Susan Shapiro's "The Byline Bible: Get Published in 8 weeks" had a curious effect on me. It made me want to write stories. Fiction, non-fiction, essays, etc. I had no previous aspirations to be a writer, but Shapiro took an intimidating subject and made it palatable to a novice. Her advice is practical and reassuring. It is well-known that writing is much more difficult than it appears from the outside perspective, but this guide makes the whole process approachable, blending insider tips with the knowledge of an experienced teacher.
The book is filled with examples of Shapiro's students' successfully published work. The only flaw that I observed, is that the book is brimming with lists. I counted over 20 lists within the text, not including lists that got their own box pull-outs, which was a little overwhelming in a book with just over 250 pages. Nonetheless, the information is broken down into manageable chunks and it written in a reference-style that will have writers consulting it again and again. I can't imagine a reader finishing this book and not coming away inspired.
The book is filled with examples of Shapiro's students' successfully published work. The only flaw that I observed, is that the book is brimming with lists. I counted over 20 lists within the text, not including lists that got their own box pull-outs, which was a little overwhelming in a book with just over 250 pages. Nonetheless, the information is broken down into manageable chunks and it written in a reference-style that will have writers consulting it again and again. I can't imagine a reader finishing this book and not coming away inspired.