How I Wrote My First Book: The Story Behind the Story

by Lida E. Quillen, Susan Goldsmith

Twenty authors tell amazing stories about the efforts that went into writing their first book.
A list of contents. Christine Amsden - "My Million Words of Crap"
Darrell Bain - "The Story Behind The Pet Plague"
Bob Boan - "How I Came to Write Bobby becomes Bob"
Mayra Calvani - "Tips on Writing Your First Novel"
D Jason Cooper - "Understanding Numerology"
Lee Denning - "Two Beginnings"
Susan Goldsmith - "How I Wrote Abithica"
Ginger Hanson - "Ten Lessons I Learned from Writing Quest for Vengeance"
Toby Fesler Heathcotte - "The Manuscript from a Mystifying Source"
Darby Karchut - "Wings"
Linda Langwith - "The Serendipity Factor"
Aaron Lazar - "The Writing of Double Forté"
Celia A. Leaman - "Writing Mary's Child"
Beverly Stowe McClure - "How I Wrote Shadows on the Desert"
Gerald Mills - "How I Wrote No Place for Gods"
Erica Miner - "How I Wrote Travels With My Lovers"
Stephanie Osborn - "How a Rocket Scientist Becomes a Writer"
Bob Rich - "How I Came to Write Novels"
Dorothy Skarles - "Tales of Intrigue, Adventure and Learning"
Dan Starr - "A Solution and a Novel Writing as Growing a Crystal"

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

238 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2011

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of 20 quite diverse stories, outlining the events leading up to first books being written. I had never heard of any of the authors concerned, but some of the stories were quite interesting, and one or two amusing in style. Others were a bit tedious and I skipped one of them entirely.

According to these writers, each individual needs to find their own path to writing - the methods, background, skills etc of those in this book are so varied that there's really no theme or common thread, other than the need to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

I downloaded this free for my Kindle 12 years ago, but apparently it's no longer available as an ebook, just a paperback.

Perhaps three and a half stars would be fairer.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Christine]

I won't rate this, since I contributed an article and my rating would, therefore, be biased, but if you're interested in writing, check it out. This is a collection of stories from people who've been there and done that, and one or more will probably resonate with you.

www.christineamsden.com

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this a terrible trend I'm starting, rating my own work? (or in THIS case the work I've contributed to) I wish I'd had the chance to read something like this 10 years ago. Instead, I had to learn the hard way.... My poor, poor husband!

[Margret · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a collection of inspiring stories from authors on how they wrote their first book. They shared experiences, writer’s block, and rejections. They motivated you and they inspired you to not quit and get published. Very good book. Inspired you to keep writing.

[Vic Heaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very disappointing in many ways. Very repetitive, which is fair enough because such advice as "be persistent" can be applied to any endeavour. But some of the writing is really bad. How did some of these people get any books published? Consider this sentence - "The variations of writing step-by-step of riveting creative disorder of storytelling does take time". Did she just throw those words at a wall?"

Nevertheless, it was very interesting to see how these various authors came to write their first book - what provoked them, even if they had no interest in reading or writing, to put in all that effort.

I don't think there is much to learn from this book that most budding authors will not have already absorbed from the writing magazines or books, or from the Internet.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought some of chapters where a little self indulgent of the individual writers. Could have done with some tighter editing. However it was interesting to see how different people approach writing. Though if you were considering writing as a full-time career I don't think you would find it that encouraging a read. The main lesson seems to be, Write what you know, and you don't know anything till you've lived!

[Diana Parparita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've found this book useful in getting myself motivated to write when I was having writer's block. It's a collection of diverse stories about writing a first book. Some stories have made me want to read the novel in question, while others have made me yawn and skip through them. Many of the stories could have been shorter, tighter. I got the book for free on Amazon, but I'm not sure if I'd have thought it worth the money if it hadn't been for free.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each author talks about how they wrote their first book, as the title implies. But there is much more to it - you read about their challenges, writer's block, rejections and everything that makes them and you want to quit. The point is that they didn't quit and they got published! This books makes you believe that even you can be a writer! Very motivating!!!

[Sum Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the books that really make you think what it means to want to be a writer. Sure, the stories are very similar, but that is what holds the book together. Shared experiences from different perspectives to motivate you to get your but in the chair and write.

[Darby Karchut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look behind how a book gets written!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about how writers tackle the process of writing and getting published.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely brilliant and inspirational. A real boon to the would be author

[James Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was inspiring reading stories of how an author wrote their first book. Contains many nuggets of good advice that are useful to writers of any experience level.

[Stephanie Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Osborn

[Victoria Evangelina Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully inspiring!!!! Much gratitude to the authors for sharing their experiences and tons of great advice.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really inspiring book which makes me want to start writing my own. One day, one day...

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a while everyone's story sounded the same. Had a difficult time finishing this one.