It is a truth universally acknowledged that a new writer in possession of a book idea must be in want of answers about how to get published, to paraphrase Jane Austen. And the truth is, even Jane was no stranger to rejection. A publisher not-very graciously turned down her first manuscript, despite the offer to publish “at the Author’s expense.” Her next novel sold and never published at all. She was 36 when she saw her first book in print, and she’d been writing since her teens.
Writing isn’t easy. There aren’t any shortcuts. There’s no right way to write a novel.
But there are wrong ways, not to mention mistakes that we all make as we’re starting out. I can’t speak for Jane, but I can tell you that I just read a craft book that would have saved me quite a bit of time had I had it in my hands when I first got serious about writing.
Beth Revis is the New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series. She’s also one of the smartest, savviest marketers I know, so when she wrote a book of writing advice, I looked forward to reading it about the way I look forward to a good creme brûlée. Which is to say, a lot. I know Beth wasn’t going to tell people the only way to write a book, because she’ll be the first person to tell you that the way to write a book is your way. I also knew that she would be brutally honest, and I knew that in addition to a trilogy with a major publisher that debuted on the New York Times list, she has indie-dubbed, and also written something in the vicinity of ten books she didn’t sell. She knows of which she speaks.
PAPER HEARTS: SOME WRITING ADVICE is a fantastic resource, whether you’re a new writer starting out, a writer who’s struggling to finally breath through, or a published author continuing to focus on craft and doing things in a smarter way.
My second book came out last week with a major publisher, and I’ve been blogging about writing for years. I learned a LOT from reading Beth’s book.
- Additional ways to get inspired and keep my confidence
- New plotting techniques
- That we all need validation and that it’s not selfish to want to write
- A lesson or two about professional jealousy and comparison
- How to define high concept and how to put it in perspective
- The difference between telling, showing, and good showing
- Making stronger, more likable characters
- Never trust absolutes
- There’s more than one way to get published
And the best part? I enjoyed reading PAPER HEARTS. It’s written in a clear, easy, no-nonsense style that makes you feel like you’re sitting down with a friend to talk writing over coffee.
You want this book. Trust me on this.
PAPER HEARTS: SOME WRITING ADVICE
by Beth Revis
Bird by Bird meets Save the Cat in this new writing advice book by NY Times bestselling author Beth Revis. With more than 100000 reads on Wattpad for the previous edition, this newly expanded and rewritten edition features 350 pages of content, including charts and a detailed appendix. ~~~ Your enemy is the blank page. When it comes to writing, there’s no wrong way to get words on paper. But it’s not always easy to make the ink flow. Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice won’t make writing any simpler, but it may help spark your imagination and get your hands back on the keyboard. Practical Advice Meets Real Experience With information that takes you from common mistakes in grammar to detailed charts on story structure, Paper Hearts describes: -How to Develop Character, Plot, & World -What Common Advice You Should Ignore -What Advice Actually Helps -How to Develop a Novel -The Basics of Grammar, Style, & Tone -Four Practical Methods of Charting Story Structure -How to Get Critiques and Revise Your Novel -How to Deal with Failure …And much more! BONUS! More than 25 “What to do if…” scenarios to help writers navigate problems in writing from a NY Times Bestselling author who’s written more than 2 million words of fiction.
