Write Smart, Write Happy

Stop procrastinating! The no nonsense tone of this book inspired me to work on organizing my writing goals for this year. There are examples of goal lists, inspiration to organize your writing life, and personal tips from the author on how they created up their writing career.

Overall, it is a quick read which could help someone in a writing slump get hack on course. A few of the passages seemed a little strange, like the remark about how Nora Roberts does fine without social media. The book is worth picking up if you need a little nudge to get you writing.


Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

As an aspiring author, I was thrilled to be approved for this book. The book wasn't at all what I was expecting. It was so much better. This isn't a grammar guide or a how-to-get-published formula. It isn't a book for new writers who haven't been in the game for a while. This is the perfect book for someone like me, who has been studying the craft, submitting, and working toward publication for a while. Even more so, it is the perfect book for a multi-published veteran author.
Back when I was starting my family, there was a series of books called "The Girlfriend's Guides." I remember reading "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy." It was a straight-forward, no nonsense, frank description of pregnancy and the aftermath. It skipped the glowing parts and went directly to what you really needed to be prepared for.
Write Smart, Write Happy reads like a Girlfriend's Guide to Being an Author. Cheryl St. John sums this up in a simple statement. "I've been called painfully honest in the past because my thinking is why not tell it like it is so others don't think they're the only ones with these feelings?"
Yes! Preach!
The first part of the book is a deep study in goal setting and deciding how bad you do you want it?
Every chapter has examples from other authors and practical activities for exploring and reflecting on how you process the information. These real-life applicable strategies continue through discussions of struggling with rejection, negativity, jealousy, confidence, time management, priorities, burn-out, and several other topics that authors will recognize from each step of their journey.
What resonated the most with me is there is no magic pill and whatever works for you is right as long as it is truly working for you.
I prefer to have craft books in print so I can make notes, add stickies, and underline passages that speak to me. As soon as this is available, I will order it in print so I can transfer the over fifty notes I made in the Kindle file.
I will absolutely be recommending this book to several of my author friends.
The only thing that kept it from being a five-star read for me was the second part, which I still found informative and helpful, became slightly repetitive.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cheryl St. John, F+W Media and Writer's Digest Books for allowing me to read and review Write Smart, Write Happy.

Writers: BUY THIS BOOK. It is a fantastic resource!

This book will motivate you. It will make you realize that you procrastinate and make excuses for not writing - and it will give you ideas to help overcome those behaviours. It will teach you to believe in yourself, get over yourself, and push yourself. It's full of tips from published writers. You'll learn about publishing, editing, social media, and networking. You'll screenshot or bookmark or highlight as you read because it's full of quotes and lists and resources. There's even a list of fantastic music to play while you write!

Fabulous. 5/5!

This is an excellent book with so many tips to help you write a book. The author uses so many great organizational ideas to help you achive your best writing skills. Highly recommend this book if you need ideas on how to write the perfect book.