The Chunky Method Handbook: Your Step-by-Step Plan to WRITE THAT BOOK Even When Life Gets in the Way

by Allie Pleiter

Can’t seem to finish that novel you’ve been writing? Want to write faster and get published but fear squelching your muse? 

Pleiter’s innovative Chunky Method offers practical, real-world productivity advice in an easy to read and inspiring workbook. Follow a step-by-step plan to identify your unique writing “Chunk” and wield it to create a solid plan that works “even when life gets in the way.”  No matter what your writing style, The Chunky Method Handbook will help you chart a individualized path to your creative writing goals.

The award-winning author of over twenty novels, Pleiter has been teaching her nuts-and-bolts tactics across the country for years to writers of all genres, ages, and experience levels.  Filled with real-life examples, humor, honesty, and encouragement The Chunky Method Handbook is an essential resource for thriving in spite of all that the current market—and everyday life—demands from a writer’s creative energy. 


In this book, you’ll learn how to write your book one step at a time. You’ll discover the secret to finishing your novel at your own pace.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

86 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2015

About the author

An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.

Reviews

[Sally Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to redraft a book, so I thought to myself, "What better time than now to take a loot at Allie Pleiter's book?"

Well, good news and bad news...

The bad news, for me at least, is that I'd stumbled upon about 75% of this on my own because I like to do things the hard way and wasn't fortunate enough to meet Allie Pleiter sooner.

The good news is, however, for any of you budding authors out there. Pleiter quickly and succinctly explains how I get things done. So YOU can apply the lessons from this book and not waste all the time I spent wandering in the writing wilderness. I'm going to take that other 25% and see if I can optimize my own performance. Then I will try to remember to come back here and tell you how it went.

Basically, figure out who you are--without judgement--and work with that, breaking the larger task of writing a novel into many smaller tasks. Kinda similar to what the Bullet Journal folks say. And the fact several people keep saying something similar, should be a clue that they're on to something.

Edit 6/11/205: Sadly, numbering my to-do list did not, in fact, help me to accomplish things more efficiently. With the ADHD, there's only so much I can optimize, I'm afraid.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little handbook for those looking to establish a consistent and practical method of writing. Short, sweet, and straight to the point, there's inspiration in its message: you can write a book WHILE having a life. You just have to plan ahead and keep an honest, sober estimate of what you can do in the time stretch your creativity and schedule allows.

I haven't put it into practice yet. I still need to figure out my chunk. Yet, I have no doubt having this method as a frame of reference going into the practice will help with my consistency. It'll also probably help limit my discouragement if my chunk size ends up being smaller than what I imagine it to be.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and to the point. Ms. Pleiter gives you a solid plan for planning out your writing--and fitting it into the larger plan of your life. I can't wait to put this into use!

Make sure you check out her website to join her email list specific to this method and download the PDF worksheets that will help you to follow along with the (short, very non-threatening even if they do have math) exercises she gives you to do as you read.

[Lynn Hortel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is working for me. I can easily manage writing 300 words two or three times a day while 500 or 1000 felt so difficult. This way I can use my squirelly-ness to my advantage.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting this on the keeper shelf for craft books in my office.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in conjunction to her presentation. I love creating to do lists so this appealed to my type A personality.

[J.L. Callison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of meeting Allie at a "Catch a Bunch of Authors" at my public library a couple of years ago. She was part of a panel, so was not speaking on this method, per se, but I was able to speak with her afterward about problems I was having with my writing. She shared this concept with me then, and I found it helpful, but still struggled.

Early this spring I had the pleasure of seeing Allie again at a different library's festival, and she had the book available. I promptly grabbed it, although I had promised the wife I wouldn't buy any more books :-). As soon as I got home I sat down and read the whole thing and I have since put the concept into practice with excellent results. I learned it is OK to write a "chunk" and then run out of creative steam. I now can get up from the computer without feeling guilty and then come back later and write another "chunk". My second book is now completed (except for editing) and my third one is two/thirds complete. Based on prior experience I know I would not have gotten nearly this far, and my frustration level would have been high without this concept.

I have referred back to the book a number of times since first reading it, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[W. Whalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you write the book that you want to write? It seems impossible to write 50,000 or 100,000 words. The time and energy to produce such writing appears like something you can't do. If you have these thoughts and feelings then you need to study Allie Plieter's THE CHUNKY METHOD HANDBOOK.

Here's a practical, quick reading book to give you the step-by-step instructions on how to add writing to your life. Like Pleiter writes in the opening pages, "The truth of the matter is that I don't find time to write, I make time to write. Finding time implies that inspiration is sitting there like a penny on the sidewalk, waiting t be grasped. There are loads of things grasping my time, from packed days to stacked piles on my desk. If I'm going to write, I've got to make the time to make it happen." (Page 2)

Pleiter is a prolific writer--and exactly the type of person with the practical experience that I want to learn from and follow her methods. The details are inside THE CHUNKY METHOD HANDBOOK. If you want to become prolific and increase the amount of your writing, I highly recommend this title.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It happens all the time -- people start writing, then stop. Life got in the way. Or worse, they want to write, but they can never get started.

