Write Now Editing

No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty (book review)

by Leave a Comment

You’ve always wanted to write, but . . . just haven’t gotten around to it. No Plot? No Problem! is the kick in the pants you’ve been waiting for.

Let Chris Baty, founder of the rockin’ literary marathon National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo), guide you through four exciting weeks of hard-core noveling. Baty’s pep talks and essential survival strategies cover the initial momentum and energy of Week One, the critical “plot flashes” of Week Two, the “Can I quit now?” impulses of Week Three, and the champagne and roar of the crowd during Week Four. Whether you’re a first-time novelist who just can’t seem to get pen to paper or a results-oriented writer seeking a creative on-ramp into the world of publishing, this is the adventure for you.

So what are you waiting for? The No Plot? approach worked for the thousands of people who’ve signed up for NaNoWriMo, and it can work for you! Let No Plot? No Problem! help you get fired up and on the right track.

This book was recommended to me by another writer, so I picked it up to see what it’s about. I didn’t know anything about it before hand, so I didn’t realize it’s essentially a guide on how to succeed at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Though the book is geared toward completing NaNoWriMo (writing 50,000 words in thirty days), this book could also be titled “How to Finish Your First Draft,” as the emphasis really is on finishing that first round of your book in all it’s terribly glory.

I know many people who do well plotting and outlining manuscripts for weeks (or months) before writing — this book isn’t for them. It’s for those writers who can’t seem to finish the first draft.

This book won’t tell you how to write well or how to create dynamic characters. The point is to simply FINISH THAT MANUSCRIPT! If that’s your biggest struggle, this is the book for you.

A couple of things worth mentioning:

  1. This really is written for people ACTIVELY writing 50,000 words/month. If you aren’t, then you can skip four chapters near the end (one for each week of a monthly writing spree).
  2. The font is a bit smaller than usual, which isn’t a huge issue, but I did find it hard to read the gray sidebars. Not only was the font smaller, but the thin letters on the gray page were hard to read. I skipped most of those as it wasn’t worth the effort to try to read them (younger people might not have that issue).

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling to finish their first draft. This truly is a book about how to get yourself to write 50,000 words/month, but it’s not going to help you write something coherent. (You’ll have to edit for that.)

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Mental Toughness Handbook by Damon Zahariades (book review)

by Leave a Comment

Do you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances? Are you exhausted and overburdened with stress? Do you feel like giving up whenever you run into difficult situations? Imagine boldly facing any obstacle you experience!

In THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS HANDBOOKS, you’ll discover:

  • how mental toughness differs from gril
  • the top 7 traits mentally tough people adopt to conquer any problem they encounter
  • how mental toughness is closely entwined with emotional mastery
  • 5 daily habits you must embrace to strengthen your mind and harden your resolve
  • why willpower and motivation are unreliable
  • 5 simple tips for controlling your impulses and delaying gratification
  • how Navy SEALS develop mental toughness

THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS HANDBOOK will show you, step by step, how to strengthen your mind, stand firm in the face of adversity, and weather any storm with courage and grace!

The first few chapters of this book felt a bit trendy to me–a lot of popular phrases that don’t always seem to have specific, tangible definitions. I wasn’t sure if it was the book or my brain (this was the last of six books I’d read on mental wellness and the power of thoughts). After refocusing, however, I settled into Zahariades ideas. By the halfway point, I was hooked.

The thing I really enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of exercises and practical application of the concepts he discussed. As a Christian, I can see how his ideas line up with Scripture and where to apply biblical truths (as opposed to positive thoughts or questions). At first I thought this book might be “too much” after all of the other books I’ve read on this topic, but now that I’ve finished it, I can see that it was the perfect ending (combining science, Scripture, and practical exercises to combat negative thoughts).

An excellent addition to my library. I plan on reading this book again.

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Editing Fiction by Morgen Bailey (book review)

by Leave a Comment

How to polish your novels and short stories – a comprehensive guide including a 170+ tips checklist.

In this book we look at:
– the components of your story;
– points of view;
– tenses;
– the power of three: beginnings, middles, ends
– another power of three: characters, settings, plots
– conflict and pacing
– polishing your writing: 170+ tips for making your writing shine;
– the layout of your book;
– and finally (a summary checklist)…

This book is suitable for…
– Writers of any age and experience;
– Writers of novels and short stories (predominantly – it will help scriptwriters and poets too);
– Writers looking to have their writing taken seriously!

I’m not a fan of writing 2-star reviews. I actually avoid it at all costs. Even when I don’t like a book, I’ll usually leave a 3-star review because I realize everyone has different tastes, but there are a few times when I feel compelled to leave a low review as a warning. This is one of those times.

Had Bailey published her list of 170+ things to check for in your manuscript, it would have been a helpful book — not an example of how to successfully edit fiction, but a good list of common mistakes often found in manuscripts (especially for new writers). Even with the typos and punctuation errors, the content isn’t bad. It could be a helpful resource. However, the rest of the book not only won’t help authors edit their books, the advice might actually hurt their chances at getting published or selling books.

