أنت كاتب

by Jeff Goins (مؤلف), رشا غباين (مترجم)

كيف يمكنك أن تبدأ الكتابة؟ نحن نعلم جميعًا أن الكتّاب يحتاجون إلى المنصات والنفوذ والتسويق الجيد. صحيح؟ ولكن كيف سيكون بإمكانك أن تحصل على هذا كله من خلال ما تكتبه؟ هذا هو ما يتمحور حوله هذا الكتاب، فهو عن الوقوع في حب مهنتك وبناء منصتك لمشاركة أعمالك، مما لا يضطرك أن تصبح شخصًا بغيضًا يسعى دائمًا لتسويق نفسه. عوضًا عن ذلك، ستتوفر لديك الفرصة للتركيز على ما تجيد القيام به (الكتابة).

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Business, Ebooks, Personal Development

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Jeff Goins is a writer, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur with a reputation for challenging the status quo. He is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, Time, and many others. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of creatives succeed every year. A father of two and a guacamole aficionado, Jeff lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why this book wasn't for me

For starters, vast swathes of the book are filler. He spends sections sharing his life story and work history, and re-stating the (excellent) writing advice of people like Anne Lamott, and time management/motivation tips of Steven Pressfield.

But the main source of my distaste is that Goins is all mouth and no trousers. He states:

Before you write a book, you should write a dozen magazine articles. Maybe more. You should guest post on popular websites and blogs and do radio interviews. You should create a platform (i.e. a blog, a podcast, etc.) and start cultivating your fans and friends and patrons. Now. All this is practice for your book - for your career as a writer. The fun part is it’s not practice at all. You’re doing it. You’re writing and publishing your work. You’re developing relationships with editors and influencers. And when the time comes, publishing a book will be the next logical step. locations 916-921

For Goins, being a successful author is a completely different thing to writing a good story (note that non-fiction writing is still spinning a story). This book is endless repetition of the worst kind of bland, self-important posturing which is the curse of web 2.0. Empty voices, clamoring for attention. Goins suggests turning a singular experience into "hundreds of articles," “each one tailored to the [pitched] publication and a specific element of the story - but [having] their roots in the same idea." (loc. 957).

The book functions as an example of the type of activity Goins is advising: name drop network, join a circle of fellow writers to trade reviews support and encourage each other, talk as if you are an expert and write books/articles as if you are an expert and voila, you will indeed be considered an expert. It's not the idea of networking in itself which annoys me. Creatives need other creatives to support them through the dark days, and synergy fucking rocks. It's the concept of networking as ostentatious display. There's a bit where Goins phones Pressfield to discuss his book The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles, and we get Goins' reactions to Pressfield as page filler, in a kind of writers' ouroboros.

Particularly for me as a Kiwi, what Goins advises is the basest kind of steroptypical American-ness - a desire to achieve a plastic veneer of authorship as a decal to plaster on your truck bumper and emboss on your business card. (And I want to add that this quality is in no way found in the Americans I actually know; work colleagues and GR friends alike, they're all amazing). It's the difference between authors joining Goodreads to make friends and discuss books, and authors joining Goodreads as Step Three in building their social media platform. We've all seen the difference in practice, right?

And maybe it's realistic that this is what it takes to be sucessful; assuming "success" is defined solely as making a full-time living through one's writing. Or, rather, one avenue through which this kind of success can be achieved. But then it's writing as McDonalds burgers: fast, cheap, shallow.

Am I an egregious snob to want - to believe, wholeheartedly - that books comprise something more than an out-sourceable succession of words on the page? To feel that people who can write - and god bless them, every one - somehow found a crack in the world through which they can see another universe, or a section of our own universe I had overlooked, which they choose to share with me?

[Jurgen Appelo · Rating 1 out of 5]

After 30 minutes I wondered, "When is this introductory chapter going to end??" And then I saw I was already halfway through the book.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagine a public speaking book married a weight loss treatment sales pamphlet and had a child about writing. Okay, I admit that’s an awkward image, but it seems fitting here. To be fair, the central point of the book is valid. If you are an aspiring writer, don’t wait for approval, write and build an audience.

I felt like I was sitting through an awkward sales pitch. It’s as if I was reading a self-help book, and got the striking sense that the author was trying out his techniques on me!

