Scan barcode
painkiller's review against another edition
2.0
Some good, but boilerplate, advice in otherwise crappy, arrogant book.
grumpachu's review against another edition
3.0
While there is some useful info in this book, there is a lot of padding and nonsense "brain science" that could have been cut and the book better served with more examples of the process from various genres. The example story developed throughout was rather tedious and I ended up skimming over a lot of it, rather than finding it helpful. I found the author to be quite patronising at times as well.
There's definitely parts of this I will use - the first half on developing characters was incredibly useful, but I found the second half on developing the rest of the plot (although the author seems to think plot is irrelevant) was a bit all over the place.
There's definitely parts of this I will use - the first half on developing characters was incredibly useful, but I found the second half on developing the rest of the plot (although the author seems to think plot is irrelevant) was a bit all over the place.
junekay's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
mj_james_writes's review against another edition
Where to begin…as someone who studied neuropsychology the “brain science” is a very bad joke. Most of it isn’t even referenced.
The book is actually about character building, which could have been good. What is not good was the tone of the author and how she put down every other way of writing a story. She puts down plot in a book - like what? Also, she knocks science fiction several times as well.
The preferred audience is white, straight people. She uses he or she and never gender neutral terminology. Heterosexuality and sexual attraction was assumed, but where I finally called it quits was when she used the f word to talk about a gay fundamentalist Christian that pretended to be straight so God would love him.
I mean I should have known when she said 50 Shades of Grey had great characterization. I tried to keep reading because I waisted money on this book. I actually picked it up from the bookstore because I thought it would sit proudly on my writing bookshelf. I finally realized that even if there was some nuggets of wisdom to get from this book they should have shown up in the first 80 pages, and instead all I got was bad science, self importance, and homophobia.
The book is actually about character building, which could have been good. What is not good was the tone of the author and how she put down every other way of writing a story. She puts down plot in a book - like what? Also, she knocks science fiction several times as well.
The preferred audience is white, straight people. She uses he or she and never gender neutral terminology. Heterosexuality and sexual attraction was assumed, but where I finally called it quits was when she used the f word to talk about a gay fundamentalist Christian that pretended to be straight so God would love him.
I mean I should have known when she said 50 Shades of Grey had great characterization. I tried to keep reading because I waisted money on this book. I actually picked it up from the bookstore because I thought it would sit proudly on my writing bookshelf. I finally realized that even if there was some nuggets of wisdom to get from this book they should have shown up in the first 80 pages, and instead all I got was bad science, self importance, and homophobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
tmlore's review against another edition
5.0
If you want to write, read this first!
Writing is a task in and of itself. Knowledge is the only thing that can make writing better. If you read this novel-no matter where you are in the process-it will absolutely help make your novel better than you can imagine!
Writing is a task in and of itself. Knowledge is the only thing that can make writing better. If you read this novel-no matter where you are in the process-it will absolutely help make your novel better than you can imagine!
mjenson17's review against another edition
4.0
There's a lot of useful information in here. It felt a bit long winded but some of the biggest pieces I gathered was to develop backstories for every one of your characters and continue to ask why? everytime you add scenes. I'll probably use this as a reference guide here and there if I get stuck in a scene or area of my novel.
dsteenbergen's review against another edition
The first chapters are great, but as things progress you realize just how dogmatic this is. I hate to be harsh, but the story she uses to champion her method is horrendously contrived.
lottie1803's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0