An uplifting collection of bite-size strategies for enjoying and succeeding at the writing process. Meyer’s personality and genuine love for writing shines through each of the short 70+ chapters, each of which shares a tip for different stages of the writing/publishing journey. Most offer practical steps to take, whether following curiosity to encourage creativity, addressing obstacles like writer’s block, or querying agents for traditional publication. Recommended particularly for aspiring writers early in the process who could use encouragement or practical ideas to enjoy the writing journey even when things get hard.
Review: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
A useful analysis of what works in stories with practical examples of how to apply principles to a book-in-progress. Inspired by the book Save the Cat! for screenwriting, Brody breaks down the elements of a satisfying story and adapts them specifically for books. The first part explains these in “beats” like the Theme Stated or All Is Lost moments, helpfully explaining how these can apply to a variety of stories. The bulk of the book is devoted to 10 story genres (different from marketing genres) like Dude With A Problem or Golden Fleece. These chapters share other elements unique to each genre while also charting a specific novel’s story to the beats as an example of how they work in practice. Brody does a good job of focusing on recognizable principles for this method rather than prescribing specific plot lines (unless she’s analyzing a specific book). Recommended for writers who feel stuck working through the arc of their story and want a dose of inspiration for troubleshooting it.