Really enjoyed this book. I'm currently in the process of writing my first book and I learned plenty of information to help better myself as a writer from this book.
She talks through so much information that works for her and gives links to various writing tools that could help. If you're new to writing, like myself and need help, I highly recommend this book.
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See full series- Kindle Price:$29.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
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I liked this book.
Joanna Penn always organized her book content, so it is easily read and understood. Thanks!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2023Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I wrote and self-published one novel but I'm working on more and I want to become a better storyteller. I wish to be more knowledgeable of the craft than I was originally, and produce stellar works.
Wealth of information! You can gain a lot from this.
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2023
There's a wealth of information to gain from this excellent book explaining different aspects of the writing craft. There's even great questions asked that you can ponder over and resources to check out. The author has a wonderful organizational style in which she communicates with her audience, she's encouraging without making excuses, and pleasant but doesn't sugarcoat anything. She calls you to task!
That's why it pains me to give this four stars. The subtraction of one star is because in the printing or formatting, somewhere along the way several pages of text are distractingly ruined. I've provided a few examples. I can still comprehend the text but it happens so often throughout it's disappointing. Love the cover!
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Joanna Penn always organized her book content, so it is easily read and understood. Thanks!
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2022Format: Paperback
"There are as many different ways of writing a book as there are writers, but we all end up with a finished book regardless of how we get there. You have to find the process that works for you."
Finally! A "How To" Book for The Rest of Us!
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2022
What a breath of fresh air Joanna Penn is! The books I've read on writing have all stressed structure, plotting, and outlining--all of which stressed me out and made me wonder what was wrong with me and why wasn't I more disciplined. She doesn't dismiss non-outliners as "pantsers." Instead of appealing to those who naturally have an outline, she reframes this kind of writing as "discovery writing." When I'm writing fiction, I often think, "Oooooh, what's going to happen next?!" Because I don't know. "Creativity is not linear," she says. Exactly. She cites other writers (Stephen King, Lee Child, Nora Roberts, to name a few) who are Discovery Writers and she shares their processes.
Joanna gives permission NOT to know the ending, not to know all the characters or events. You don't have to write in order of beginning, middle, and end. "You need to know enough to finish this novel, but you don't need to know everything before you write it." You don't have to have everything perfect before you begin.
The book is divided into 5 parts:
1. Mindset and writing.
2. How to do research, create ideas, and find what kind of writer you are (Outliner or Discovery Writer).
3. The nuts and bolts of a novel: story structure, characters, etc.
4. First draft and writing tools.
5. Editing.
Throughout the book at the end of each chapter is a resource guide of books, websites, etc. for further exploration. In addition, she has a list of questions (GREAT for journaling!) that help you take a deeper dive into your writing and your process.
When I read "That's not how my creative brain works," it made me realize that I had been carrying some subconscious baggage from my old English teachers about the "right" way to write. It's refreshing to read from an actual author that Discovery Writing is a proper, legitimate method AND used by many authors. THANK YOU, Joanna!
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Top reviews from other countries
- Avid readerReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2025
Informative and fun to read too
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - allthetruthReviewed in Australia on July 9, 2023
Helpful and Practical
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
