Review: Informative, But Messy
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 20, 2013
Don't get me wrong. This author is trying to help. He even presents a lot of good information. It's obvious that he knows how to write. However, I found this manual to be confusing and dry. I got the impression that this information was presented as an oral report or workshop and then put into a print form. Perhaps I needed the companion workbook. The continual re-reading of re-writing followed by "see what I mean?" occasionally left me not seeing what was meant. Just being honest.I also didn't agree with him about a few things. Some of his description adding to flavor and setting is what actually will turn me off from a book. Walking into a saloon after dismounting a horse already lets me know what the character is wearing. Too much description gives me a trying to hard to impress view of an author.  However, I'll concede that possibly that attention to detail (which often also adds to word count!) is what sells and that was a major point of the book. Do "this" and someone will buy your book.Once I got past the "back in college" aspect of his instruction (I learned early that you write something, find out what the professor likes and dislikes and adjust for future writings... do what they want, not what you want), I have to admit that he isn't that far off, just obsessed with some of the points he's making. So, I gave it a 3 star rating, because it took me a week to muddle through this relative short manual (some editing and organizing would do it service). The information is there and even following 2/3 of his suggestions probably would help someone who can write sell their story.