{{cite book|last=Brians|first=Paul|title=Modern South Asian literature in English|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2003|pages=74|isbn=978-0-313-32011-8|oclc=231983154}} The essays included in the book are about topics as diverse as the caste system, love, Nobel Prize winners and monkeys; the book provides readers a unique view of Indian life.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/103392863.html?dids=103392863:103392863&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+23%2C+1989&author=By+John+Gabree&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=PAPERBACKS+Artists+of+the+Essay&pqatl=google|title=PAPERBACKS Artists of the Essay|last=Gabree|first=John|date=July 23, 1989|publisher=Newsday|accessdate=2009-08-28|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022102205/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/103392863.html?dids=103392863:103392863&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+23,+1989&author=By+John+Gabree&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=PAPERBACKS+Artists+of+the+Essay&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}} The essays were written at various points between 1958 and 1988; the book includes a significant essay, Misguided Guide, expressing Narayan's displeasure with the film Guide, based on his book The Guide.{{cite book|last=Thieme|first=John|title=R. K. Narayan|publisher=Manchester University Press|year=2007|pages=215|isbn=978-0-7190-5927-8|oclc=153556493}}