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Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t: Why That Is And What You Can Do About It by [Pressfield, Steven]

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t: Why That Is And What You Can Do About It Kindle Edition

by Steven Pressfield (Author), Shawn Coyne (Editor)

71 customer reviews

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There's a mantra that real writers know but wannabe writers don’t. And the secret phrase is this:

NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T.

Recognizing this painful truth is the first step in the writer's transformation from amateur to professional.

From Chapter Four:

“When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, you develop empathy. You acquire the skill that is indispensable to all artists and entrepreneurs—the ability to switch back and forth in your imagination from your own point of view as writer/painter/seller to the point of view of your reader/gallery-goer/customer. You learn to ask yourself with every sentence and every phrase: Is this interesting? Is it fun or challenging or inventive? Am I giving the reader enough? Is she bored? Is she following where I want to lead her?"

Length: 191 pages

Word Wise: Enabled

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Product details

File Size: 1446 KB
Print Length: 191 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Black Irish Entertainment LLC (June 11, 2016)
Publication Date: June 11, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01GZ1TJBI
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,252 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #78 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship
- #106 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Self-Help > Creativity
- #119 in Books > Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship

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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

5 star		82%
4 star		8%
3 star		6%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Top Customer Reviews

Great for new writers and veterans

Bygreatlakesguyon January 7, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Great book and an excellent follow-up to Mr. Pressfield's The War of Art. These are not how-to books for aspiring writers; those are a dime-a-dozen on Amazon. What Pressfield does in Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh"t is take what you already know to the next level. He shows you what gives your work texture, and what separates it from the others who are grinding away with the proverbial inciting incident, 3-act structure, and hero's journey stuff. For example, on p. 34 of the paperback, he gives a 2-page summation of how series creator Vince Gilligan told us what Breaking Bad was about in a small speech main character Walter White gives to class. (It's about transformation, if you need to know.)

I should note here that the book is for anyone dabbling in novels, screenplays, and even non-fiction. His thoughts on theme and just what your story is about are especially helpful, especially in this day of "structure is everything" where these issues are given short shrift. It is helpful that he illustrates how he came across these revelations for himself over the course of a career that spans advertising, novels, and screenplays (including a brief anecdote about an important lesson learned while rewriting a porn flick)

While The War of Art was a motivational treatise on what separates the pros from the wannabes in terms of attitude and personal approach, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh"t is more about what separates the pros from the wannabes when it comes to the rules of writing we already know. I guarantee you'll find something -- maybe not a lot, but something -- important that will justify the cost.

By the way, Pressfield gives due credit to his buddy Shawn Coyne (The Story Grid). Mr. Coyne's work is highly recommended as well.

I say this as one who has made a career of writing, including stints as a newspaper reporter, PR guy, and freelancer. I also have a produced play and a non-fiction book to my credit, and am now working on a novel. It isn't much, but it's a living (barely at times). I'm not Stephen King, but at least I can say I'm a veteran published writer. So take my word for what it's worth when I say that after 35 years on the job, I'm still learning, and Mr. Pressfield is helping.

0Comment 11 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

I approach this material from what many may consider an ...

ByCurt Simmonson September 21, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I approach this material from what many may consider an unusual angle. I’m sure that authors who have achieved significant success will likely not find much new in Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t. It is not an all-inclusive and defining work and I don’t think it’s intended to be. But those struggling to be published, or follow up that first successful novel, and especially self-publishers will find gold nuggets and inspiration in Steven Pressfield’s work.

I am not an author, but I narrate audiobooks. So my job is to translate the written word into the spoken word and tell a story that is hopefully enthralling to the listener. That means more than simply reading sentences and paragraphs into a microphone. Not that the writing process is entirely alien to me, but I found this book very helpful in my work as I endeavor to faithfully interpret what is written for the eye into a pleasing and entertaining experience for the ear. In fact, before accepting an offer to narrate, my first question for any unfamiliar author whose book I’ve not yet read will be, “What’s the concept of your novel and what is the theme.” Moving forward depends upon the answer.

Thank you, Steven for your entertaining and enlightening story about how to write. I do hear your voice.