I mean no personal offence towards Jeff at all, but I’m not sure I want to become this kind of writer. I see little, if anything, in the writing style that could inspire emulation. If one were looking for a pep talk, they could probably find a more generic self-help book helpful.

I’m thankful I got the book for free and it was a really quick read. I recommend that readers read the title and move on, applying the title to their craft. I also recommend that this book be renamed to capture a broader audience. Perhaps “You Are A Sales Person (Now Start Pitching Yourself)” would be suitable.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars 🌟

A very conflicted 3.5 Stars.

You Are a Writer was a nice jump scare about the other side of writing. THAT side. The one that makes my stomach gurgle and my blood pressure rise? Yes: The business side.

It starts out with owning your identity of being a writer and what it takes to write. Then we get into the more brutal sections like what you need to do to get read and then what actions you should take for your career in writing to...Well, become a true and real career. Jeff Goins discusses taking yourself seriously as a writer, building a writer platform, how to network, how to pitch, and what to expect on your writing journey.

The information is not very in-depth. The book IS less than 150 pages, so I wasn't expecting it to be fat-packed with information and-as much as I'd like to- I'm not going to hold that against the rating. For the length that it is, I feel like it dipped my toe into most of the topics it covered. They are the kind of things that you'll probably learn more about from doing than reading about.

It has this kind of: "Go out there and do-" type of tone. There are practical steps mentioned in this book with a warning attached that it is not for the weak or those who aren't ready to commit.

I felt taken directly out of my comfort zone reading it. I'm majorly introverted and would prefer to write in total seclusion without ever having to do things like network, make relationships, and pitch... 😅 Yet that is clearly what I must do. Jeff Goins continuously stresses that it's not about making money or exploiting people, it's about forming real relationships and getting your message out there to the people who can enjoy it. Not in these exact words but, that's what I gathered. I wish he HAD tried to encourage and coddle me a bit 😂 Good thing I can read between the lines 😌

I wish that there was more in depth explanation in here. The surface level information is kind of like a to-do list to begin a quest(which, like I said, would be a great learning experience), but there were times that the information, even though it was not too deep, felt like it bombarded me. I feel like a little more information between instructions might have helped me feel better prepared to follow all the advice that he's so kindly provided.

By the time I finished reading You Are a Writer, I was full of fear, not hope. Yet, I felt ready to take the risky journey anyway. That has to count for something, right?

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY REVIEW:

There is a lot of buzz in the blog world right now about this book. After seeing one rave review after another from my online friends, I downloaded it to my kindle and sat down to read it for myself.

I really like the fact that it's a short book. It is so much fun to turn a page and see the "percent done" grow quickly and feel you are accomplishing something. So I give applause to Jeff for keeping this book on target and easy to digest - no matter how busy you are. Really!

Among all the helpful information and personal tips that Goins offers, I personally liked the Establishing A Brand chapter the best. In a time when the word "brand" is thrown around a lot - A LOT! - it was very helpful and relieving to have it defined for me in black and white print. If you, like me, have struggled with getting a handle on what brand is and establishing your own, this section will be of real value to you.

Overall the book was easy to read, short (as I mentioned!), helpful for those seeking direction on where to begin in writing, and inspirational. I really appreciated when Jeff said this: "This is the paradox: When you stop writing for readers’ affections, your work will affect more people." He was encouraging when he reinforced the idea that you can not do all things and therefore to pick what social media works for you and stick with it rather than stressing yourself out for no gain.

However, as a child of God, there were elements of this book that were very troubling to me. I understand that this book is about being a writer and promoting your work - your business per-say - but I also think Christians need to be very careful to not buy into the world's philosophy of how to do things. Including marketing strategies. Jeff says: "In other words, generosity works. Attention Is Earned." I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that we need to be generous! Bring it on! But, the motive behind it is completely wrong. We should be generous with our online friendships because Jesus was generous to us through His death on the cross, not in hopes to get some endorsements and social buzz in return.

While there is a lot of GOOD stuff and practical aids filling the pages of this book, I want to encourage bloggers who are also disciples of Christ to make sure their writing is an overflow from their relationship with Christ and that their promotion comes from Him, not from self. I am glad to see that the tables have flipped and it's easier to get great content out to the world with self-publishing and blogs, but the downside is that we too quickly think more highly of ourselves then we should. Find your identity - and brand - in Christ and then let Him direct and promote your writing.

