What a fun book. Yes, it’s an instruction manual, but Writer off the Leash is chock full of humor. Michelle tells the realities of this business with a big dose of “suck it up, buttercup” tinged with compassion. Some of my favorite lines:
- Writers are insecure little mammals, all spastic and twitchy. No really. Poke one with a harsh review and watch him curl up into a ball.
- The definition of failure ought to be changed from lack of success to opportunity to try again.
- If the number of your unfinished manuscripts rivals the number of pages in the Affordable Care Act . . . you are not a writer.
- Contentment is not an external event. It’s an internal choice.
The book is an overview of writing and publishing with tons of gold nuggets, but it’s not comprehensive on any one topic. Doesn’t mean a writer can’t learn from it. Michelle’s voice–her personality, her whole snark-lovin’ self–makes learning from her fun and memorable. When she tells you “It’s okay to pull out the crayons,” you feel compelled to reach for the Crayolas.
Topics covered:
- The Writing Game
- Innovator or Imitator (what should you write?)
- Creativity
- Getting Published
- Fear and Rejection
- Perseverance
- Writing Rules
- Plotting
- Characterization
- Readers and Reading
- The Responsible Writerly Citizen
One hundred thirty pages of terrific lessons and publishing truths. Check it out.
Several years into it, and this blog still refuses to be categorized. It's eclectic and includes everything from writing posts to snippets from my ordinary life. 
Linda W. Yezak 
I loved this book, drawn from her blog, Writer Off the Leash. It’s the one of the few craft books I’ve read completely. You learn while chuckling. 🙂
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Yes, while chuckling, although I did let out a couple of echoing “guffaws.”
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Sounds like a really fun read. I especially like this line: “If the number of your unfinished manuscripts rivals the number of pages in the Affordable Care Act . . . you are not a writer.”
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Of course, later she says, “A writer writes. Period. Do you write? . . . YOU ARE A WRITER.”
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Hah! This sounds hilarious!
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It’s a kick!
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Sounds like a fun book. Thanks for reviewing it. 🙂
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It’s a goodie, Pearl!
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