Write Your Best Book
Books are forever. So why not make yours the best? Readers want books they'll love. Books that stay with them long after they've finished. Books that make them want to read more from the same author. No amount of marketing will make readers love a book that's poorly conceived and badly written. If you want your book to get noticed-if you want to find readers-it needs to rise to the top. It needs to be your best book. Whether your form is fiction or nonfiction, whether you publish on your own or through a traditional publisher, your book will benefit from the practical perspectives, strategies, and advice of well-published author and teacher Deb Vanasse. In this practical guide to writing books that rise above the rest, Vanasse includes dozens of "Try This" exercises to demystify the process of turning good books into best books. Beginning with a section that defines the exceptional book, writers learn to focus on the expectations of readers, including transcendence, the high concept premise, and attending to audience and genre. In a section on "Mystery and Mayhem," Vanasse demonstrates how a refined understanding of process leads to best books, and how fresh approaches to character, structure, language, perspective, voice, subtext, and other narrative strategies yield stronger, more vibrant prose. "Some of the best advice available today on the craft of writing." Tanyo Ravicz, author of Ring of Fire "An excellent resource for writers who are serious about their work." Stephanie Cole, author of Compass North
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After reading and reviewing “What Every Author Should Know”, I leapt at the chance to receive an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Deb Vanasse's latest book for writers, “Write Your Best Book.”
Vanasse begins by dissecting the “exceptional book” which includes high concept, transcendence, and how we're all wired for story (or narrative) from infancy to adulthood, as well as how each writer needs to be aware of their audience, their genre, and why we write.
She then covers where ideas come from, rabbit trails and strategic meandering when we daydream, and the seemingly eternal question of whether to outline or not.
With the above foundation, Vanasse has prepared us to cover the ingredients of writing our next book, such as a great beginning, character, conflict, plot and plot pacing, back story and endings. She also discusses the beauty of language, voice, metaphor, dialogue and fine tuning the effect of revision.
Finally, the book examines the habits of effective writers, rituals, scheduling, avoiding time sucks and the importance of always writing.
One of my favorite features of the book is the “Try This” suggestion at the end of each section, helping you put the offered advice into action in your own writing.
Like “What Every Author Should Know”, Vanasse lays out the foundational basics that every writer either needs to know or has experienced. This isn't some “pie in the sky” book that offers platitudes and not much more. This is the nuts and bolts of producing the best book you can.
If you truly want to make your own next book into the best it can be, Deb Vanasse's latest work will give you all the guidance you need to Write Your Best Book.