I won’t go into all of the details, but here are a few examples of the issues:

  1. LOTS of punctuation and grammar issues, including inconsistent use of commas, several missing parentheses, and extra words in sentences.
  2. Bad information. Her definitions of third person limited and third person omniscient point of view are wrong. She often uses Wikipedia as her source of information; no publisher considers Wikipedia a reliable or accurate source. Finally, Chicago Manual of Style is THE style guide for book publishing; she references a variety of websites but never mentions CMOS.
  3. Incorrect formatting. If you follow her formatting for font, spacing, and citations, publishers won’t read your manuscript.

Those are some of the inaccuracies and mistakes in the book. If it was merely a matter of the book not having enough information to help writers edit their books, I’d give it 3-stars and recommend other supplemental books. However, if you take a lot of her advice — including to do what you want instead of following market and industry standards — you’ll actually hurt your chances of getting an agent or publisher. And if you self-publish, it will look like a self-published book (which turns away a lot of readers).

If you’re serious about publishing books that will sell in today’s market (either traditionally or self-published), don’t spend your money on this book. There are many better resources that will help you hone your craft and capture people’s attention (for the right reasons).

Editing Fiction: Detect and Correct for Success by Kathy Gaudry

by Leave a Comment

Want to edit your first manuscript but you’re not sure how? Here’s the ultimate guide to a simple editing method that will bring the best out of your manuscript!

You’ve finally finished your manuscript! But what’s the next step?

If this has happened to you, don’t worry because you are not alone. Just keep reading!

In every manuscript, there is an author and in every author, there is an editor.

We all know how tricky and tiring editing can be, especially if you’ve just started your writing career. Editors can be a bit pricey and seeing that you’ve just started out, you have to edit it yourself because you have no budget.

Here’s the problem: How do you start your editing? What exactly are the things you have to look out for?

Well, I’ve got the solution for you! Presenting the Editing Fiction: Detect and Correct For Success by Kathy Gaudry. We know how editing fictional books is hard, so in this book, you will learn a simple method of editing your work!

Through this book, you’ll discover:

  • The ABCs of Editing Your Manuscript: Learn the basics of editing grammar for fiction works such as how to use proper apostrophes, punctuations, and more!
  • How To Build A Detailed Stylesheet: Create a simple yet detailed stylesheet that helps you to edit faster and maintain consistency throughout your work.
  • The Elements Affecting Your Work: Delve into the various elements of fiction and understand how these elements relate to your manuscript.
  • How To Deal With Editing Issues: Acquire the skills to deal with editing issues, for instance when your brain stops you from doing an accurate edit.

Kathy understands how editing can be challenging for a starter. This book is meant to ease you through the toughest of concepts and empowers you to confidently edit your own manuscript.

Knowing this was a short book, I didn’t expect a lot of in-depth fiction-editing information, but this book was a little sparse for someone who’s been studying fiction writing for a while.

There’s some good info in here that I would recommend to people thinking about writing who aren’t sure how much work is involved — this will give you a good idea of how many different things you need to know before you write (though it won’t help you identify or fix those areas).

However, despite the emphasis on producing a clean book, there are a few typos and significant formatting errors that make the book awkward to read at times.

My biggest issue with the book is the suggestion to use the Chicago Manual of Style but offering other grammar guides. If writes are seeking traditional publication, CMOS is THE style guide. Relying on any other could result in punctuation/grammar mistakes in a manuscript.

Overall, I’m not sure I’d consider this to help an experienced writer self-edit, but it could definitely help new writers manage their expectations.

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Guide to Fiction Writing by Phyllis A. Whitney (book review)

by Leave a Comment

One of today’s leading novelists gives practical advice on how to write publishable fiction. Planning a novel, characterization, suspense, flashbacks, beginnings, and endings are all covered; a checklist for revision is also included.

Published in 1982, I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but someone recommended it so I thought I’d try it.

This was such a refreshing read. It isn’t a universal writing book (if you do this, then this will happen), but it really is a look at Whitney’s writing process. With 75 published novels from 1941-1997, she obviously had some success, but what I appreciate about her approach is that she simply explains what worked for her (passed away in 2008).

I’ve read quite a few writing books, so I found it fascinating how many things have changed as well as how many have stayed the same. She discusses many things that we have different names for these days, but the basics are the same. I especially appreciated her comments on how many new writers make excuses and fear edits. I hear the same things today, including comments about how it was easier to publish “back in the day,” but Whitney’s book makes it clear that most of the struggles are still the same.

If you’re looking for a new approach to writing books, it’s definitely worth picking up — sometimes we tune out tips because we’ve heard the same phrases over and over again, and her different terms and styles make you pay attention. There are a few things to keep in mind though:

  1. Flashbacks, Transitions, & Time: Some of that chapter will apply for those writing dual/split timeline novels, but flashbacks are a bit out of style in the 2020s.
  2. Getting Your Novel Published: Most of this info is outdated. Ignore her tips on working the process (of submitting and agents–those no longer apply), but heed her encouragement on surviving the process (it’s a marathon, not a sprint).

Rated PG.

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

Connect

Copywriting

Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

Editing

Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

Author Page

Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

Resources

Fiction: Substantive Editing Classes Substantive Editing for Fiction 101 In Substantive Fiction Editing 101, we’ll look at the basics of a well-written novel and learn how to help our … [more]