Chapter after Chapter, by Heather Sellers (Writers Digest Books, 2007)

Not just another book about writing. This book has a convenient size, engaging layout, and - most importantly - counseling that scratches new writers where it itches.

Heather Sellers, also the author of Page after Page, takes a fresh approach by advising writers on the relationship between the writing project and daily life. In this book she focusses on how the writer can manage his or her time, and whether the writer should even talk about the story being created.

This is a highly personal view, and thus accesses some of the most private places where a writer forms the story and informs it by daily experiences and observations. This is impiortanbt, for it will help to legitimize what the writer has knows by instinct, but has to wonder about.

In my case, as a writer, I face several problems she addresses well. For example... How to keep writing (or start again) when continuing an old project (in my case, over 30 years). Whether to give up on old ideas. How to make the chapters "weave" together (her term, and a very good one).

For any author willing to attempt a book-length project, I highly recommend this book. It will provide substantive encouragement, and give that gentle tug on the line we all need just to keep that book project on track.

 

- Bruce Cook, Ph.D.

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