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    You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams
    Unavailable
    You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams
    Unavailable
    You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams
    Ebook354 pages3 hours

    You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams

    By Elizabeth Sims

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Writing a book is fun and easy--yes, FUN AND EASY--but it may not always feel that way. How do you find the time to write? How do you keep momentum? How do you deal with the horror of showing anyone a single sentence of your work-in-progress? The answers remain fun and easy, and author Elizabeth Sims will take your hand, dispel your worries, and show you how it's done in this stress-free guide to accomplishing your dream of writing your book.

    In You've Got a Book in You, Elizabeth is that encouraging voice guiding you through the entire process, from finding the right time and place to gathering all of your creative tools to diving right in and getting it done--page by page, step by step. It's easier than you think, and it all starts right here, right now.

    "This guide is witty, warm, and wise--and wonderfully down-to-earth as well. Elizabeth Sims doesn't just tell you that you've got a book in you, she shows you how to pour it out using your own creative spirit, common sense, and persistence." ~Lori L. Lake, author of The Gun Series and The Public Eye Mystery Series

    "If you're searching for the spark of inspiration to get started writing a book, and the nourishment to sustain you to THE END, Elizabeth Sims's You've Got a Book in You will show you how to find it in yourself." ~Hallie Ephron, award-winning author of There Was an Old Woman

    "You won't find an easier-to-follow or more inspirational writing guide." ~L.J. Sellers, author of the bestselling Jackson mysteries

    "By focusing the high beams of her intelligence (and humor!) on the twisty trail of book-writing, in You've Got a Book in You, Elizabeth Sims proves herself a true writer's friend. As she guides you from the creation of a "working title" through her (brilliant!) "Making-It-Better Process," this well-established pro plays her most impressive cards--stacking the deck in favor of YOU!" ~Jamie Morris, Director, Woodstream Writers

    "Elizabeth Sims packs a twelve-week writing course into 280 pages. Inspirational and yet extremely hands-on, You've Got a Book In You will give newbies confidence to forge ahead and will remind veteran writers why they began writing in the first place--for the joy of it. I won't be surprised when the brilliant terms 'stormwriting' and 'heartbrain' become part of every writer's lexicon." ~Julie Compton, author of Tell No Lies and Keep No Secrets

    "The book is encouraging and inspiring, practical and witty. As a seasoned writer, I appreciate the reminders about the importance of putting yourself on a writing schedule. No more excuses. The many 'writing blasts' are very helpful and will get any writer out of the starting blocks. I especially enjoyed the section, 'Writing with the Masters.' What better way to get inspired, get a feel for different styles, and get jump-started on your writing? Excellent advice that I plan to incorporate in my future classes.

    I concur with Sims that 'writer's block' is greatly exaggerated. Is there any other profession that claims such a phenomenon? 'Excuse, me, but I have 'book-keeping block,' 'playing music block,' or 'painting block' today? I don't think so. Get yourself on a schedule, read some Sims, write with the masters, and you'll be on your way. You'll be glad you met this friend on your journey to becoming a successful writer." ~Gesa Kirsch, Ph.D., Professor of English, Director of Valente Center for the Arts and Sciences, Bentley University

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWriter's Digest Books
    Release dateApr 15, 2013
    ISBN9781599635569

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    Reviews for You've Got a Book in You

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    • 5/5
      I'm reserving a permanent place on my desk for this book, right next to my favorite coffee mug and a stack of my favorite notebooks.
    • 4/5
      Rating: 4 of 5A fun, informed pep talk sure to inspire all writers - of fiction and non-fiction - especially those feeling stressed and discouraged.You've Got a Book in You hooked me at chapter one, "Writing a book is easy and fun."Right?!?!I knew immediately this was NOT the typical writing guide filled with rules and shoulds and other stress-inducing, creativity-killing tips. Nope, here was validation, by a bona fide author, of what my heart knows but my head needs constant reminding.Sims wrote in a friendly, conversational style with humor and honesty. At NO point did I think she wrote this book as an ego boost, to puff herself up as an expert in all things writerly. Instead, she came across as someone motivated by a genuine desire for every writer to write. I dig that.Stormwriting and Writing With the Masters opened me up to SO much, I may write Sims a personal "Thank You" note. For whatever reason, her methods truly resonated with me and where my head was stuck the past 18 months.Highly recommended to beginners, but even more highly recommended to writers who feel stuck or those who forget how freakin' FUN and exciting it is to write.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars - good read with useful advice and tips. Not too academic, very conversational which I liked.
    • 3/5
      HelpfulA number of helpful tips are provided in this book, such as encouragement to worry less on a rough draft, to “simply persist,” to focus on getting the thoughts down and refining them later.The laid-back “Route 66 placemat” approach to planning helps to make the process feel less daunting. The author’s comparison of writing to improv acting is helpful in conveying her advice on achieving “flow” in writing.“Finding a garret,” tightening copy, and working through “Writer’s Block” are other useful topics addressed.DisappointingWhile the author uses a great many good words and phrases in this book, I am disappointed that she chose to stoop to the use of profanity in some portions. As she is a member of American Mensa, I have no doubt that she has a sufficient vocabulary to convey her points in a better manner.Her recommendation of using Wikipedia is too cavalier. There is a general consensus that this is not a reliable source.Made-up words can be fun; however, they can also be irritating, at least to some of us. “Stormwriting” is one thing; however, I cannot condone “heartbrain.” The author’s numerous references to it annoy and distract me.While I appreciate the importance of providing examples, I see no need to ruin the ending to the referenced story in doing so, such as the author does with “The Great Gatsby.”Other Helpful TopicsThe author provides helpful details as to how a writer can utilize the concept of “show, don’t tell,” such as with methods of portraying emotion through dialogue and using dialogue markers.In ConclusionThe tone throughout is optimistic and motivational. I have been able to take away some concepts that I will be able to use to create a smoother process in my writing.