I read this on the recommendation of a friend who had also read it and wanted to know how closely my reactions matched hers (or not). I had only the vI read this on the recommendation of a friend who had also read it and wanted to know how closely my reactions matched hers (or not). I had only the vaguest notion of what the Enneagram was, and after taking more than one test (the first one was one of those total jerk moves where they don't tell you they're going to charge you for it until you've already given them twenty minutes of your life) and discovering I am a 3w2, I was intrigued. The Enneagram itself had some good points to make that fit what I know about my personality, so I thought I would give this book a try.
And it was valuable information, to a point. For one thing, I disagree with her point about what Type 3 people fear--she says it's being worthless, I say it's being unimportant, which is a subtle but key difference. And while I learned important things about why I have trouble interacting with readers online, her solution was "be authentic." But my problem is that I am being authentic, but I feel fake, and she had no advice for that. Since this is a book and not a personal therapy session, I don't fault her for that, but that doesn't change how it wasn't as helpful.
I found what Taylor writes about concentric circles of meaning and using the Enneagram to find themes or characters or plots that resonate with you interesting in an abstract way...like, I don't think I'm ever going to figure out my main characters' Enneagram numbers, but that's no different than doing their horoscope or reading tarot for them.
I don't know. The more I think about it, the more my reactions are qualified. I did my best not to say "but that doesn't apply to ME because because because..." but the truth is I have a great understanding of my psyche and mental condition thanks to living with bipolar disorder for more than twenty years, and a lot of this book is about breaking down barriers and learning more about yourself. So, yay! I'm self-actualized, I guess?
Bottom line, I found it worth reading even though I only got value out of some of it. And it did lead to some great discussions with my friend. In fact, I'd say sharing this with your writing group could be extremely valuable, if only to give yourselves a common vocabulary for discussion....more
This slim volume is nevertheless a thorough map of different publishing options, with details on the processes of publishing traditionally and indepenThis slim volume is nevertheless a thorough map of different publishing options, with details on the processes of publishing traditionally and independently. It's a good resource for any writer who's finished a book and is wondering what comes next. With a glossary of terms and a helpful list of links, it covers the basics and gives readers a starting point for deeper research into issues like contract terms and marketing....more
I picked this up as part of the NaNoWriMo 2019 Storybundle. I don't have a problem with productivity, but I'm always interested in how other people maI picked this up as part of the NaNoWriMo 2019 Storybundle. I don't have a problem with productivity, but I'm always interested in how other people manage their writing. This is an excellent guide to maintaining productivity not only in drafting a book, but in managing time in other ways like keeping up an online presence, outsourcing, alternate methods for drafting, collaboration, and so forth. I recommend this to any author who's just starting out as an excellent tool for starting and maintaining good writing habits. It also features an excellent bibliography for further reading. I intend to evaluate my zones of competence as per her recommendation to see where I can streamline my processes....more
I got the 2019 NaNoWriMo Storybundle and this was in it. I read it because despite being a very fast writer, I'm always looking for tips for improvemeI got the 2019 NaNoWriMo Storybundle and this was in it. I read it because despite being a very fast writer, I'm always looking for tips for improvement. Most of the advice this book offers is good, and it suggests not only ways to improve writing speed, but how to stop futzing around with your book and actually complete it. On the other hand, it turns out I'm already doing what he suggests (for the most part) and improving my speed is going to be a matter of learning to type faster and/or dictate. So while I agree with his premise, it wasn't really useful to me, which is why I'm not rating it.
If I were rating it, I'd ding it a star for perpetuating the "the first draft is crap" nonsense. The principle behind this is sound; writing with one eye on how perfect your writing is, or heavily revising as you go, is the way to never finish anything. But suggesting that it's okay to write poorly, to not put your very best into what you're writing, is a different kind of trap. And stating the principle in this way only leads to sloppiness and discouragement, because who wants to read back over what they've written once they're finished and see garbage? I prefer to state this principle as "don't obsess over perfection."
On the whole, however, I think Chris Fox and I have enough writing philosophy in common that I'll probably look for more of his writing craft books....more
I wasn't going to rate this because I have an essay in it, but having finally read the whole thing, I'm impressed enough to do it anyway. I recommend I wasn't going to rate this because I have an essay in it, but having finally read the whole thing, I'm impressed enough to do it anyway. I recommend this to any writer who's just starting out. It showcases a wide array of paths to being published, traditional and indie, internationally bestselling to famous in your genre. However, it's not so much a guide as to how someone looking to publish might achieve that goal as it is a selection of stories, some of which will appeal to certain readers more than others. I was astonished to find one of my co-authors published his first book the same year and month my first book came out--though his path is very different from mine. All in all, it's an interesting collection, and I hope aspiring writers will find value in it.
(My essay has the story of how my third novel, Servant of the Crown, went viral and launched my career. I think it's interesting--maybe others will too.)...more
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