One of my Writers Group partners loaned me her copy of mystery writer Janet Evanovich’s book How I Write – Secrets of a Bestselling Author. Since Writers Group is in a bit over an hour at Joseph-Beth’s Bronte Bistro – I want to tell you about it, so I can return it to her this evening!!
Janet writes fiction, while I write blogs, a regular column for the Whole Living Journal, books, and, back in my left brained days, used to write columns on neighborhoods for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Post, in their op-ed pages. And Janet’s book is all about fiction writing, character development, minor and major characters and subplots within the larger story. And this book was published by a major publisher in 2006, when the general attitude toward self-publishing was much different – and much more negative – than it is today.
All of that aside – I tell lots of stories in my writing. Stories that have happened to me, or to friend and family, or to clients (with their permission, of course! : > ). And my writing attitude is often like Janet’s – breezy, occasionally outrageous, always clear and direct, making challenges feel possible and do-able. And she loves language that is strong, vivid, visual.
So I had an excellent time reading this book. Her mysteries and previously romances are funny and good, and so is this little gem!