Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

The Marshall Plan for Writing® – Evan S. Marshall

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

This review will be slightly different, as the product itself is different. The Marshall Plan for Writing® is a book, along with a companion software program. I’ll examine both as they function well together.

The Marshall Plan for Writing® by Evan S. Marshall covers a step by step process of writing fiction. It presents a 16 step process from picking the right novel for you, character creation, storyline, up to things such as editing, and finding an agent. It goes into multiple examples of how each step is applied in the writing process.

I found this book very informative. After reading through it, I found myself feeling that with enough research and thinking, I could probably put together a novel. The book seemed to contain almost everything I would be able to think of needing if I were to write a book.

For all the aspiring authors out there, I think this book would be an invaluable tool. If you’ve ever thought about that novel you have hidden within you, then pick up this book, and see where it leads.

The second aspect to this is the software. The software system that goes along with this is fairly user friendly. Each part of the program follows along the Marshall Plan with sections on characters, actions, etc. While the book itself is very good, the computer program used with the book allows you to take all the information and keep it in one area.

I found myself using this program from a running start. I do have a background in computers and in programming, so that may have given me a slight advantage, but I think if you could operate a word processor, you’d be able to use this software without any problems.

To see more about The Marshall Plan® see http://writeanovelfast.com

*Disclaimer* A review copy of this book was provided by Anna at FSB Associates. I’d like to thank her for the book. It in no way influenced my review.

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing – Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards

Friday, April 17th, 2009

 

slippery-art

 

Paperback: 186 pages
Publisher: Paladin Timeless Books (June 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933353228
ISBN-10: 978-1933353227
Order from here:
amazon
 
 
 

When I first set out to start a book review website, I found it very difficult to find a good book to help me out.  Then I stumbled upon this book.  The purchase of this proved to be worth the money I spent.  The author covers everything from pitfalls of an amateur reviewer, responsibilities, and online areas to help get you started.  Among some of the ideas discussed, what does a reviewer do with with their review copies when their done.  Is it ethical to sell them, or do you give them away.  The most common practice I’ve seen is the give-a-ways.   If your a book reviewer starting out, and looking for a helpful guide to get you started, I’d start here.  While the book is fairly thin, it provides a lot of information and very helpful advice within its pages.   It’s definitely a niche product, but worth picking up for potential reviewers.

You can discuss it here