REVIEW: Ten Things About Writing by Joanne Harris

It’s a conversation that pops up a lot in our offices. On an almost daily basis, the Booktopia blog and socials are inundated with questions from aspiring writers. How do you begin writing a story? What is the best way to approach editing? How do you get a book published? These are honestly difficult questions to answer, even for authors who have been down the road of publishing a book before!

Joanne Harris

However, for those looking for that advice, there is now a book to help you get started. Crafted by Joanne Harris, author of over two dozen books (including the Rune series, and most famously, Chocolat), Ten Things About Writing is the kind of guide that not only provides instruction for the aspiring author, but also encourages you to develop your own creative process. Newcomers and experienced writers alike have much to gain from this handy help book.

Harris’ casual, almost blunt writing style fits especially well here, and she doesn’t mince words when it comes to highlighting how difficult writing a book actually is. She goes deep into the process of organising your workspace, getting into the headspace to write, the key building blocks authors must focus on when crafting a story, guiding your characters, how to add those seamless details and more. And yes, this is before you have even completed the first draft.

What is often a stumbling block for aspirational authors is also explained: that of the process of publishing. Joanne highlights how publishers, editors, publicists, designers, booksellers and more fall into the chain of what it takes to actually produce a book. This is especially valuable, as often the actual act of editing and marketing can be a mystery and without guidance many stumble.

Lastly, Harris also goes into some of the most unthought-of ideas for new authors: what happens if you actually make it. With that comes challenges that are unique in their own right, even going down to the pressure of having to write your second or third book. What is best about this is that the mirth and honesty displayed in the book turn it into a reassuring companion, highlighting that these challenges have been experienced by all authors.

Ten Things About Writing is a valuable compass that all aspiring writers should read. From those first words to the final sign-off, what is most impressive is the way in which Harris encourages you not only with improving your writing, but also with developing your own style of work. It is an absolute must for those who are serious about becoming an author!

—Ten Things About Writing by Joanne Harris (Booktopia Editions) is out on the 23rd of October.

Ten Things About Writing

Build Your Story, One Word at a Time

by Joanne Harris

An indispensable guide to the craft of writing and business of publishing from one of our bestselling and most versatile authors.

One-time teacher and bestselling novelist Joanne Harris has been advising and corresponding with aspirational writers for over six years. This collection of pithy and funny lists of advice provides both hard-won wisdom and insider industry help. All aspects of the writing process and story development are covered - as is the thorny issue of how and where to find...

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About the Contributor

Nick Wasiliev

Nick is one of Booktopia's Senior Content Producers. He spends his days running Booktopia's Podcast and YouTube channel, 𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝑴𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒐 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅. Known as the '𝘗𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘺', he also spends his time embarassing himself on TikTok, writing novels, and chatting sport on Twitter under @Nick_Wasiliev. His debut novel, WHEN MEN CRY, was published in 2019 and reissued in 2020 through Breathe Art Holdings.