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Writer on the Side: How to Write Your Book Around Your 9 to 5 Job
Bryan Cohen's books on writing have sold over 10,000 copies. Here's what some of his readers are saying about his best-seller, 1,000 Creative Writing "If you like writing, at all, whether it's just for you, for practice, or for an audience, you need to take a gander at this."Ashley Gainer, 5-star review "My Bryan Cohen's prompts are pure genius in their construction... It should be on every writer's Kindle."Deb Gallardo, 5-star review "Great for the short story writer and one of the prompts gave me a great idea for a full length novel which I have nearly finished. Super book."Sue Peace, 5-star review "Whether you're pushing through the Great American Novel or have always dreamed of being a published author, this book is another sterling tool to add to your writing room."Jubilee Jones, 5-star review"Writers block is no more! Long live Mr. Cohen!"Tim Coakley, 5-star review--Writer on the Side is a time management, positive thinking, long-term goal creating, personal effectiveness, success manual for the writing wannabe trapped in a 9 to 5 (or other exceptionally long time-frame) line of work. Just because you have to pay the bills does not mean that you can't find creative success and get things done outside of working hours. Take control of your life by learning tips and tricks to help you focus on writing productivity inside and outside of work. The book goes through your entire work day from beginning to end with sections on your morning, afternoon, evening and weekends so that you can mine whatever time you have for writing gold. Filled with a plethora of ideas that have helped the author write his own books in his spare time, Writer on the Side can help you to be more productive and to be a happy and healthy author, no matter what you do for a living! Writer on the Side takes the time management of writing to a whole new level by including ideas so that you can manage your energy more effectively as well. Not only will a trip through the book get you on the right path for creating your writing goal, but it will also help you with stress management, repurposing your subconscious mind and therapeutically ridding yourself of negativity.
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2011
9 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Cohen
69 books132 followersBryan Cohen is a bestselling author, experienced copywriter, and the founder of Best Page Forward and Amazon Ad School. He has written or co-written over 30 books crossing a variety of genres. Learn more about Bryan at www.BryanCohen.com
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June 25, 2011As a writer who is otherwise employed full-time 40 hours each week, I jumped at Bryan Cohen's offer of a review copy of Writer on the Side: How to Write Your Book Around Your 9 to 5 Job. So before I say anything else, I want to thank the author for his willingness to put the book in my hands.
On a certain level, this book reminded me of the core, "common-sense" messages that underlie most diets: losing weight is a matter of eating less and moving more. Similarly, Cohen knows--and his book reminds you--that your book won't get written on its own. You may not need an unlimited block of time to write it, but you do need to spend lots of time--even in little blocks--applying yourself to the task. (But remember: Even common sense is not always so common.)
Cohen believes that to become an author, "the three things you need are desire, time and tools." As he explains, his own personal and professional trajectory benefited from his exposure to motivational messages and tools, and he is keen on sharing those throughout the book. At the end of an early chapter tilted toward this "desire" piece of the equation, he notes: "All of the ideas I put forth will be most effective when supported by the foundation of goals and purpose. If you have yet to lock those in, I would stop reading until you get to that point. I want you to have the best chance possible to succeed and if it takes re-reading this chapter several times, so be it." This seems smart.
As the book continues, Cohen indeed provides an assortment of ideas and options. Some will appeal to individual readers more than others, and Cohen acknowledges this. I'll admit, for example, that he nearly lost me on page 23 with the recommendation of giving up morning coffee. His view is based largely on his experience of relinquishing coffee "and caffeine in general." Eventually, he says, "my natural mechanisms kicked back into place and I felt clearer than I ever did during my caffeine phase. I felt natural and healthy and most importantly, I felt more creative." Good for him, I thought. But that's one step too far for me. Similarly, the suggestions for carving out and making use of time throughout weekdays and weekends may prove to be of varying utility depending on each reader's own circumstances.
In short closing sections, Cohen offers some ideas about what to do once a book is written. Here, his focus is on self-publishing, primarily through digital means. That is the path he has followed. Indeed, throughout Writer on the Side, Cohen is imparting lessons learned through his own experience. That he does so with honesty, clarity, and good-natured concern for aspiring authors is much to his credit, and to the book's benefit.
On a certain level, this book reminded me of the core, "common-sense" messages that underlie most diets: losing weight is a matter of eating less and moving more. Similarly, Cohen knows--and his book reminds you--that your book won't get written on its own. You may not need an unlimited block of time to write it, but you do need to spend lots of time--even in little blocks--applying yourself to the task. (But remember: Even common sense is not always so common.)
Cohen believes that to become an author, "the three things you need are desire, time and tools." As he explains, his own personal and professional trajectory benefited from his exposure to motivational messages and tools, and he is keen on sharing those throughout the book. At the end of an early chapter tilted toward this "desire" piece of the equation, he notes: "All of the ideas I put forth will be most effective when supported by the foundation of goals and purpose. If you have yet to lock those in, I would stop reading until you get to that point. I want you to have the best chance possible to succeed and if it takes re-reading this chapter several times, so be it." This seems smart.