You may be a writer. But for those who have a personal relationship with Christ, you're a child of God first and foremost. Glorify Him.

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you write, you're a writer, so claim the title" has long been one of the mantras I'm intent on sharing with other writers, so, of course, I was immediately on board with the primary of message of Jeff Goins's empowering little book. The first half is absolutely stuffed full of sage and inspirational advice, most of it along the lines of helping writers figure out what they want, claim their dreams, and move forward in a positive way that puts the emphasis on what they *are* in control of, rather than what they're not. Staying sane and finding fulfillment in the writing life is all about maintaining the proper perspective, and Jeff offers plenty of solid tips toward that end.

The second half of the book, geared toward submitting our work, was also sound, although it seemed a little out of place with the first half.

[Yesenia Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on sale for $3, but I would have happily have paid the regular price of $5. I recommend it to any aspiring or professional writer. This book is relatively short but not lacking in any way. It is concise and to the point. In our age of busy, busy, busy, the length is a plus.

Jeff Goins is a great writer. I was already a huge fan of his blog, goinswriter.com, so I knew this book would be good. It blew me away, though. First, he explains and convinces the reader that all a person needs to do to become a writer is write. So simple. Yet he understands how difficult this can be. He helps his readers find the confidence they already have within them.

Jeff also shares great ideas for building an author platform and why this is important. This was probably my favorite part. I learned so much. He gives simple, understandable, doable, and practical tips for gaining fans, friends, and patrons. He also goes over and explains brand, connections, and channel, the three things a platform needs. I now feel that I can confidently and realistically build my own author platform. The task doesn't seem impossible anymore. Although, he does explain that it takes hard work.

This book is a fast and easy read, one that will change your life if you simply follow the advice. A must-read for any writer.

[Corianne Oosterbaan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like a reviewer mentioned below, there were a lot of extremely positive reviews on Amazon. I don't agree with those reviews either and they probably raised my expectations up too high.

The book is basically a nice motivational peptalk, but when you read it, it feels like a too long and out-stretched blog post. Jeff Goins' blog posts on his website are much much better than this book. Go read them instead.

As for content, I did not find anything new or surprising in the book. It could be that I am not part of the right audience for this book, but if you are looking for something practical or useful, don't let the 5-star reviews fool you. Don't buy this book - it's cheap, but I don't feel it is worth the couple of dollars I paid for it as most of its contents is either common sense or available online. (If you lack common sense or a reliable internet connection, then this may be something for you ;) )

[Wayne Marinovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book for new and struggling writers. Such wise advise from a mature mind on young shoulders. Well worth the read

[Anabelle Bernard Fournier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given the reviews on Amazon and the personal recommendations I received about this book, I was expecting much, much more.

If you're looking for a motivational primer to get you to write, it's a good 3$ spent.

However, if you're looking for direction as to how to get yourself read or self-marketing tips, well, you're out of luck.

I started this book rather hopefully, but I lost interest quickly. Good thing the book is really short, because it was starting to get repetitive.

Among things that annoyed me, at the beginning he tells you how to never have to send a pitch again... and then tells you how to send a pitch. Confusing.

At least, Goins doesn't promise you instant fame or money. He doesn't tell you to quit your job to become a full-time writer/blogger/internet marketing bullshitter. I can appreciate that kind of honesty.

So, if you are a writer, you probably already know it. If you don't write, no amount of books can convince you otherwise.

So sit down in your chair and write, if you think this is what you are meant to do.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the title of this book – You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) – and the first half of the book is all about that message. If you love writing, you’re a writer. Don’t wait till you’re a “professional” to use the term. Above all, show your seriousness by writing every day. Those are awesome and inspiring messages that I not only needed to hear but that I’ve actually adopted.

The second half of the book is much more about marketing, and I found that much less useful. Jeff Goins assumes that eventually, every writer does want to sell, so after you’ve gotten over the psychological hurdle of admitting you’re a writer, he recommends “practicing in public,” ie – starting a blog or podcast or finding some other venue to get your writing out there, paid or unpaid. In a certain way, it’s the very opposite of the message of the book I’m reading now – write to please yourself – and because I already knew that message, all the marketing advice just seem to add pressure to the process. It seems to me I have to finish something before I start sharing, but Goins has a point: these blogs and podcasts can be the start of a “discovery” of your work.

Because of this book, I looked into WordPress, but I haven’t done anything about it. Much more valuable was Jeff’s advice to write every day, and to keep on going even if you have a zero day. So 5 stars to the first half. Great stuff! As to the second, he had a point, but it wasn’t anywhere near as inspiring.

[Libby Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest little book full of straightforward, practical advice.

[Seth Skogerboe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been hit in the face with a frying pan? All of its wide, metal, possibly stainless steal glory pressing up against your face as if you were just one more pancake? Reading Jeff Goins’ You are a Writer was nothing like that.

It was better.

I’ve taken hits like that. I read my Bible. I’ve got the theological bruises to prove it. Writer was different. It was a subtle coxing of the inner writer to realize the inner writer’s purpose. This is something I can do. Someone I am. It was a reminder of something I have been told before but never actually heard. I’d taken it as the typical teacher’s, “Well, this report is really good! Have a sticker!” Forget stickers – This was a tattoo. No, more like a birthmark. I am a writer.

You are a Writer is a plea from the author to all who have ever aspired to write to please, please, stop aspiring. To recognize that when you are saying “I would love to write,” you are saying, at the same time, “I am not writing yet.” Be a writer. By writing. (This is how these things work. :-D)

And tips on how to write. To publish. To connect with people. It is a guide for realizing who you are, and how to best and most genuinely continue being that person. You are a Writer is one brilliant, prolonged “AHA.” moment, from start to finish. Click the link below to get a copy. Crack [click] it open. And make sure to have a notebook and pen on hand.

Buy the eBook. >> http://amzn.to/K9HpIM
Jeff’s blog >> GoinsWriter.com

[Keiki Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air this book is! Jeff Goins has been through the water in his writing career and relays all the crazy phases a writers goes through offering his experience and wisdom to others.

All writers ask themselves if they are really writers. They create insane checkpoints in their lives that, if reached, will validate them to call themselves a writer. It's an insane, defeatist cycle that waylays many an emerging author. Writers are creatives and creatives are subject to doubt.

In You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins, read about the authors journey through this crazy mindset and how changing his perspective changed his writing career. What's more, you'll learn how to position yourself to be attractive to editors and publishers.

Get this one. It's a not a long book and it's not expensive. It's one of the best books on the mindset of being a writer is all about.

[Beth Jusino · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what's here, it's not bad. This is a short, inspirational guide for new writers, especially those who want to pursue magazine writing. (Does that still exist as a career track?)

It only takes an hour to read. (It probably only took the author a day to write.) The points are all valid: don't wait for permission to start writing and discovering your voice; put yourself out there and build a platform and brand; do your homework before pitching a publisher; etc. There were some sample query letters tagged on the end that seem out of place, but helpful.

But mostly this is a book about the author, another way for him to build his audience rather than a truly valuable resource for writers traveling the path behind him. So why does that get 3 stars? Because it's the perfect object lesson for the points made in the book about writing, shipping, and building relationships with readers. This is brand and platform building in action. Well played.

[Kev Willoughby · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I was anticipating the book to be a call to goal-setting and persistence in writing, however it was more of a long introduction (about 3/4 of the book) about coaching yourself up.

Later, towards the end of the book, there was some advice about how to approach editors of magazines and blogs about securing writing assignments and the etiquette of following up. The advice was very practical and easy to understand, and the author did a great job of describing the challenges inherent in the area of selling yourself to publishers, as most writers have more of an introverted personality and thus the needed skill of self-promotion doesn't come naturally to most.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom bought me this book one day when I was down. It made my day but it took me a while to get around to reading it.

One star off is because there was some language (very mild and in quotes) but I wasn't expecting it and it always bugs me.

Most of the book was great. While maybe I am already past some of it. It was very encouraging and helpful. I would recommend this for new writers. It has a lot of helpful information.

[Kira Gold · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not the writing book I was hoping for.
Part motivational, part coaching on career steps, but nothing that rocketed me toward enlightenment--mostly I felt sort of shouted at--and that's not a dynamic that I deal well with.
There was a little nugget that hit home:
"You can either create, or react."
I like that, and keeping it in the back of my head might nudge me a bit forward, so it was worth the quick read.

[Chelsey Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a quick little audiobook that I kind of hoped would inspire me to get my head back into writing (particularly with NaNoWriMo coming up).

