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Thanks, But This Isn't for Us: The Compassionate Guide to Understanding What's Wrong with Your Writing and Leaving the Rejection Pile for Good
A fun, practical guide that reveals the essentials of good fiction and memoir writing by exposing the most common mistakes literary writers make.
All great works of fiction and memoir are unique-but most bad novels, stories, and memoirs have a lot in common. From clunky dialogue to poorly sketchedout characters, sagging pacing to exaggerated prose, these beginners' mistakes...more
All great works of fiction and memoir are unique-but most bad novels, stories, and memoirs have a lot in common. From clunky dialogue to poorly sketchedout characters, sagging pacing to exaggerated prose, these beginners' mistakes...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
August 20th 2009
by Jeremy P. Tarcher
(first published 2009)
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Jessica Page Morrell's book, Thanks, But This Isn't For Us: A (Sort of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Writing Is Rejected, had me interested as soon as I saw the title. Tough love writing advice? Sign me up.
The overall tone is part compassionate, bigger part rant. Morell is primarily an editor by trade and I can envision her sitting at her computer, typing emphatically and with a frown, occassionally pausing to mutter, "Ugh, I hate it when they do that."
Scattered throughout are comments you ju...more
The overall tone is part compassionate, bigger part rant. Morell is primarily an editor by trade and I can envision her sitting at her computer, typing emphatically and with a frown, occassionally pausing to mutter, "Ugh, I hate it when they do that."
Scattered throughout are comments you ju...more
I've been enjoying this more than most writing help books, as the author, an editor, has a snarky sense of humor. Also she gives a LOT of specific examples of stupid stuff that writers do.
I've noticed, though, that I tend to have one of two reactions to her examples.
1. "Haha, writers who do that are such dorks."
2. "I do that and it's completely justified in my case. This editor is a dork."
Maybe I should take this as a hint to re-think the "deal-breakers" in my novel, which maybe aren't as justif...more
I've noticed, though, that I tend to have one of two reactions to her examples.
1. "Haha, writers who do that are such dorks."
2. "I do that and it's completely justified in my case. This editor is a dork."
Maybe I should take this as a hint to re-think the "deal-breakers" in my novel, which maybe aren't as justif...more
I love this book. I am a craft book junkie of sorts, so you know, take my review for what it's worth (I also give nothing lower than a 3 star rating to any books that make their way to my Goodreads list--I don't finish the ones I don't think warrant at least 3 stars). But Morrell writes like a great teacher, critical and hard-edged but with a soft and gooey center that show us she really cares about her clients and all of us reading her book with writing aspirations. Anyway, this is a craft book...more
I'll let you in on a dirty secret unknown to me when I began this book: Morrell is going to tell you how to shape and sharpen a product, not a story. The aim here isn't truly better storytelling, but stuffing your creation into a narrow vacuum seal tube that will zoom straight into a willing publisher's printing queue.
Okay, now that you know what it is all about, let's talk about what this is all about. I do not normally read writing books, but this got a good review in Library Journal and I've...more
Okay, now that you know what it is all about, let's talk about what this is all about. I do not normally read writing books, but this got a good review in Library Journal and I've...more
I don't usually love 'how to' books on writing (or, indeed, anything). But this was an absolute treasure. I loved the author's voice - smart, dryly funny, and no bullshit. And her tips really seemed to make sense. Both practical and enjoyable to read.
I picked up this book when researching an editing course, but it ended up being teaching material of another sort - it really helped me in the process of revising (and plotting) my first book.
I am a member of a cracking writers' group, with two ver...more
I picked up this book when researching an editing course, but it ended up being teaching material of another sort - it really helped me in the process of revising (and plotting) my first book.
I am a member of a cracking writers' group, with two ver...more
I wouldn't call myself a writer, but as a reader I love these kinds of books because they help me fine tune my sense about whether or not a story is working for me and why. This book made me feel like I was enjoying a lively dinner conversation with a skilled professional. It's funny how often I hear people say that they wish they could get paid for reading, but after learning about all the piles of crappy writing this editor has absorbed through her eyeballs, you'll be grateful that this isn't...more
My list of life goals (I detest the term "bucket list" as it implies that death will politely wait while we finish) is short but ambitious. Own a home with at least one secret passage. Foster 100 pets (currently stalled on #3). Sew a quilt. Own a horse. See Alphonse Mucha originals in Prague. Never weigh more than 130lbs. Journal 1,000 books...hey-oh, number sixty-seven! Some are important and some are silly; some passive and some active; some inevitable and others nearly impossible. But by far...more
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Sometimes I get the impression that writers believe their stories should be read simply because they wrote them — not because they wrote the best story they could.
So, I have a confession to make to all my Goodreads peeps: I have written a book.
