A Writer's Time: Making the Time to Write

Rating:
Summary: Begining a second career as Writer
Review: "A Writer's Time: Making the Time to Write" was just what I was looking for as I begin a second career as writer. This book explains how I can best organize my time to combat writer's block and eliminate wasted time. It also helped me get over the 'how do I publish it now that I've finished it?' problem.

Rating:
Summary: Some good, some not so good
Review: Overall, the book provides some useful tips for time management for the professional writer. However, I found the reading of it fairly dry and not terribly inspiring, and I am not so sure many of the time management techniques given are applicable only to writers, many are found elsewhere, and others are just plain common sense.

Rating:
Summary: Your Writer's Brain: An Operating Manual
Review: The title of this book is confusing! It's not *about* time, though time does figure into it, in the sense that Atchity will teach you how to get time on your side through mastering some very basic skills. The secret here is getting to know your brain and familiarize yourself with all the tricks it gets up to in order to undermine you writing instinct.

This book is part inspiration, part how-to, part common sense and part unique insight from Atchity's experience writing, teaching and producing. I found the section on "breaking into show business" least useful, while his concise exposition of the elements of fiction and drama will be useful even for writers of non-fiction who want to spice up their writing.

I must admit that A Writer's Time is a real mixed bag, but I won't hesitate to recommend it. Atchity will micro-manage your writing career if you let him, from how you organize your desk to how many index cards you use to compose your first novel. But all of those are only suggestions, and, as he says, if his suggestions don't work for you, toss them out.

But even if you disregard his suggestions, hang onto this book, if only for its enthusiasm -- it's hard to come by from veterans in this business. As Atchity says, "Writing is a craft. A craft not only can be learned, it MUST be learned."

In every paragraph, his confidence shines through that not only can you do it, but that you will. Atchity is no ra-ra cheerleader -- he knows what he's talking about. He's created many successful writers before, and he wants to help the magic work for you. Get him in your corner if you can.