“Quit… But if you can’t—do the work!”

Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published is a gift to both writers & readers alike! I devoured this book. It’s one I’ll read again & again. Why? Because I think deep down in every reader loving heart is a writer wanting to share their story.

Imposter syndrome is real, & for every person like me who would like to write a book, the first thing you think is “I can’t.” This book made achieving a writing dream seem possible. And, even if I don’t ever pick up the pen, it’s made me a better reader. Lisa Mangum shares her fantastic advice, heartfelt experiences, & wisdom in a personal, easy to understand way with practical tips every avid reader/writer will appreciate.

I loved the structure of the book beginning with the writing process. In this section, she uses easy to understand mathematical formulas & charts for everything from themes & character triangles to not writing a disappointing ending. I loved examples of Star Wars, Mr. Potato Head, & popular TV series to illustrate her points.

The next section is all about editing. I loved the technical examples including the good old Oxford comma, the difference between “which” & “that,” & other common writing mistakes. (I’m going to die if she reads this & finds it riddled with grammatical errors.) She also discusses fixing plot holes, character arcs, & finally sharing your manuscript.

The final section was an eye opening look inside the publishing world. From crafting the “elevator pitch” to effective tips on submission, this helpful section explains the ins & outs from an expert. I also loved examples from authors I love & are familiar with. Rejection is a real fear & she explains how to handle it without giving up. And, if you want help with a specific problem, she has references!

Perhaps my favorite part is “Story Time With Lisa.” We get a real glimpse of the author’s generous, honest reflection of her experiences as a reader, writer, & editor. Sharing her personal triumphs, grief, & fears made me feel like we were instant friends & her advice all the more meaningful. I’ll never look at a paper clip quite the same.

Highly recommend to every writer & reader! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

This is by far one of the best writing books I've ever come across. Mangum's relatable voice, personal examples, and entertaining prose kept me engaged throughout the book. I've already reread several of the sections and I have a feeling that I'll be coming back to this book over and over again for some "Storytime with Lisa" mini coaching sessions.

I've been lucky enough to attend classes from Lisa at writing conferences and I've come to appreciate her vast knowledge of not only the publishing industry but of writing and storytelling in general. It's so wonderful to have a book I can hold in my hands that contains a portion of her knowledge and encouragement. Every amateur writer--and established writer--needs a resource and a cheerleader like this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a complimentary electronic copy to review. I was not required to post a positiver review--and I will continually champion this book because it is a masterpiece! I can't get wait to get my hands on a print copy.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review—all opinions are my own.

WRITE FEARLESS. EDIT SMART. GET PUBLISHED by Lisa Mangum is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the craft of writing. An absolutely brilliant guide to the mystery of story.

There are a lot of writing craft books on the market, but Mangum's book is unique for several reasons. It represents the full spectrum of the writing process, which is approachable and actionable.

Perspective:
- Author has worked as a writer and a senior editor at publishing company
- Personal stories and insight offer a peak into how a writer works and serves to encourage others

Write Fearless
- Solid writing advice for beginnings and experienced writers
- Unique perspective on story beginnings
- Murky middle, writing series, and writer's block solutions
- Secrets to dialogue

Edit Smart
- Your essential first pass!
- Proofreaders' marks explained
- Sentence structure explained and with valuable examples
- Problematic words & en dash vs em dash

Get published
- Handle what you can control
- Navigating query letters, pitching, & rejection
- Remember why you write & how that changes everything
- And rinse and repeat

If that's enough incentive, I have a few more favorites:
- No finish line to developing voice
- The Mr. Potato Head Way!
- How your first draft is like pizza
- When do you show the shadow instead of the monster?

This book is for writers, but who else will enjoy it?
- People who want to know how author magic works
- Personal development in writing skills
- Teachers (Please, if you're a teacher get this book to direct your hopeful writers about how the publishing industry thinks, writes, and works.)
- Editors (And this is especially for you if you're new to editing and want to level up your game.)

Happy writing!

4.5

First, no judging my grammar or punctuation or holding it against the book. While I have highlighted practically all of the editing guidelines in the book, it hasn’t all sunk in yet.

I wasn’t even through the forward by a bestselling author before I pulled out my burgeoning story that has been the opposite of burgeoning for several years. The most I have done with it in ages is imagine my future acclaim.

This is a soup-to-nuts guidebook that you’ll want to reference often. As the title suggests, this book is more about just writing fearlessly and less about the initial planning stages, but it is encouraging and who am I to know? This is my first book about writing, let alone my first time writing or publishing my own book. I get the sense that this is probably more helpful than many of the other books out there.