I did not like this book very much at all. I want to be fair: it is probably because this book wasn't really what I wanted it to be or needed at the moment.

I don't feel like this is a book about being a writer. This is a book about becoming a published writer and getting paid to do it. Out of the roughly two hours of this audiobook, less than half an hour was spent talking about the actual craft of writing, and almost nothing about figuring out what you actually want to write about. There was a lot about building a brand, building relationships with publishers, opening yourself up to constructive criticism and editing - and these are all good things. But it focuses on selling your writing, and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to write about.

I have been struggling for a long time to figure out what type of writing I want to do, what stories I want to tell - all I know is that the novel is most likely the format I want to do it in, based off of what I have worked on previously. This book focuses on articles and blogs, i.e. non-fiction - it didn't make me feel confident about a path as a novelist. Goins talks a lot about what worked for him, but doesn't seem to offer any alternatives for people who might not want to do the same type of writing as he does.

This is a book about marketing and selling (it should be titled more like, BE YOUR OWN LITERARY AGENT), and not about the craft of writing at all. I've read lots of books about marketing in the last few years and I just wasn't interested in this aspect of being a writer. I wanted to hear more about struggling with finding your voice and creativity. Not for me.

Furthermore, I don't think I like Jeff. (Sorry dude, nothing personal.) If you are a Gilmore Girl fan, go back to the episode where Luke is listening to the audiobook/workbook about finding love. The dude reading the book? JEFF GOINS' VOICE TWIN. (They were SO SIMILAR that I had to look up the episode to see if I could find the voice actor - I couldn't, so they very well may be the same person, hah!) The tone is just this overly bright - brightly condescending - boasting that I really didn't connect with. Just like the audiobook guy in GG, Goins occasionally uses "encouraging" phrases ("And don't get me wrong - this will be hard. But I know you can do it!") that made me want to scream, "I'M NOT TWELVE, JEFF! I got it!" This had all the cheese of a bad motivational speaker.

Finally, I get it. You're into Jesus. In a two hour audiobook, I know that one of Jeff's close friends is a missionary, he's a big fan of Switchfoot (HOW DOES SWITCHFOOT COME UP THREE TIMES IN TWO HOURS?), and the proceeds of some of his work have been donated to church groups to build schools. There was also a small section about figuring out how your faith would affect your brand as a writer???? It's all cool, man, that's a big part of your life. I just don't understand how it came up SO OFTEN.

Goins and I, we just didn't jive. On top of that, I didn't get what I wanted out of this book. I don't feel any more inspired to actually write anything. Big old "pass" from me.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm mixed about this book.

On one hand, it provides a lot of motivational ideas and words, especially in the first section. While not much of the advice is very specific or practical, it does feel good to read, and it has its heart in a good place as a general guide and high-five to those who want to be writers.

On the second hand, it's a lot of hot air. There are a lot of questions? Followed by strong statements. It does sort of feel like someone trying to impress/sell me something. Further, while it's advertised to be simply for "writers," the second and third parts are almost exclusively about nonfiction/nontraditional publishing. There's almost no practical advice for fiction/poetry writers who want to be traditionally published. (You COULD apply some of his ideas--for example, having to pitch your work to publishers, but it isn't aimed toward those kinds of writers. He specifically states "magazines," "articles," etc.) I feel like he started writing the book for all writers and halfway through he forgot about that and just focused on bloggers, nonfiction writers, article writers, magazines, etc. Which is fine, but that should probably be stated somewhere so fiction writers and novelists like myself are aware.

There are some good grains here, and it is nice to have someone reaffirm the things I know about writing. But overall, I feel most people would be better off reading another of the hundreds of guides about writing with more punch and bite.

[لميس محمد · Rating 3 out of 5]

هُناك كاتبٌ جديد يولد كلّ يوم .
بهذهِ العباره إستهلّ الكاتب كتابه ..

كتاب يبدو للوهلة الأولى أنه كتاب عن الكتابة و فنيّات الكتابة.. لكن هو ليس كذلك ..

