52 books in 52 weeks: Start Writing Your Book Today

I set myself the goal of reading and reviewing 52 writing guides over the year. Here is book 21.

Start Writing Your book Today by Morgan Gist MacDonald is one of the reasons I refuse to stop reading books about writing. If I did that, I wouldn’t be trying out two new things this coming week – one of which comes out of this book on writing!

I really enjoyed the no-nonsense approach of this book and the good advice within.

Morgan Gist MacDonald is a writing coach, and her book is written as though she’s the writing coach in your room. I’m not a huge fan of self-help books usually, but I did enjoy this one. I enjoyed the motivation. I did feel as though she were cheering me along, and that made me smile.

The author covers such topics as preventing self-sabotaging – and she keeps on telling you to return to this chapter until you know it by rote – good writing habits, writing the first draft and dealing with criticism. And she dispels a load of writing myths in one fell swoop – well, in chapter one at least.

There are no writing exercises in this book, but there are steps and processes the reader can follow. Follow the advice as you read it and do it while you read, if you prefer. The author advocates the Pomodoro Tomato technique, one I already follow myself, as well as free writing.

This author feels very strongly about finding an accountability partner, and she tells the difference between alpha and beta readers.

Start Writing Your book Today by Morgan Gist MacDonald is available in paperback for £3.99 ($4.99) and on Kindle for £1.99 ($2.59). It’s also available as an audio book.