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Warning: This book might change your creative life forever! It just gets better and better and better

ByStephanie Romanoon October 17, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you are a writer, you need this book. Mr. Pressfield has a great sense of humor and a very stern message. No one wants to read your stuff. He's very direct and to the point. So, how do you overcome that fact and keep writing with hope? He spells it out for you. He's gathered up the best and employable devices to help us all understand the framework and structure needed to turn the title of the book into a question of ...why wouldn't anyone want to read this book. When someone takes the lessons they've spent life cycles learning, and makes a book that's easy to read, easy to understand and makes you laugh, you have a true mentor. Thanks to this book and the War of Art...I'm ready to take off my training wheels. I may fumble a little...but I'm so excited to grab my own project and give it the life it deserves.

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and I'm already seeing that sticking with it and slogging through SFD's and the like is just part of the deal

ByR. Morellon October 4, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Much needed clarity from the man who wrote THE WAR OF ART. I have found Mr. Pressfield's bracing words amazingly helpful, and somehow he manages to keep helping me to stay in the game. I feel so often a sense of failure in my craft, but that's just paying the dues, and I'm already seeing that sticking with it and slogging through SFD's and the like is just part of the deal. I have to remember that I get to do this, and Mr. Pressfield is right there himself doing the deal and sharing his insights on the process that has helped him get to where he is today. I can't thank him enough!

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Luminous!

ByAnna J.on January 8, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I couldn't put this book down. The author does a fantastic job of explaining what makes stories engaging and satisfying for readers, from 30-second ad spots to epic novels, and uses the principles he describes to tell his own story. I have recommended it to everyone I know who writes. It's a highly satisfying read: going through it, all kinds of lights come on as to why certain stories really speak to you, and why others don't, or fall flat. I also highly recommend Verlyn Klinkenborg's "Several Short Sentences About Writing," which focuses more on style and process (and is another short read that puts its own principles to work). These two together have made writing a profoundly fun and exciting process for me.

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Writers! Looking for clear, straightforward, inspiring advice? Read this!!!

ByCybele_now-Lon July 25, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Simply the best and most straightforward guide imaginable - for writers in all genres and types. Steven Pressfield generously shares his experiences in writing advertisements, movie scripts, fiction and non-fiction, identifying the underlying principles and structure of every - every - successful work. If you've read other guides - by Stephen King, or E M Forster, or Eudora Welty, or - well, whoever - you'll have encountered some/much of this material before...but rarely expressed in such concise and actionable form.
Read it and write!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Learned nothing that was an aha concept.

Great title. Actually, I would say the title is the highlight of the book. Wanted more moments like the attention grabbing title.Read more

Published 12 days ago by J. Farley

Best advertising advice ever

Most copywriting books talk about the basics such as bullets and market research and headlines but this is the first one to talk about the core of any message ever: how do you...Read more

Published 17 days ago by Ashley

Fabulous book for aspiring writers.

Steven remains one of my favourite writers. I love his work.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Peter Fritz - Blaze Your Own

Five Stars

Loved it. Things they don't teach you in school about writing.Read more

Published 2 months ago by Tim Wood

Excellent Writing Tips

This was a great book about writing for writers. The author was so honest about the trials he went through to become a paid writer.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Kassandra

Loved every page

Another insightful and practical work by Pressfield Read more

Published 3 months ago by S. Downs

The best book on writing I've ever read

The best book on writing I've ever read. It changed everything for me. I'd also recommend his other books. Do the Work, Going Pro.Read more

Published 3 months ago by JOS BKLYN

Spot on

I love Pressfield's narrative style. So captivating, so easy to absorb, so spot on, so powerful, so no BS. The book proves itself.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Martin Holecko

Great book that not only gives practical advice on writing ...

Great book that not only gives practical advice on writing a book people will want to read, but on overcoming the inner demons that stop you.Read more

Published 4 months ago by Naomi K

Interview your interself

First book I read that asks inner questions I have not thought of to be creative. I didn't read this to be an artist, I read this for business and now I have revelations.Read more

Published 4 months ago by William C.

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