في بداية الكتاب تحدث الكاتب عن الكتابة و ما يواجه الكاتب من خوف و تردد عند نشر كتابه الأول .
و النصف الآخر من الكتاب ركّز الكاتب فيه على تسويق و ترويج عملك من خلال أن تبني لنفسك منصة إلكترونيه لكي يتعرف الجمهور عليك قبل أن تتجه لنشر كتاباتك ليقرأها الجميع ..
مما لاحظته تركيز الكاتب على فكرة أن علاقتك الشخصية مع الآخرين و تحديداً الناشر هي العامل الأهم لنشر أعمالك و قبولها من الجمهور ..
لا أعلم مدى حقيقة هذهِ الفكره لكن في عصرنا الحالي عصر التطور و التكنولوجيا قد تكون حقيقه و واقع، فنرى أشخاصاً عاديون تنشر أعمالهم و يتم قبولها و إستحسانها من قبل الجمهور بغضّ النظر عن محتواها ..

و هذهِ إحدى مقولات الكاتب التي أستوقفتني جداً :
" ما عاد المحتوى هو المُهيمن هنا؛ بل العلاقة الناشئة" .
و من نصائح الكاتب في هذا الصدد :
عليك أن تبدأ بإقامة صلاتٍ مع الناشرين حتى يولوك إهتمامهم حين تعرض عليهم أفكارك .

بالمجمل وجدتُ بعض التناقض في أرآء الكاتب و نصائحه و توجيهاته و أحبطني الكتاب للأمانه و ثبّط من عزيمتي ..
و من يقرأ هذا الكتاب سيجد أنّ مهمة نشر كتاب فعلاً ليست بالأمر اليسير كما كنّا نتوقع مع كثرة الكتّاب الناشئين و العدد المهول للكتب التي تُنشر في السنه ..

الكتاب كمحتوى.. جيّد مليء بالمعلومات حول نشر أفكارك بدءاً بالنشر في المدونات و المنصات الإلكترونيه و مقالات في صحف و مجلات إلى نشر كتاب .

[Rawan Mustafa]

كنت بحاجة إلى قراءة مثل هذا الكتاب في هذا الوقت

الكتاب أشبه بدليل للكتاب المبتدئين في عالم الكتابة، أو الذين يعتقدون أنهم يملكون الموهبة ولكن لا يعرفون ماذا يفعلون وماذا ينتظرهم، النصف الأول تحفيزي جميل، واقعي، وملهم. النصف الثاني من الكتاب تحدث عن تقنيات النشر والتسويق والترويج، أو إن صح التعبير ماذا يريد الكاتب لكي يسوق عمله ويكسب الجمهور، وقد برع جيف في إسدال النصائح وشرحها بطريقة عقلانية ممنطقة واقعية تنسجم مع متطلبات النشر الحديث، وهذا ما لا نجده في كتبنا العربية قلما تجد من يدلي إليك بالنصائح الواقعية، بشكل مفصل وبدون مواربة مستفيداً من تجربته الشخصية في ذلك.

الكتاب صادق وملهم ومحفز وربما يستحق الترجمة

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this book as I enjoy writing and hope to do it more seriously at some point. this book mirrors the book PLATFORM in many respects. glad I came across it and look forward to putting it to good use. recommended for writers.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Quotes Stay With You

I wish this book had been around when I published my first novel. He nails it when he says write and don't talk about it.

[Dylan Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread: July 2019

You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) is one of those books I wish I had gotten to earlier in life. I do think you get the most out of it if you're at the beginning of your journey, though it has wisdom for those further along as well. Recommended. 4/5

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read

This book would be helpful for beginner writers, especially those who want to publish articles. Not so much for experienced writers or those who write books.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: You Are a Writer (so start ACTING like one)
Written By: Jeff Goins
Genre: Writing Helps/Non-fiction
Recommended Ages: Any

Introduction:

"You are a writer. You just need to write.
"It's time to kill the excuses and start writing. Time to become a writer again. Not a marketer or an entrepreneur. Not a blogger or businessperson. A writer. A real one."

This quote is one of the main reasons why I am now going to suggest this book to every writer and wannabe writer I know. Jeff Goins is full of gems like this one. If you want to be published, be a writer. Every day, write down this phrase: "I am a writer." Eventually you will not only believe it, you will be a writer. But I digress.

Clarity: 1/1
Everything Jeff Goins wrote in this book was clear and helpful. I already claim to be a writer and have published a few books of my own, but this book helped me get a little more motivated to write. And I may have highlighted a few passages to read again...

