We are sweltering here in thirty degree days, with the grass crackling underfoot. The children have packed up their sparkly new stationary and returned to school for the new year, so I finally have some time to read through my pile of books.
Author: Dan Janal
Pages: 197
Genre: Non-fiction, Writing
My Rating: 4.5 / 5
The Blurb
Write Your Book in a Flash shows business executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders how to get focused fast, so you can write your book without tearing your hair out. Most people dream of writing a book, but they get stopped in their tracks because of a fatal flaw. Without a clear system for writing a book, nothing gets finished. The secret to completing a book quickly is to have a system. Unlike books that show you why you should write a book, this book actually shows you how to write a book!
The Verdict
If I was an online entrepreneur, this book would be the thing for me. It is really geared towards people who have a business and want to write a non-fiction book. That said, there are plenty of gems for all writers inside. It makes writing a book seem easy, by taking you through a step-by-step guide to the structure, planning and marketing aspects of publishing.
Janal is an internet publicity and marketing expert and has written more than a dozen books to help businesses build their brands. He takes the reader through all the considerations a new writer doesn’t know they need to know. He is like a sort of older sibling, with lots of useful tips and advice about titles, beta readers and even overcoming limiting beliefs, like imposter syndrome. I used the examples to come up with a synopsis and think about a title.
Everyone – and I do mean everyone – needs an editor. You couldn’t possibly find every typo and error. You don’t know every nit-picking grammar rule or the Chicago Manual of Style.
Dan Janal, Write Your Book in a Flash
The book is probably the most clearly laid out guide to writing a book that I have seen, with lots of quotes and examples from the author’s own work. I would have liked a few more examples from other literature. Of particular interest to me was the section about managing beta readers. Reading this book is a sort of kick in the pants. If I was whining about being stuck, I’m sure this book would sit me down with a cup of coffee and give me a straight answer about what to do next. It is definitely a book I will come back to in the future for reference.
Thankyou to the publishers for providing me with a free copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.
You might like:
Amen to that quote, anyway. Everyone needs an editor–even editors.