A problem with many books on the craft of fiction is that they patronize the reader. They state the obvious (a short story is...) and have nothing new to offer expect a pithy new spin on the basics. This book, however, does not have that problem. It does bring up basics such as plot, characters, and pacing, but Lenard-Cook does so with a delicate touch and a creative spin. She made me think. She wasn't a snobby, successful author looking down on me from high. She was with me, in the trenches, telling of her mistakes and using her own stories as an example.

However, the true heart of this book is the section on revising. I think that's a daunting task that scares a lot of people. I know it scares me, even though I've become more adept the past few years. Lenard-Cook doesn't hold back here. She says to shove those manuscripts in the closet and give them time before going back to edit with a new perspective; this is something I've learned to do, too, and it works. She goes quite a bit into the approach of the left brain (the editor)/right brain (the creator), and it was all highly relevant for NaNoWriMo. To quote from page 178:

"...Left brain's going to tell you, in no uncertain terms, that you suck. Left brain is going to see that sentence you thought was the most gorgeous thing you'd ever written and tell you it's a candidate for the Worst Thing Ever Done With a Computer Award."

However, the left brain usually knows what's it's doing. It knows something doesn't feel right. As a writer, though, you have to let the words flow and creativity exist and not let the critical left brain abort a work in progress. This is something I've had to learn the hard way in my struggle to become a published writer. Several times as I read this book, I wanted to shout out, "YES! I'm not alone! If she can do this, I can do this!"

I finished this book with a new sense of empowerment. This is one that is staying on my shelf right next to Bird by Bird. ( )