Usability: 1/1
There were only a few things in the book that I won't be able to use. Since I don't write non-fiction (yet) and don't really plan to send articles to magazines, there was one small portion of the book I only skimmed. Otherwise, the rest of the book was full of usable content.

Readability: 1/1
The format to the book made it very easy to read. It also wasn't terribly. It did take me about three weeks to read, but mainly because I had a lot to do those three weeks and couldn't be reading all the time. If I had been able to, I probably could have finished it in four hours or less.

Overall writing quality: 1/1
With a title like, "You Are a Writer (So start ACTING like one)," you would hope the writing quality was good. And it was. I enjoyed reading it and found no typos.

Un-put-down-ability: 1/1
As I mentioned above, it took me about three weeks to read, but if I didn't have to put it down, I wouldn't have. Jeff Goins has an engaging writing style that is easy to read.

Conclusion: 5/5
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be a writer or is a writer. I think it is a must read for all writers, no matter how experienced you are.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hardly a “book,” in the sense that a nonfiction book is longer than a magazine article or a long series of blog posts. I can’t tell you exactly the word count, but it couldn’t have been more than 20,000 words, and I suspect is closer to 10k. Basically, it’s an informal pep talk to those of us (who are legion) who question if we have what it takes to call ourselves writers, as it is a profession of practitioners acutely aware of their limitations and plagued by self-doubt and recriminations. Along the way, Goins has some suggestions about how to promote yourself as a writer in the current marketplace, based on his own success. He’s coming at this from a nonfiction writer, so I’m not sure his advice is entirely appropriate for the fiction writer, but like any other bit of writing self-help, if it works for you, or even provides you something to think about, that makes it useful.

For me, I found it provided the latter: things for me to consider now as I attempt to once again jumpstart my off-and-on fiction writing career, moribund following the completion years ago of my first novel. The lesson I struggle to learn is how to deal with the inevitable disappointment that follows the attainment of any goal, which invariably doesn’t live up to your expectations. For that, Goins had an anecdote about the actor Walter Matthau to an aspiring actor who told him that he was waiting for his big break.

“Matthau laughed and replied, ‘Kid, it’s not just one break; it’s fifty.’ The same is true for any craft, especially writing.”

Goins underscores that by saying there are no big breaks, but continuing “tiny drips of effort that lead to waves of momentum.” It’s something to remember, as I strive to get the ball rolling, and hopefully not in the situation that Sisyphus labored to move one.

[Christine Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins is a very helpful and informative book, full of advice from a professional writer, and written for the writer who enjoys writing but hasn’t called him or herself a writer (yet). That is where the book starts; it ends with tips for success and publication as a professional writer and author. It covers a lot of material simply, and is a good user guide for new writers.

Goins’ shares a few personal stories that relate to the information in the book, showing that he has been there and lived to tell it. The book is instructional, and subjective from the author’s professional experiences, but the information provided is still sensible. The majority of the book is solid advice about taking yourself seriously as a writer, building a platform, establishing a brand, making connections, building relationships, and pitching (to magazines, blogs, etc.).

Goins’ talks highly of starting a blog, publishing traditionally, and being persistent. He says that being a writer is hard work and takes perseverance. He basically says that if you do everything in the book, you will no longer have to pitch to publishers - the publishers will come to you. Though, he does mention that you should still pitch occasionally to maintain your platform.

I recommend You Are a Writer to writers new to the scene. The book will give you courage to take the steps to becoming a successful writer, and will provide a lot of information to help you along your journey.

[Emma Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

According to the blurb, this book "gives you practical steps to improve your writing, get published in magazines, and build a platform that puts you in charge".

It's a short book - about 130 pages - and written in a relatively large font, so it's quick to read.It's divided into three sections, 'writing', 'getting read' and 'taking action'.

The premise of the book is that every writer has what they needs to find success, and should not be waiting for 'permission' from the gate keepers.

His practical step to improve your writing is to do more of it, and to do it in public so that you get feedback. His practical advice on how to get published in magazines is to do a lot of pitching. His practical advice on building a platform is to get a Twitter account, or your own blog.

Unless you're particularly motivated by someone constantly telling you that hard work is the key to success, and you should just get on with it, you won't find this book of much use and should probably save your money. Goin's was probably nearer the mark with something he glosses over - that success in publishing is not about luck, or talent, but more about the people that you know.