I've always struggled with it too. People say, "write every day!" but I don't always have time, so I'll go days (or weeks) with writing a word. That always made me feel guilty, which made the writing process harder than it already was.

This book, however, is going to forever change how I write (for the better!). It took a long time to read this book not because it's long or a difficult read, but because I'm a big chunk writer. The book explains it, but the gist of it is that I can't do a little bit at a time. I had to wait several weeks before I could see down and figure out my chunky personality. It was well worth the effort, though!

I can't say enough good things about this book as a functional tool for any struggling writer. If you want to write but don't know how to find the time, GET THIS BOOK! I'll be recommending it everywhere.

[Karen Cerny · Rating 5 out of 5]

To writers who want help cutting through the stuff that gets in your way of getting your manuscript written, this book has practical and proven methods to give you that push. Allie Pleiter's knowledge as a writing productivity coach and her experience from publishing over 40 titles comes through on every page. The Chunky Method gives advice that may sound familiar but she presents it without the fluff and with easy to grasp and practical examples. I've found my Chunk and have already seen improvement in moving my writing projects forward. No matter your writing experience, this quick read will give you something of value that is easily adaptable to your writing style. A book I will be referring to often.
Thank you, Allie!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really practical information here. Nothing really brand new, but the author pretty much infers this herself. What I did find was that it offered useful methods that have real world application in a nice compact and easy read. She offers some inspiring ideas, especially with regards to realistic goal setting, time management and brainstorming techniques. Well worth the small price and time read.

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Every Writer Who Longs to Get More Done!

Allie Pleiter's book came at just the right time! I already break my projects into mini goals, but her detailed advice inspired me to push myself with other projects. I really like how she encourages authors to be true to their writing personalities. Looking forward to applying her tips!

[Lisa Potocar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie Pleiter's tips for authors to improve their productivity in writing and finishing their books at a self-subscribed pace is surpassed by none. Her system is easy to understand and employ, and no author should be without its intelligence in guiding them toward unburdening themselves of the yokes of procrastination!

[Janet Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me explore my own schedule and lifestyle to find my best writing time and stick to it.

So much of the time, as writers, we feel as if we may not be doing this correctly. This book and this method alleviated those fears, and spurred me on to keep writing at my own pace stronger than ever.

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific little handbook on productivity for writers! I've done my own version of this method for years, but there were some new tips for me in there. Plus, I felt motivated to push myself to meet even bigger goals!

[Kelly Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so needed this!

Great info and a plan to follow in one compact resource. I really needed a way to chunk my writing to fit my schedule of full time job, hour commute each way, and busy weekends. I am excited to try out the Chunky Method.

[Sheryl Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie Pleiter's step-by-step writing plan laid out in the The Chunky Method Handbook was just what I needed to determine my maximum writing limit. It helped me to determine my optimum writing time and length. By using her mathematical calculations, I now have a plan in place to finish my book.

[Lisbeth Mizula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, simple, and exactly what I needed to free from myself from all the negative internalizations and get back to writing my novel. Thank you, Allie Pleiter, for sharing this easy method for success. I love this little handbook!

[Mandy Dawson Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been writing this way walk along

This is great little give for finding a way to manage you Times for writing. You absolutely must set apart Times and stick to it.

[Adrienne Organa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the greatest practical guide for the writing life.

[Kym McNabney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first review that I can recall writing before I actually purchased and read the book. So why am I doing so now? Several years ago at one of the writing meetings I attend, MS PLEITER gave a presentation on the CHUNCKY METHOD. It was a light bulb moment for me. I was able to implement my own version, which resulted in writing consistently. Unfortunately, my life has become so busy I slowly set my novel writing aside.

For several years I have been in a writing funk, so to speak. I rarely have time to write. Hearing that MS PLEITER was coming out with THE CHUNCKY METHOD HANDBOOK: YOUR STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO WRITE THAT BOOK EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY, I was reminded that we often make excuses for not sticking with a plan or following through with something.

Being conscious of our weaknesses and or shortcomings is the first step. The next step is to act on them. That’s where ALLIE PLEITER’S book on THE CHUNCKY METHOD comes in. I’m excited to read her extended version from her presentation and refreshing my awareness and determination to not only write, but to complete my story.

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book and method, but I wish that it had been more equally focused on fiction and non-fiction. My only disappointment (and why I gave it four stars instead of 5) is that the recommendations for writer's block were only applicable to fiction.