It's in the final revision stage. I've joined a few online critique groups and have had a few people read the entire manuscript and I've gotten generally positive feedback. (As in, "I think this is good enough to be published" feedback.) Only from casual r...more
7 likes · like · see review
Really good craft books are hard to come by - the authors either sound self gratifying or technical in a way that makes good information not fully accessible to readers. Jessica Page Morrell is one of the best - I've learned as much from her books as favorites of the craft canon like John Dufresne and John Gardner, especially from this new one. She is knowledge, unpretentious, and knows how to making the teaching of craft both fascinating and fun for writers. Perfect for people who are trying to...more
If your prepping a manuscript for submission or have already submitted and have a string of rejections under your belt, this book will help. Morrell gives solid concrete advice on how to strengthen your manuscript, along with a list of deal breakers under each category (plot, opening pages, character, etc.). Its my go to reference whenever its time to start editing.
This is an absolute must for any aspiring writer. Most books on writing are dry, dull, and focus more on commas than substance. Morrell has an enjoyable style and stuffs every page with useful tips and examples. The "Quick and Dirty" tips at the end of every chapter make it easy to start incorporating new techniques and see immediate improvement in your writing.
I don't know that there's anything here that will come as a huge surprise to fiction writers who have imbibed of the lessons of the craft, but this is still worth reading and possibly even owning for two reasons:
1. Morrell collects a lot of information into this one volume, so it covers everything from scenes to prose to plot to characterization. And it includes helpful checklists and more reading suggestions at the end of each chapter.
2. Morrell also includes lots of examples drawn from (but t...more
1. Morrell collects a lot of information into this one volume, so it covers everything from scenes to prose to plot to characterization. And it includes helpful checklists and more reading suggestions at the end of each chapter.
2. Morrell also includes lots of examples drawn from (but t...more
This book was recommended to me by my editor. After reading it, I understand what my editor looked for when she went through my book.
I would say this is almost a must-read for writers. It not only tells you about things that you should look for in your own manuscript but it gives you plenty of examples of what Jessica read. It's exactly what other editors and agents see. There's not really too much to say because this is a good book for writers.
The only downside is that it's very snarky. I'm get...more
I would say this is almost a must-read for writers. It not only tells you about things that you should look for in your own manuscript but it gives you plenty of examples of what Jessica read. It's exactly what other editors and agents see. There's not really too much to say because this is a good book for writers.
The only downside is that it's very snarky. I'm get...more
Morrell's book takes the usual writing advise and sprinkles in some 'deal breakers' to look out for when crafting fiction. She aims help writers avoid the most common mistakes she has seen time and again as an editor. This is a helpful if not earth shattering guide to the world of writing and revising fiction.
Terrific, funny, and educational book on the writing craft. Ms. Morrell breaks down common problems in manuscripts, gives tons of tips on fixing them, and writes it all with a fun flair. I highly recommend this book to any fiction writer.
A great book for writers who aren't sure why their book keeps getting rejected. It offers easy exercises to improve your writing and explains what the editor or agent is thinking when they pass on a manuscript. Get this book!
Apr 30, 2011
Nic
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
didn-t-finish,
nonfiction
I don't have big gripes about this, but I stopped about sixty pages in (out of around three hundred fifty pages), mostly because I felt the advice was stuff I'd seen before. This was true of some of the tips in How Not to Write a Novel, but that book cast them in a new and hilarious light. This one would probably be fine for people who haven't already read one point five gazillion books on writing. I would maybe have liked more concrete examples, though.
An editor and writing consultant plows through some of the mistakes commonly made in fiction manuscripts. If you want to write fiction, you should definitely read this book. Extremely informative and useful.
I plan to buy myself a copy.
I plan to buy myself a copy.
Probably one of the best books in craft I've read. Morrell explains specific problems that arise in manuscripts in a no-bullshit way and ends each chapter with a list of important tips and references. This is a definite must read for every writer.
I would rank this as one of the best books for writers on how to prep your writing and work for publication. It's got a great sense of humor in its very succinct directions. I'd recommend this book highly to any writer, professional (for reminders and refreshers) and amateur (for great advice given openly and clearly) alike.
This one's going on my top 5 books to point writers at along with Stephen King's On Writing.
This one's going on my top 5 books to point writers at along with Stephen King's On Writing.
My writing vastly improved after only reading a few chapters. Whatever your genre, you'd do well to get your hands on Ms. Morrell's book and heed her advice.
Solid information, although I felt she comes across as jaded at times - her section on "how not to appear mentally ill" I could've lived without
very insightful book that really nails a host of common problems, such as head hopping and genre confusion.
May 02, 2010
Sara Hubbard
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Novice Writers
Shelves:
2010-reads
I found this book very helpful, more so than any other writing books that I have read to date, with the exception of Stephen King's "On Writing."
Really good book on what to look for in your writing. I think I'm going to buy a copy.
Great information for writers...and so amusing. I think I read it through three times!
The best writing book I read. The information here is what writers really need to know.
This is a great book. very helpful to know why you keep getting rejected.
Apr 20, 2010
Stacy Boyd
added it
Great recap of everything a writer and reader should look for in a manuscript.
This is probably the best book I've ever read about writing books.
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