You Are A Writer

You Are A Writer by Jeff Goins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Are you teetering on the edge, staring over the precipice? Not sure if you should take the plunge? Who knew that the stringing together of the letters W.R.I.T.E.R. would be such a a difficult label with which to identify?

When people asked what I did I would reply with, "Sign language interpreter," or "blogger" or "stay at home mom." Never did I say what I really was, an alien. No, just kidding. A writer. That's what I am--a writer. Jeff's declaration that the day you become a writer is the day you DECIDE to become a writer is a breath of fresh air.

Every team, including Team Kristina, the Writer needs a cheerleader. Likewise, team Kristina, the Writer, also needs a good motivator (aka, kick in the pants). Jeff has managed to be combine the roles of team of the cheer squad as well as chief and master fire-lighter under the rears of his readers magnificently in his most recent work, You Are A Writer.

Now what?

There's a platform, and branding, and holy cow I have five ideas started and not one near completion. On top of that I don't even tweet, twit, twitter, chirp, whatever they call that! Can you sense the hyperventilation setting in?

Slow down, or as my mom used to say, "Hold your horses!" Take a deep breath and remind yourself that THIS is why you bought the book--because Jeff carefully and concisely touches on all of these subjects and delves deeply into many of them. Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to keep turning the pages.

Five stars. Count 'em. One, two, three, four, five. That's the rating I gave this book for the following reasons. First of all, it was brimming with great content. With informative chapters like, Writers are Born, Not Made, Establishing A Brand, and Before Your First Book, rest assured that the content of this book is invaluable. Well-organized and easy to read are two other descriptors that could be used for this book. As a mom of young kids my reading time is short and oft interrupted. You can very easily put this book down in the middle of a chapter to go clean up the loaf of bread that your kids tore into pieces in the living room (true story) and come back to pick up right where you left off. I have to admit though, that I toyed with the idea of letting the loaf of bread stay right where it was because I did not want to put this book down.

Secondly, this book is worth it just for the advice on branding and building a platform. Not really a writer, but still looking to build a brand? Three words. Buy. The. Book. I'm in the midst of a branding pickle myself, so that chapter was especially enlightening.

Altogether, this book is informative and inspiring. When I finished reading it I wanted to sit down with my computer and write. Forever. I also felt much more prepared to handle the media and marketing side that comes with being a writer.

Buy the book, you won't be disappointed. Ka-chow! (Is it evident we watch way too much Pixar around here?)

Many thanks to Jeff Goins, who provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.  You can read more of Jeff's writing at his blog or find out more about his book here.