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The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator and host of the popular podcast, The Happy Writer, comes the ultimate guide to writing with less stress and more JOY.
If you aren’t suffering, you aren’t creating. Right?
Wrong!
Writing can and should be joyful, fulfilling… even fun! Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.
Part craft guide, part writing coach, and part cheerleader, this book offers useful advice on a slew of common writing and publishing ailments, such as how to end procrastination, how to build a social media platform that reflects your personality, how to get your imagination to overflow with new ideas, how to listen to your intuition when receiving a critique on your work, how to overcome impostor syndrome, what to do when you’re stuck in the query trenches, and so much more.
No matter where a writer might be on their creative journey, Meyer encourages them to tap into their own personal sources of joy and to celebrate every milestone, all while confronting challenges (writer’s block! rejection! burnout!) with a reservoir of resources for every temperament, budget, and career.
Known in writers’ circles as a generous mentor, Meyer shares stories from her own writing path to help every writer discover the ultimate joys of living their best writing life.
If you aren’t suffering, you aren’t creating. Right?
Wrong!
Writing can and should be joyful, fulfilling… even fun! Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.
Part craft guide, part writing coach, and part cheerleader, this book offers useful advice on a slew of common writing and publishing ailments, such as how to end procrastination, how to build a social media platform that reflects your personality, how to get your imagination to overflow with new ideas, how to listen to your intuition when receiving a critique on your work, how to overcome impostor syndrome, what to do when you’re stuck in the query trenches, and so much more.
No matter where a writer might be on their creative journey, Meyer encourages them to tap into their own personal sources of joy and to celebrate every milestone, all while confronting challenges (writer’s block! rejection! burnout!) with a reservoir of resources for every temperament, budget, and career.
Known in writers’ circles as a generous mentor, Meyer shares stories from her own writing path to help every writer discover the ultimate joys of living their best writing life.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2025
162 people are currently reading
1103 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Meyer
83 books132k followersI live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
Want to read
April 27, 2024Woah! I'm the first person here? I am so looking forward to Marissa's debut non-fiction. Eek!! She's my absolute favorite author and I've listened to almost all her Happy Writer podcast episodes. I can't wait to devour this. But honestly, can I really wait till January 2025? I hope so, and I do hope this book will help me when I get it into my hands :)
March 25, 2025
Audiobook (9 hours) wonderfully narrated by the author, Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Marissa Meyer wonderfully narrates her own book on what she says is writing, but is really a lot more than that. She includes life skills, organization, tips on exercising and diet. It's an enjoyable read that I think anyone who works in any type of office, at home or away, would get something out of, especially those new to the workforce, college students, or those perhaps feeling sluggish about their jobs and looking for some tips and ideas for their work area, work life, or balance between work and home. She sounds happy and upbeat as she shares her advice as if she is talking with a friend.
It's an easy read, not really detailed or resource intense. This is a general overview, for more in depth and details on writing and publication she does provide resource suggestions. If you are looking for how to find a publisher and those kind of things, she offers ideas on where to seek that information.
As a fan of Meyer's work, this is a peek under the hood.
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Marissa Meyer wonderfully narrates her own book on what she says is writing, but is really a lot more than that. She includes life skills, organization, tips on exercising and diet. It's an enjoyable read that I think anyone who works in any type of office, at home or away, would get something out of, especially those new to the workforce, college students, or those perhaps feeling sluggish about their jobs and looking for some tips and ideas for their work area, work life, or balance between work and home. She sounds happy and upbeat as she shares her advice as if she is talking with a friend.
It's an easy read, not really detailed or resource intense. This is a general overview, for more in depth and details on writing and publication she does provide resource suggestions. If you are looking for how to find a publisher and those kind of things, she offers ideas on where to seek that information.
As a fan of Meyer's work, this is a peek under the hood.
November 27, 2025
This book is very helpful. Maybe this was geared more toward adult writers who are closer to publishing than I am, but it was still good to know. From brainstorming to drafting to being in the publishing world, it has many useful tips!
Want to read
July 25, 2024Y'all how did I not know about this. Marissa Meyer is my favorite author-
May 26, 2025
A few months ago I was in a huge slump. I had a story due in a week that I had not started yet. No matter what I tried I just couldn’t get myself to want to sit down and start writing again. This quickly led to a spiral of inadequacy and imposter syndrome. Then Sierra came over one day and gave me this book. She had no idea if it would be good, only hoped that maybe it might help me. I am so grateful that she did. I think it is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have received.
What to expect:
This is NOT a craft book. There are no theories of characterization. No plot structure guides. Not even a list of ‘Never Do This’ writing tips!
This book is essentially a self help book for writers. It is a guide to help you enjoy your writing practice more. So don’t pick this up expecting to become a more technical writer.
While targeted at writers, this is pretty universal advice. There are a lot of tips here that seemed to echo what I read in “The Book of Joy” by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. So none of this is particularly brand new or only find it here information.
The book:
This book is divided into sections that stretch from finding your first idea to handling publishing. Each section gives detailed tips and practices to handle the negative emotions that can come from pursuing writing.
What I loved:
Marissa Meyer has such a beautiful outlook on writing and life. I can tell through the book that she loves what she does and she wants other people to love it too. There are so many good tips that I found useful!
My testimonial:
This book helped me get through a big slump, if it helped me, maybe it can help you!
Thank you Sierra for getting me this book and helping push me towards my goals!
What to expect:
This is NOT a craft book. There are no theories of characterization. No plot structure guides. Not even a list of ‘Never Do This’ writing tips!
This book is essentially a self help book for writers. It is a guide to help you enjoy your writing practice more. So don’t pick this up expecting to become a more technical writer.
While targeted at writers, this is pretty universal advice. There are a lot of tips here that seemed to echo what I read in “The Book of Joy” by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. So none of this is particularly brand new or only find it here information.
The book:
This book is divided into sections that stretch from finding your first idea to handling publishing. Each section gives detailed tips and practices to handle the negative emotions that can come from pursuing writing.
What I loved:
Marissa Meyer has such a beautiful outlook on writing and life. I can tell through the book that she loves what she does and she wants other people to love it too. There are so many good tips that I found useful!
My testimonial:
This book helped me get through a big slump, if it helped me, maybe it can help you!
Thank you Sierra for getting me this book and helping push me towards my goals!
January 29, 2025
As a writer that’s gone through a rut and someone familiar with Marisa Meyer’s podcast, I was excited to see this book and that the author is narrating the audiobook. So I pressed play and enjoyed what I heard from start to finish.
The book itself is broken into six parts that takes you from idea, drafting, publication, mindset, and beyond, covering just about everything in the writing life outside of craft (and even that gets touched on in a few chapters). Each chapter begins with a quote from a guest from her podcast that relates to the subject manner. Most of the over 70 chapters themselves are on the shorter end, mainly 15 minutes or less on 1x speed on the audiobook. It’s bite sized for easy reference for later. If you’ve been around the block, there’s a chance you’ve heard this before, but the way Marisa Meyer approaches it, the idea feels fresh and invigorating. Sure, much of it is also surface level as well, but it could be a jumping point to go deeper. Since she’s only been in trade publishing, most of the advice does follow that path, but is flexible enough to know other types of authors exist.
Marisa Meyer narrates the audiobook herself and has an excited energy throughout that I love that makes listening to the advice that much easier and makes me ready to implement many of the tips as soon as I can. One chapter about leaving agents and publishers does have short snippets narrated by other authors as she lacks experience in this area, which I enjoyed.
Highly recommend for all writers to read and/or listen to. And if you want more, listen to her podcast, The Happy Writer. [1/29 update: The Happy Writer Podcast will no longer release new episodes as of the release of this book, but there's still 225 episodes to listen on the archive.]
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.*
The book itself is broken into six parts that takes you from idea, drafting, publication, mindset, and beyond, covering just about everything in the writing life outside of craft (and even that gets touched on in a few chapters). Each chapter begins with a quote from a guest from her podcast that relates to the subject manner. Most of the over 70 chapters themselves are on the shorter end, mainly 15 minutes or less on 1x speed on the audiobook. It’s bite sized for easy reference for later. If you’ve been around the block, there’s a chance you’ve heard this before, but the way Marisa Meyer approaches it, the idea feels fresh and invigorating. Sure, much of it is also surface level as well, but it could be a jumping point to go deeper. Since she’s only been in trade publishing, most of the advice does follow that path, but is flexible enough to know other types of authors exist.
Marisa Meyer narrates the audiobook herself and has an excited energy throughout that I love that makes listening to the advice that much easier and makes me ready to implement many of the tips as soon as I can. One chapter about leaving agents and publishers does have short snippets narrated by other authors as she lacks experience in this area, which I enjoyed.
Highly recommend for all writers to read and/or listen to. And if you want more, listen to her podcast, The Happy Writer. [1/29 update: The Happy Writer Podcast will no longer release new episodes as of the release of this book, but there's still 225 episodes to listen on the archive.]
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.*
February 3, 2025
An incredible exploration of the writing world unfolds here, covering everything from imposter syndrome to query letters and much more. Marissa transitions seamlessly between topics, keeping the flow engaging.
I was captivated from beginning to end, and her narration in the audiobook added an even more uplifting vibe to the experience.
Being a happy writer encompasses so much more than just the craft; it truly is a calling.
I was captivated from beginning to end, and her narration in the audiobook added an even more uplifting vibe to the experience.
Being a happy writer encompasses so much more than just the craft; it truly is a calling.
August 16, 2025
I only write fanfics and have been for over a decade, but I can attest to a lot of the advice in this book being very helpful.
I’ve read Marissa Meyer’s books and am in love with TLC, so maybe I have a bias (I only wanted to read this book because she wrote it). However, the light and optimistic way she shares these tidbits is like when you ask a close friend for advice. I personally didn’t need the chapters on publicizing and all that, but they still had solid information based on her experience.
Funny enough, I started planning a new fic while reading the book 🤭. Safe to say that this book was a success.
I’ve read Marissa Meyer’s books and am in love with TLC, so maybe I have a bias (I only wanted to read this book because she wrote it). However, the light and optimistic way she shares these tidbits is like when you ask a close friend for advice. I personally didn’t need the chapters on publicizing and all that, but they still had solid information based on her experience.
Funny enough, I started planning a new fic while reading the book 🤭. Safe to say that this book was a success.
January 23, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Oh to have just an ounce of Marissa’s optimism. This book was just chock full of such good advice for aspiring writers. She has a way of making you feel like it is possible to achieve your dreams of being a writer — that it doesn’t have to be a dream, you can make it a reality.
I loved hearing all her advice and tips and encouragement throughout this whole book. In addition to very practical advice when it comes to building healthy habits, or getting inspiration from your dreams or from the outdoors, Marissa also advises readers that you don’t forget to take heed of the most integral advice - to be kind to yourself when you’re pursuing your dreams of being a writer. Something I forget to do sometimes.
Overall, such a helpful and uplifting read and I’d recommend it to everyone pursuing a career in this field!
Oh to have just an ounce of Marissa’s optimism. This book was just chock full of such good advice for aspiring writers. She has a way of making you feel like it is possible to achieve your dreams of being a writer — that it doesn’t have to be a dream, you can make it a reality.
I loved hearing all her advice and tips and encouragement throughout this whole book. In addition to very practical advice when it comes to building healthy habits, or getting inspiration from your dreams or from the outdoors, Marissa also advises readers that you don’t forget to take heed of the most integral advice - to be kind to yourself when you’re pursuing your dreams of being a writer. Something I forget to do sometimes.
Overall, such a helpful and uplifting read and I’d recommend it to everyone pursuing a career in this field!
February 19, 2025
If you are a new writer looking for an enthusiastic cheerleader to nudge you along, this 390-page resource book is brimming with great advice from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.
She calls it: "Unbridled optimism! (And...yeah, probably more exclamation points than are strictly necessary..." (p. XVIII)
If you're an older and experienced writer, the chapters may feel more like a refresher tutorial where you dust off your own lost or forgotten methods stored from your own experiences. However, you may still glean a few new techniques from within this quick read.
The book is divided into 6 sections: Eureka! Fill Your Well for Lifelong Creativity; Resistance Is Futile: Set Goals, End Procrastination, and Get Things Done...; From First Draft to Finally Finished: Bring More Joy to Your Process; Querying, Publication, and Beyond: Bring More Joy to Your Career; Here There Be Dragons: Common Challenges to Writer Happiness; and There Are a Few of My Favourite Things: Little Joys, Big Payoffs.
Overall, the author's love for writing certainly oozes from each page.
But this is where I respect this writer for her insight. In her introduction, she states: "I also recognize that some writers might be in a place -practically or emotionally- where an abundance of optimism and joy is more off-putting than helpful. If you feel this could be you, then this book may not be right for you, at least at this time." (p. XVIII)
Bingo, if I may use this outdated phrase. For me, I respond better to a more serious and less humorous/lighthearted approach, thus my reason behind my 'three star' rating. (A younger more lighthearted reader would definitely rate the book higher.)
However, I did find value in the author's words. I especially enjoyed chapter 9: "Get Musical" and chapter 19 with her headline: "Take a Power Nap". Seriously, I tried both and they did magically fill my creativity well. Thank you for that. I feel so much happier.
She calls it: "Unbridled optimism! (And...yeah, probably more exclamation points than are strictly necessary..." (p. XVIII)
If you're an older and experienced writer, the chapters may feel more like a refresher tutorial where you dust off your own lost or forgotten methods stored from your own experiences. However, you may still glean a few new techniques from within this quick read.
The book is divided into 6 sections: Eureka! Fill Your Well for Lifelong Creativity; Resistance Is Futile: Set Goals, End Procrastination, and Get Things Done...; From First Draft to Finally Finished: Bring More Joy to Your Process; Querying, Publication, and Beyond: Bring More Joy to Your Career; Here There Be Dragons: Common Challenges to Writer Happiness; and There Are a Few of My Favourite Things: Little Joys, Big Payoffs.
Overall, the author's love for writing certainly oozes from each page.
But this is where I respect this writer for her insight. In her introduction, she states: "I also recognize that some writers might be in a place -practically or emotionally- where an abundance of optimism and joy is more off-putting than helpful. If you feel this could be you, then this book may not be right for you, at least at this time." (p. XVIII)
Bingo, if I may use this outdated phrase. For me, I respond better to a more serious and less humorous/lighthearted approach, thus my reason behind my 'three star' rating. (A younger more lighthearted reader would definitely rate the book higher.)
However, I did find value in the author's words. I especially enjoyed chapter 9: "Get Musical" and chapter 19 with her headline: "Take a Power Nap". Seriously, I tried both and they did magically fill my creativity well. Thank you for that. I feel so much happier.
February 1, 2025
I requested this from NetGalley somewhat mistakenly. I thought it was a book to help teens become creative writers. As a middle school writing teacher, that's right up my alley! I didn't realize that it was intended for adult novelists written by a YA author. With that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it! It tugged at my heartstrings that have wanted to write a book for years. I think it's time to open up those old outlines and become a happy writer!
November 19, 2025
For me, the most gratifying aspect of this book is feeling like someone gets me. It feels so cheesy to say, but I feel seen, like Meyer is picking on me specifically when she brings up all the various bad habits that writers somehow develop.
Writing is a solitary hobby, and friends and family can say they get it all they want and try their very best to give you the space and support you need to get shit done--and I love them all for it--but at the end of the day, I always feel like there's something a little bit wrong with me. Why do I feel like a failure if I go even a single day without looking at my current work-in-progress? Why do I still feel like a failure even if I write 2000 words in a day but ignored the real life chores I was supposed to get done? Why do I continue to choose to pour my life and soul into this silly dream when I know I could be successful at so many other things? Why am I suddenly crying right now as I write these words?
Meyer writing about her own experiences with these exact things gave me the answer. She is a writer. All the people she's interviewed who have the same mindsets are writers. They all go through the same things I've gone through.
So then...am I a writer?
I may not be published (yet), I may only have a few close people I share my work with (for now), but even knowing that it's not just me who feels this way, that the thought of never getting all these people and places and scenarios that are trapped in the chaotic jungle of my mind is a fist punching straight through my chest isn't just some fucked up quirk of my brain and only mine.
It's because I'm a writer. Yeah, it feels like a fucking burden sometimes. It feels like I'm two steps from the precipice of madness and the only thing keeping me from swerving over the edge are the people I love.
But Meyer has reminded me that it's happiness too. Continuing to give in to the bad habits will only make them worse. Taking the time to celebrate my accomplishments--no matter how seemingly insignificant--is important. Taking breaks to go back to planning or "refill the well" of creativity when things have stagnated is important.
Taking the time for this review just to write the words "I am a writer" is important. Because when I'm sitting alone in front of my keyboard and I start to wonder why I do this to myself, I can think those words and remember I'm not the only one.
Writing is a solitary hobby, and friends and family can say they get it all they want and try their very best to give you the space and support you need to get shit done--and I love them all for it--but at the end of the day, I always feel like there's something a little bit wrong with me. Why do I feel like a failure if I go even a single day without looking at my current work-in-progress? Why do I still feel like a failure even if I write 2000 words in a day but ignored the real life chores I was supposed to get done? Why do I continue to choose to pour my life and soul into this silly dream when I know I could be successful at so many other things? Why am I suddenly crying right now as I write these words?
Meyer writing about her own experiences with these exact things gave me the answer. She is a writer. All the people she's interviewed who have the same mindsets are writers. They all go through the same things I've gone through.
So then...am I a writer?
I may not be published (yet), I may only have a few close people I share my work with (for now), but even knowing that it's not just me who feels this way, that the thought of never getting all these people and places and scenarios that are trapped in the chaotic jungle of my mind is a fist punching straight through my chest isn't just some fucked up quirk of my brain and only mine.
It's because I'm a writer. Yeah, it feels like a fucking burden sometimes. It feels like I'm two steps from the precipice of madness and the only thing keeping me from swerving over the edge are the people I love.
But Meyer has reminded me that it's happiness too. Continuing to give in to the bad habits will only make them worse. Taking the time to celebrate my accomplishments--no matter how seemingly insignificant--is important. Taking breaks to go back to planning or "refill the well" of creativity when things have stagnated is important.
Taking the time for this review just to write the words "I am a writer" is important. Because when I'm sitting alone in front of my keyboard and I start to wonder why I do this to myself, I can think those words and remember I'm not the only one.
November 23, 2025
Honestly, this book didn’t offer anything new for me, but that’s just because I’ve studied creative writing and publishing for years. With that said, it is a fantastic resource book for all writers. Great for when you need new ideas for any part of the writing process or for when you need a little pick me up. My pages are filled with sticky notes for me to reference when I need to, and honestly, it reinvigorated my desire to prioritize my writing and my desire to one day become an author. Highly recommend for any and all writers to have on hand!
July 3, 2025
This book is stuffed with SO MANY tips and info that I definitely needed and I’ll probably have to read this again!
January 19, 2025
Based largely on Marissa Meyer's own success as an author as well as myriad guests to her podcast (also called the Happy Writer), this book contains over 70 chapters on topics to help writers find more joy in writing. (wow, it's almost like that's what's in the subtitle). The chapters follow something resembling chronological order, starting with coming up with ideas and writing the first few sentences, and ending with book deals, managing publicity, and learning some tricks that often keep even experienced writers from starting the next project. Throughout the chapters, there are quotes and anecdotes, and Marissa offers constant positivity while still acknowledging that writing isn't always easy.
This is a relatively long book, but I appreciate how Marissa keeps each chapter short and approachable. The book is well-organized, making it easy to flip back to rediscover a relevant topic at a later date. I'm amazed at the number and variety of topics covered; I don't think I've ever come across a writing book that offers advice on everything from the actual writing to managing burnout to problem-solving when you lose your editor partway through a publication deal. While there's certainly more to say on any given topic, the overview gives a great starting point, making this book a suitable tool for writers who aren't sure where to get started as well as anyone who's looking for a few tips to make the writing life more fun overall. I was encouraged to find that, even though Marissa is pretty upbeat in this book, she never offers pat answers or implies that the first answer is necessarily the best one. Some sections are notably empathetic; others made me chuckle. I would expect that some readers will find parts of this book useless, but I think there is something here for anyone who is serious about writing books as an income source.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is a relatively long book, but I appreciate how Marissa keeps each chapter short and approachable. The book is well-organized, making it easy to flip back to rediscover a relevant topic at a later date. I'm amazed at the number and variety of topics covered; I don't think I've ever come across a writing book that offers advice on everything from the actual writing to managing burnout to problem-solving when you lose your editor partway through a publication deal. While there's certainly more to say on any given topic, the overview gives a great starting point, making this book a suitable tool for writers who aren't sure where to get started as well as anyone who's looking for a few tips to make the writing life more fun overall. I was encouraged to find that, even though Marissa is pretty upbeat in this book, she never offers pat answers or implies that the first answer is necessarily the best one. Some sections are notably empathetic; others made me chuckle. I would expect that some readers will find parts of this book useless, but I think there is something here for anyone who is serious about writing books as an income source.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2025
4.75 stars! everytime i read this i felt motivated to write!
May 2, 2025
The whole writing process is laid out in this book, with a focus on inspiration and an emphasis on staying joyful.
My notes from the book...
Stoking creativity:
✺ Keep an idea file
✺ Start a someday list
✺ Lifelong learning
✺ Travel
✺ A music list to write to
✺ Inspiration list, based on two questions: What do I love to read about? and What do I love to write about? See how many items on the inspiration list can be squeezed into my story.
Kinds of inspiration lists: (1) Objects (2) Creatures (3) Plots (4) Characters (5) Settings
How to brainstorm:
✽ Make a list of book titles, character quirks, scene ideas, obstacles, treasures, research topics
✽ Mind map
✽ Free association
⊛ Pick just 3 things to do each day
⊛ Set a timer
⊛ Make it FUN
My notes from the book...
Stoking creativity:
✺ Keep an idea file
✺ Start a someday list
✺ Lifelong learning
✺ Travel
✺ A music list to write to
✺ Inspiration list, based on two questions: What do I love to read about? and What do I love to write about? See how many items on the inspiration list can be squeezed into my story.
Kinds of inspiration lists: (1) Objects (2) Creatures (3) Plots (4) Characters (5) Settings
How to brainstorm:
✽ Make a list of book titles, character quirks, scene ideas, obstacles, treasures, research topics
✽ Mind map
✽ Free association
⊛ Pick just 3 things to do each day
⊛ Set a timer
⊛ Make it FUN
March 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan's Children Publishing for the ARC
Way back when I was in high school, I joined my public library's book club for teens. The first book I read there was Cinder by Marissa Meyer. The library provided copies we could keep, and after a month, we'd talk about the book and have pizza and soda. The surprise for this meeting though, was that the librarian was able to get the author on a Skype call for a short interview. It's been a while, but I did enjoy the book, and we asked a lot of questions about how she became a writer, what started it. Pretty sure she said her first writing was Sailor Moon fanfiction, made me feel a little less ashamed of my Homestuck fic. So I can see how Marissa Meyer got to this point in her career, publishing a book about writing advice for the writers trying to stay sane and motivated. She's literally been asked these questions from her first professionally published book, with over a decade of experience with the industry, and starting a podcast inviting fellow authors to talk about their process. I mainly read for the motivation part, because I have a tendency of giving up before I've even started. But the whole books has good advice, though some may seem obvious. I like that she's taking a specific theme of enjoying the work you do, and changing course if the thing you're working on is stalling. It's a change from the books proclaiming that you'll write a NYT bestseller in 30 days, and the advice here feels applicable for writers of various markets and success levels.
Way back when I was in high school, I joined my public library's book club for teens. The first book I read there was Cinder by Marissa Meyer. The library provided copies we could keep, and after a month, we'd talk about the book and have pizza and soda. The surprise for this meeting though, was that the librarian was able to get the author on a Skype call for a short interview. It's been a while, but I did enjoy the book, and we asked a lot of questions about how she became a writer, what started it. Pretty sure she said her first writing was Sailor Moon fanfiction, made me feel a little less ashamed of my Homestuck fic. So I can see how Marissa Meyer got to this point in her career, publishing a book about writing advice for the writers trying to stay sane and motivated. She's literally been asked these questions from her first professionally published book, with over a decade of experience with the industry, and starting a podcast inviting fellow authors to talk about their process. I mainly read for the motivation part, because I have a tendency of giving up before I've even started. But the whole books has good advice, though some may seem obvious. I like that she's taking a specific theme of enjoying the work you do, and changing course if the thing you're working on is stalling. It's a change from the books proclaiming that you'll write a NYT bestseller in 30 days, and the advice here feels applicable for writers of various markets and success levels.
April 1, 2025
Short approachable encouraging chapters gleaned from Meyer's own writing career and guests from her podcast of the same name make for a comprehensive book that touches on a great variety of aspects of writing. Meyer mentioned Atomic Habits by James Clear. I would highly recommend that book as a companion read. So much of writing comes down to the habit of discipline. I especially liked Meyer's recommendation to create vision boards and suggested Pinterest as a digital means to collect images that might help a writer clarify the whole aesthetic of their book. I liked the idea of collecting images of what potential characters might wear giving the writer specifics and details that might add texture and nuance to a scene. Additionally, Meyer stresses that it's continually important to keep filling one's "creative well." Filling that well means finding experiences outside of writing that fuel joy. I love that! Inspiration can come from everywhere and Meyer wants you to be ready!
March 21, 2025
This book is not meant to be a craft book, but rather to help you think about ways to write and fill your creative well, and to help you love the process, with a few craft suggestions and insights into the writing process. I found this book to be really encouraging, and I appreciated all the insights that the author offered throughout. Definitely keeping this one around as a reference! I've already recommended it to people I know.
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August 18, 2025I’m a big fan of Marissa’s books- so I was excited to dive into this book on writing. The book has short chapters and advice (big and small) on how to approach writing with more joy. I took my time with this one- picking up the book when I was feeling stuck or down (especially about the business side.) I appreciated the calm optimism and the reminder that I’m doing this writing thing because I love it.
June 24, 2025
This is an excellent, comprehensive guide for writers at any stage of the writing process and any part of their writing journey! I loved the motivational parts the best-- even Marissa gets imposter syndrome? Okay cool, I feel better. ;)
May 27, 2025
Absolutely encouraging and inspiring book for writers!! I’ll definitely be referring to this again in the future!
September 7, 2025
So good!!
July 10, 2025
I definitely want to own this book! I checked it out of the library and read it, but now I want to own a copy for myself to come back to for extra pep talks during my writing journey. Loved this book!
August 18, 2025
As a huge fan of the podcast, this book was a necessary addition to my library. All the positivity, plus digested, actionable advice for every stage of the writing process. I’ve seen nothing else out there like it. I’ve read it through, and also skip around for advice/motivation pertaining to where I am on my project at the moment.
April 3, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
It's hard not to want to read a book about writing. Especially a happy one! And author Marissa Meyer gets us with just that title.
Meyer, the author of a a couple different fantasy YA series lays out a plan for writers to achieve a happiness in their writing routine. It's part 'how-to' and part 'self-help zen'.
I've read a LOT of books on writing and I've rarely read anything new (Chuck Wendig comes closest with Gentle Writing Advice). The truth is, there are no secrets. There are no shortcuts.
Of course this particular book isn't about how to write. It's about how to find more joy in your writing - and thereby become more prolific which will ultimately equate to more success, and so it IS a how-to for writers. It's just approached in a unique manner.
Like all such books, there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom to take to heart ("this story was worth starting. That means it’s worth finishing"), and I also appreciated the recognition for what strikes many ("The fear of failure will often immobilize a perfectionist") and:
It doesn’t help that we’ll toil away at our craft - writing and rewriting and attempting multiple different stories and manuscripts - for years, possibly even decades, without receiving any sort of validation. We have no concrete evidence that we’re improving or that our work matters. Of course we’re bound to doubt ourselves from time to time.
Meyer's writing is light and friendly and you get the impression she really does want to help, which makes this book very likeable.
I enjoyed reading through this. I took a few notes, highlighted many passages to review at another time, and reflected on things I read most of the time. Still, I can't say it's a must-read. In part because I've become a little jaded with how to write books. Fresh approach or not, they're pretty much all the same.
Looking for a good book? The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer is a lively how-to book for budding writers. With advice a-plenty and some guides to try, this could be helpful.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It's hard not to want to read a book about writing. Especially a happy one! And author Marissa Meyer gets us with just that title.
Meyer, the author of a a couple different fantasy YA series lays out a plan for writers to achieve a happiness in their writing routine. It's part 'how-to' and part 'self-help zen'.
I've read a LOT of books on writing and I've rarely read anything new (Chuck Wendig comes closest with Gentle Writing Advice). The truth is, there are no secrets. There are no shortcuts.
Of course this particular book isn't about how to write. It's about how to find more joy in your writing - and thereby become more prolific which will ultimately equate to more success, and so it IS a how-to for writers. It's just approached in a unique manner.
Like all such books, there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom to take to heart ("this story was worth starting. That means it’s worth finishing"), and I also appreciated the recognition for what strikes many ("The fear of failure will often immobilize a perfectionist") and:
It doesn’t help that we’ll toil away at our craft - writing and rewriting and attempting multiple different stories and manuscripts - for years, possibly even decades, without receiving any sort of validation. We have no concrete evidence that we’re improving or that our work matters. Of course we’re bound to doubt ourselves from time to time.
Meyer's writing is light and friendly and you get the impression she really does want to help, which makes this book very likeable.
I enjoyed reading through this. I took a few notes, highlighted many passages to review at another time, and reflected on things I read most of the time. Still, I can't say it's a must-read. In part because I've become a little jaded with how to write books. Fresh approach or not, they're pretty much all the same.
Looking for a good book? The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer is a lively how-to book for budding writers. With advice a-plenty and some guides to try, this could be helpful.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
First off, having listened to this book as an audiobook, I think I'd have much preferred to have read it in paperback in order to be able to skip around more easily. The book is broken into dozens of small sections, some of which were relevant to me, some of which were not, so consuming this book as audio was a little tedious. I'd recommend other readers get the paperback edition!
Also, I'd say that this book is best recommended for folks who are going the traditional publishing route, as that's where the author's experience shines. Likewise, there's a lot of advice here for those who've already gotten an agent or published their first books, so first-time authors might find some of the sections a little less useful than others. If you're still drafting your first manuscript, you're not ready to be thinking about writing notes of thanks to the bookstores that host your book events.
That said, this was a great guide to a wide range of aspects of a writer's life, from drafting to coping with burnout. Meyer shares her experience as a published author and podcast host, as well as advice from the authors she has interviewed for her show. There's quite a lot of emphasis on not only getting the work done, but also making sure the process of writing is enjoyable.
In short, I'd recommend this book for people who hope to or have already begun to make a career out of writing, especially for those going the traditional publishing route. Novice and indie writers can take away lots of good advice as well, but will want to skip around the book to find the most relevant content.
First off, having listened to this book as an audiobook, I think I'd have much preferred to have read it in paperback in order to be able to skip around more easily. The book is broken into dozens of small sections, some of which were relevant to me, some of which were not, so consuming this book as audio was a little tedious. I'd recommend other readers get the paperback edition!
Also, I'd say that this book is best recommended for folks who are going the traditional publishing route, as that's where the author's experience shines. Likewise, there's a lot of advice here for those who've already gotten an agent or published their first books, so first-time authors might find some of the sections a little less useful than others. If you're still drafting your first manuscript, you're not ready to be thinking about writing notes of thanks to the bookstores that host your book events.
That said, this was a great guide to a wide range of aspects of a writer's life, from drafting to coping with burnout. Meyer shares her experience as a published author and podcast host, as well as advice from the authors she has interviewed for her show. There's quite a lot of emphasis on not only getting the work done, but also making sure the process of writing is enjoyable.
In short, I'd recommend this book for people who hope to or have already begun to make a career out of writing, especially for those going the traditional publishing route. Novice and indie writers can take away lots of good advice as well, but will want to skip around the book to find the most relevant content.
Read
February 23, 2025The Happy Writer is an encouraging guide for writers of all genres, offering practical advice to make the creative journey joyful and fulfilling. Blending craft guidance with coaching, it tackles common challenges like procrastination, writer’s block, rejection, and impostor syndrome, while offering strategies for building confidence and generating ideas. This book helps writers navigate every stage of their creative journey.
This was such a fun book to listen to! It doesn’t offer anything truly revolutionary, but it does go step by step through the common challenges writers face in different parts of the creative process. And listening to the author for the audiobook version, you can really hear just how much she believes what she’s sharing and just how much she wants to be able to help her fellow authors.
The book leans more towards writers seeking traditional publishing, but a lot of the advice can be applied to any writer. I liked how the book was laid out, and how it starts from the beginning. You could easily jump to whatever section that applies to what you’re facing.
While I loved the audio book, I think this is one that would definitely be great to have as a paperback at my desk to pick up whenever I needed it.
Authors, this one is for you! I received an advance copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was such a fun book to listen to! It doesn’t offer anything truly revolutionary, but it does go step by step through the common challenges writers face in different parts of the creative process. And listening to the author for the audiobook version, you can really hear just how much she believes what she’s sharing and just how much she wants to be able to help her fellow authors.
The book leans more towards writers seeking traditional publishing, but a lot of the advice can be applied to any writer. I liked how the book was laid out, and how it starts from the beginning. You could easily jump to whatever section that applies to what you’re facing.
While I loved the audio book, I think this is one that would definitely be great to have as a paperback at my desk to pick up whenever I needed it.
Authors, this one is for you! I received an advance copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2025
This was an absolutely delightful book about writing. I have read many and this one is going to be one of my favorites. Many books about writing are not giving you tips about keeping the fun in writing, and Marissa Meyer gives a ton of great tips peppered all throughout this book that brings the focus back to that, always. I find that refreshing because so many times, writing will begin to feel like a chore, which is not what I envisioned as a little girl writing stories just for herself to escape from her unsafe world to worlds of wonder. Marissa helps to bring that magic back!
I want to read this book over and over again! I feel it will keep me optimistic and help me keep a positive attitude about writing. I wish I had this book when I was homeschooling my boys during those annual novel writing months that we sometimes struggled through. This may have been super helpful.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook format. I listened intently to the author/narrator with a notebook and pen. It felt like I was back in creative writing class, the lecture portions, haha! I definitely recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc of this book, it was so enjoyable!
I want to read this book over and over again! I feel it will keep me optimistic and help me keep a positive attitude about writing. I wish I had this book when I was homeschooling my boys during those annual novel writing months that we sometimes struggled through. This may have been super helpful.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook format. I listened intently to the author/narrator with a notebook and pen. It felt like I was back in creative writing class, the lecture portions, haha! I definitely recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc of this book, it was so enjoyable!
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