This book is so...well..helpful. Just plain helpful.
And it's nicely done. Visually, the way it's designed, is terrific. It just FEELS like something you can use over and over.
Okay, specifics: I have never had trouble writing short stories or poems. I always have trouble finishing novels. I haven't. I've started several, have had FOUR editors from three reputable and established publishing houses ask for manuscripts based on my beginnings, and just can't get past the middle to the end. Insane, right?
So, here I am. I'm doing NaNoWriMo 2012 and I am using this. One of the tips alone was so logical--but hadn't occurred to me--that it alone was worth the price of the book. Victoria Lynn Schmidt has a knack for making books that have helpful charts and visual aids. This one surely does. She has put in here all you need to track through a hurried first draft (which is what NaNoWriMo is about, one draft of 50K words in one month). Her tips are perfect for a perfectionist writer in constant "editor mode"--tweaking and adding and tweaking again. Polishing while writing--it slows you down.
What is great is she gives links to resources, and I strongly suggest you take advantage of the yahoogroup, so you can download some charts and an Excel file that members have uploaded. Print them out. Use them.
This author has a very sort of "friendly, insightful coaching" style to her writing. It's both encouraging and wise. It's a voice that makes you believe in your ability to overcome your writing bugaboos and bad habits.
This is a cool book!!!! And I have dozens and dozens of writing references and how-tos. This is one I value for the organizational and block-overcoming aids.
Note: Don't write directly in the book, unless you only have the goal of writing a single novel. :) Instead, copy the charts, or reproduce them in a document, download them from the yahoogroup, or use a notebook. Also, you can do as I'm doing--I printed out the calendar to put up on the wall, printed out the character sheets from the BIAM group, but am using sticky notes to do the exercises in the spiral book. This way, when I'm ready to go to novel #2--and #3, #4, etc.--I can just take out the sticky notes for novel #1 and begin anew, with a clean book. I suppose you can use pencil and erase, but, men. Sounds messy. ; ) Good luck.
Thanks, Ms. Schmidt. I truly believe I WILL finish this novel(s)...at last.
Mir
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Love. This
I. Love. This. Book. I've written 2 novels with its help - and I am NOT someone who likes to outline. It doesn't suit my way of writing, but that's why I like it - it makes me look at my novels in a more organized fashion so that I write BETTER. If I could write with structure naturally I wouldn't have needed this book! No, you don't have to do everything she suggests, but I recommend pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to try some of it. I didn't do everything, but the things I did do were significantly helpful to my writing success. This book solved my writer's block, and yes I did have a completed novel in 30 days both times I used it (please bear in mind this does not include the editing process). Funnily enough, both times I only made it halfway through reading it because that's as far as I needed to read before I had the total encouragement, tools, and inspiration I had been lacking to complete my novel! That's how good this book is! I can only imagine what more I could learn if I read the entire thing! Haha. But now I have two novels published, and I have the author here to thank for it, because she helped me get out of my head, and get things down on paper!!! So, if you're anything like me, give it a shot!! Could be the best thing to come your way.
Top reviews from other countries
Lucy
Great motivation for writers!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2011
Kindle Customer
On your mark, get set--
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2012