I do feel bad for all the NaNoWriMos out there who could have used this a couple of months ago. I don’t know why the publisher waited until late November to release it but keep it in mind for next year.

If I had to come up with another complaint, it’s that the author is possibly too nice. She uses herself as the example in many of the scenarios, but I don’t think most editors are nearly as accommodating as she is. Unless she wants to read all of our submissions, I would recommend some jolts of reality with input from a variety of editors at different types of publishing houses and of varying sizes. If she wasn’t nice, though, she probably would not have written this book which is probably the bigger win for us!

Thank you to Lisa Mangum, NetGalley, and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

This book is full of so much good information! I have been interested in writing my own book and this book makes me feel like I actually can do it!
It also was an interesting read and not boring like some informational books can be. It really made me want to keep reading and learn about writing and publishing.
If you are thinking about writing a book, this is a great resource to read and learn!

Very good tips to help you create/rethink your story. Naturally, I tend to dislike too much personal anecdotes from writers of that kind of non-fiction books, but I must admit I found interest in these ones. They're on point and every chapter is very thorough and gives you every cited source. Maybe it won't remove the fear of writing, but you'll find useful ideas for sure. A good book to have in a writer's library.

As someone who dreams of being an author, I found this book super helpful. I like how the author takes you through the whole process. I was really impressed with this book and plan to buy it in physical format for myself.

Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. By Lisa Mangum is one of the most engaging, approachable, and encouraging book on writer that I’ve ever read. She is somehow able to balance honesty about the difficulties you may face in the process with an unflinching optimism that makes the reader feel like the world could stand to benefit from your words in print.

I got this book because I was very interested in the process but haven’t thought about writing as a career since middle school when I dreamed of writing books I loved to read. I’m not sure where along the way I decided to give up on that dream, but this book had me going back time and time again to that smaller version of myself and asking “why not me?” This book is written so full of hope and encouragement, and it is the perfect companion to any and every aspiring writer (and maybe even those who might have once been an aspiring author). Lisa, if I ever get around to writing my book, I hope my editor is someone who carries your passion for the written word, your optimism that the world is big enough for everyone to have a voice, and your skillful pen thats both compassionate and direct. This book is fantastic, and I’m grateful to the 26 days you took to summarize 26 years in the industry.

I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Write Fearless, Edit Smart, Get Published is a wonderful little book on the craft of writing and the journey to publication. Lisa Mangum uses her years of editing experience — and experience publishing books of her own — to walk writers through the writing process, simplify the editing process, and inspire hope for the publishing process. I would recommend this book for beginning writers who want to be published, but Lisa has plenty of tips that seasoned writers will benefit from. Lisa is very well-read and draws examples from her own 25 years in publishing and from a host of books she’s enjoyed over the years. She has an incredible list of Recommended Resources at the end, too.

Although the wisdom Lisa shares is wonderful (and I took copious notes), my favorite part about this book is how warmly she shares her thoughts. Reading this book, I felt like I was having a nice coffee with a publishing superstar. I happily soaked up Lisa’s warmth and encouragement alongside her wisdom and experience. It was delightful to read, and I will be sharing this book with all of my writer friends.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#WriteFearlessEditSmartGetPublished #NetGalley

A book that describes the many layers of being an author from the writing process,
editing and getting published. It is filled with advice for the first-time writer to the
accomplished. A great addition to add to a writers library.

The book title had me at hello! I wondered, how can one book address all of that, but it did. So much information delivered in a clear, practical and enjoyable way. Many practical examples and relevant book and movie connections. This is a must have book for any writer’s shelf. Well done, Lisa!

This book is incredibly detailed and it's one i will continue to use every day. I thank the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to have access to it.

Very few writing how-to books for the aspiring writer actually go into detail about the various aspects of the editing process. This one does, and that alone makes it a valuable addition to library shelves, classrooms, and the personal collections of anyone who is interested in writing fiction and non-fiction. It's accessible, down-to-earth, and full of great ideas.

If you're looking for an inspirational read that will hold a writer's hand from epiphany to publication, this text is for you. If you've ever considered writing, publishing, or even editing, Lisa Mangum will be your guide through this wild and rewarding text. This would make a great tool to have in ever personal library and, I'll admit, every English Language Arts classroom.

This book provides great information for people who are interested in pursuing writing. There are helpful tips and guidelines for creating fictional texts.