As the book continues, Cohen indeed provides an assortment of ideas and options. Some will appeal to individual readers more than others, and Cohen acknowledges this. I'll admit, for example, that he nearly lost me on page 23 with the recommendation of giving up morning coffee. His view is based largely on his experience of relinquishing coffee "and caffeine in general." Eventually, he says, "my natural mechanisms kicked back into place and I felt clearer than I ever did during my caffeine phase. I felt natural and healthy and most importantly, I felt more creative." Good for him, I thought. But that's one step too far for me. Similarly, the suggestions for carving out and making use of time throughout weekdays and weekends may prove to be of varying utility depending on each reader's own circumstances.
In short closing sections, Cohen offers some ideas about what to do once a book is written. Here, his focus is on self-publishing, primarily through digital means. That is the path he has followed. Indeed, throughout Writer on the Side, Cohen is imparting lessons learned through his own experience. That he does so with honesty, clarity, and good-natured concern for aspiring authors is much to his credit, and to the book's benefit.
October 26, 2011
Subtitled “How to Write Your Book Around Your 9 to 5 Job,” this booklet provides a fast read packed with easily grasped and implemented life-management tips. Most of us only dream of making writing our primary livelihood. For the majority of writers, our writing is something we’re forced to squeeze into odd hours when real life isn’t making its incessant demands. And, for most of us, this is a major challenge. How are we supposed to find enough time to write, edit, and market our work when the vast majority of our day is taken up with such necessities as earning our daily bread, eating our daily bread, and generally cleaning up after our daily bread?
As someone who’s been there, done that, Bryan Cohen offers tips that apply as much to living a organized and fulfilled life in general as they do to living a productive writing life. He opened with a chapter sketching his own journey and growth from a writer who wasn’t writing because he didn’t think he had time, into an author who disciplined himself to become both efficient and prolific. He then divides the standard work day into morning, afternoon, and evening chapters and further breaks them down into schedules and tips. Some of his suggestions are the generic sort we’ve all heard (get up early, prioritize your tasks, etc.), some are geared toward helping writers reach their peak of creativity by maintaining a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle, and some are suggestions for optimizing creativity while actually writing.
The author’s friendly, self-deprecating style makes this a fun and encouraging read. You won’t find anything earth shatteringly new in these pages, but you will find an accessible list of tips and tricks to keep you focused, fulfilled, and, most importantly, writing.
As someone who’s been there, done that, Bryan Cohen offers tips that apply as much to living a organized and fulfilled life in general as they do to living a productive writing life. He opened with a chapter sketching his own journey and growth from a writer who wasn’t writing because he didn’t think he had time, into an author who disciplined himself to become both efficient and prolific. He then divides the standard work day into morning, afternoon, and evening chapters and further breaks them down into schedules and tips. Some of his suggestions are the generic sort we’ve all heard (get up early, prioritize your tasks, etc.), some are geared toward helping writers reach their peak of creativity by maintaining a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle, and some are suggestions for optimizing creativity while actually writing.
The author’s friendly, self-deprecating style makes this a fun and encouraging read. You won’t find anything earth shatteringly new in these pages, but you will find an accessible list of tips and tricks to keep you focused, fulfilled, and, most importantly, writing.
August 18, 2011
This booklet provides a fast read packed with easily grasped and implemented life management tips, designed to help writers with 9-5 non-writing jobs effectively work their writing into their lives. The author's friendly, self-deprecating style makes it a fun and encouraging read.
September 1, 2021
This book was interesting, but not really the right one for me since I am a full-time writer. However, Bryan Cohen does give good tips on many aspects of writing. The book is outdated; many of the apps and programs he discusses no longer exist. Perhaps an updated version is in order?
July 14, 2015
Some good tips, many not new to me. But to some, many of these ideas may be revolutionary. Nice breakdown of the workday and the weekend for how to carve out time in your day. I like that he pays attention to more than just the writing. Writers are whole people, and the rest of their lives needs attention if they're going to be successful. Otherwise, those things you try to ignore will just keep getting in the way.
September 26, 2012
Great books with good tips, though you have to be ready to read about spirituality a bit.
It has already helped me better structure my time but there were a few things in there that were so basic that I didn't see the need to put them in,
It has already helped me better structure my time but there were a few things in there that were so basic that I didn't see the need to put them in,
July 31, 2014
This is a pretty good book from a time management point of view. It gives some great ideas for scheduling your time, albeit my schedule usually gets pretty crazy. He lost me on his use of The Secret - I believe in a higher power, and the divine assistance I get from God.
December 22, 2018
I like that it is gets straight to the point and cuts out meaningless waffle. The book is written with 100 subheadings with expansions under each heading. Some of his suggestions were unique and realistic which I liked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2016
Lots of motivational tips to keep writing.
October 2, 2016
This book has interesting and helpful motivational tips.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews