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Write Now (Second Edition): How to Pursue Your Dream and Start Writing Today
Whether you're a blogger, novelist, poet, or just beginning your writing journey, Write How to Pursue Your Dream and Start Writing Today is your trusted guide to becoming a more confident, consistent, and creative writer. This book demystifies the writing process and provides the encouragement and practical writing advice you need to share your work and build an audience.
This updated second edition delivers timeless writing advice to help you become the writer you want to be. You’ll learn how
Pursue your dream of becoming a writer
Overcome writer’s block and fear of the blank page
Discover your unique writing voice and style
Build sustainable writing habits and routines
Strengthen your editing skills and storytelling
Connect with a supportive writing community
Written by Justin Cox, co-founder of The Writing Cooperative (Medium’s largest publication dedicated to writing advice), Write Now offers real-world insight gained from years of writing, editing, and mentoring.
This isn’t a book about instant fame or overnight success. It’s a practical, encouraging resource for writers ready to put in the work and grow. If you're ready to stop dreaming and start writing, Write Now is your first step.
About Justin Cox
Justin Cox has been writing online since the late 90s (please don't do the math). In 2014, Justin co-founded The Writing Cooperative, Medium's largest publication dedicated to writing advice. He cares about helping people grow and loves exploring creativity. When not writing, Justin is typically at Walt Disney World or watching Star Wars, both of which influence his writing.
This updated second edition delivers timeless writing advice to help you become the writer you want to be. You’ll learn how
Pursue your dream of becoming a writer
Overcome writer’s block and fear of the blank page
Discover your unique writing voice and style
Build sustainable writing habits and routines
Strengthen your editing skills and storytelling
Connect with a supportive writing community
Written by Justin Cox, co-founder of The Writing Cooperative (Medium’s largest publication dedicated to writing advice), Write Now offers real-world insight gained from years of writing, editing, and mentoring.
This isn’t a book about instant fame or overnight success. It’s a practical, encouraging resource for writers ready to put in the work and grow. If you're ready to stop dreaming and start writing, Write Now is your first step.
About Justin Cox
Justin Cox has been writing online since the late 90s (please don't do the math). In 2014, Justin co-founded The Writing Cooperative, Medium's largest publication dedicated to writing advice. He cares about helping people grow and loves exploring creativity. When not writing, Justin is typically at Walt Disney World or watching Star Wars, both of which influence his writing.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2025
About the author
Justin Cox
2 books3 followersJUSTIN COX has been writing online since the late 90s (please don't do the math). In 2014, Justin co-founded The Writing Cooperative, Medium's largest publication dedicated to writing advice. He cares about helping people grow and loves exploring creativity. When not writing, Justin is typically at Walt Disney World or watching Star Wars, both of which influence his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 27, 2025
Books about writing tend to fall into one of several approaches.
There are the books written by professional authors. Often these are more inspirational than practical. Inevitably they are idiosyncratic, reflecting one person's experience or at least their point of view. These an be great reads and there is value to be gleaned from them, but they are generally not going to help someone get started with writing.
There are technical books that focus on a specific approach to writing. Often they are promoted as if not the only way at least the best way to write. Often they are aligned to a specific style of writing. These books offer best practices for non-fiction or humor or romance or autobiography. My concern with this approach is that it tends to still reflect an idiosyncratic approach that works for one person but may not generalize beyond that person and their style.
As someone who has been a professor for almost 30 years, I know that everyone learns differently. What works for one person might not work at all for someone else. The key to life is to find what works for you and your unique personality and traits.
Justin Cox has taken a different approach in Write Now. This second edition reflects lessons learned and changes in technology since the first edition.
Justin's audience is clearly the person who wants to write and is not clear on how to start. He addresses the challenge of getting started. Most people who want to be writers are readers first. I think this makes things harder. We look at something from a beloved author and it is intimidating. How can I ever write like that? Honestly, you probably cannot, but Justin would say that is not the point. The point is to write like you. The goal is not to get rich and quit your day job to become a professional author. The odds are long against that happening, and that should not be the purpose of your writing. Your writing should come from what you have to say. Write Now has exercises to help you understand your purpose and set goals to help you start writing. These are the strengths of the book.
Justin's advice is designed to support all types of writing content and format, including books, blogs, and newsletters. He focuses less on the specifics of a format and more on the universal challenges and requirements. He addresses both technical tools and also the need for a human support network. Throughout all of this, he promotes the idea that each writer has to find the approach that works for them and their audience. No specific tool will work for everyone, though he does warn people about chasing the latest and greatest technology as this can reduce time spent in actual writing.
Another strength of the book is that it is not simply based on Justin's own experience, though he has a wealth of experience that he generously shares. He has interviewed many writers of different backgrounds and approaches. He leverages the lessons learned and experiences from those interviews in the advice he gives here. That helps make it more generalizable and not tied to a singular approach.
The book is short, which is also a strength. After all the promise of the title is to "write now," and reading about writing is not writing.
I received an advance reader copy of the book, and I also am a subscriber to Justin's newsletter. While we both live in metropolitan Orlando, we have not yet met in person.
There are the books written by professional authors. Often these are more inspirational than practical. Inevitably they are idiosyncratic, reflecting one person's experience or at least their point of view. These an be great reads and there is value to be gleaned from them, but they are generally not going to help someone get started with writing.
There are technical books that focus on a specific approach to writing. Often they are promoted as if not the only way at least the best way to write. Often they are aligned to a specific style of writing. These books offer best practices for non-fiction or humor or romance or autobiography. My concern with this approach is that it tends to still reflect an idiosyncratic approach that works for one person but may not generalize beyond that person and their style.
As someone who has been a professor for almost 30 years, I know that everyone learns differently. What works for one person might not work at all for someone else. The key to life is to find what works for you and your unique personality and traits.
Justin Cox has taken a different approach in Write Now. This second edition reflects lessons learned and changes in technology since the first edition.
Justin's audience is clearly the person who wants to write and is not clear on how to start. He addresses the challenge of getting started. Most people who want to be writers are readers first. I think this makes things harder. We look at something from a beloved author and it is intimidating. How can I ever write like that? Honestly, you probably cannot, but Justin would say that is not the point. The point is to write like you. The goal is not to get rich and quit your day job to become a professional author. The odds are long against that happening, and that should not be the purpose of your writing. Your writing should come from what you have to say. Write Now has exercises to help you understand your purpose and set goals to help you start writing. These are the strengths of the book.
Justin's advice is designed to support all types of writing content and format, including books, blogs, and newsletters. He focuses less on the specifics of a format and more on the universal challenges and requirements. He addresses both technical tools and also the need for a human support network. Throughout all of this, he promotes the idea that each writer has to find the approach that works for them and their audience. No specific tool will work for everyone, though he does warn people about chasing the latest and greatest technology as this can reduce time spent in actual writing.
Another strength of the book is that it is not simply based on Justin's own experience, though he has a wealth of experience that he generously shares. He has interviewed many writers of different backgrounds and approaches. He leverages the lessons learned and experiences from those interviews in the advice he gives here. That helps make it more generalizable and not tied to a singular approach.
The book is short, which is also a strength. After all the promise of the title is to "write now," and reading about writing is not writing.
I received an advance reader copy of the book, and I also am a subscriber to Justin's newsletter. While we both live in metropolitan Orlando, we have not yet met in person.
September 4, 2025
I probably have read too many books about writing, so I didn’t learn anything new from this one.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews