Just Write: Creating Unforgettable Fiction and a Rewarding Writing Life

by James Scott Bell

Enthrall your readers, love the process, & become the writer you are meant to be! Writers are given a wealthy of opportunities to cultivate a successful writing life, break out, and find an audience for their work. Yet so many writers, from beginners to veterans, find their careers stuck in neutral. The solution is Just write. Write yourself past fears, doubts, and setbacks, and use your desire for writing excellence to deeply immerse yourself in the craft. In Just Write, best-selling author and veteran writing coach James Scott Bell shows you how to develop unforgettable stories while leading a rewarding writing life. You'll learn how to master the nuances of fiction, discover what readers really want, and persevere through the challenges of getting started, conquering writer's block, and dealing with rejection. Look inside to discover how    • Brainstorm new concepts for your fiction and develop a believable premise.   • Create memorable characters that keep your readers coming back for more.   • Study classic & contemporary novels to improve your writing.   • Effectively market yourself as a writer.   • Manage your time to maintain peak efficiency.Fulfilling writing careers are developed through hard work, an investment in practice, and complete dedication to the process. Don't succumb to excuses or procrastination. Dive into your career with gusto and enthusiasm. Fall in love with writing every day.Just write.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts, How To, Self Help

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2016

About the author

Jim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.

Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.

Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's nothing new in here: certainly nothing like the solid grounding in structure or dialogue of Bell's other books, but it really resonated with me, striking the perfect balance between dour realism and peppy go-get-it-ness. It's a friendly shoulder to cry on about your lack of internal conflict and soggy middle act, but Bell makes you think if you just keep writing you can do it!

Also, damn you to heck, James Scott Bell, for crystalizing my deep but unacknowledged certainty that my current WIP sucks. *sigh* I'm going back to fix the structure. Again.

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a different sort of writing book. It isn't so much a book on writing. It is a book on the writer. The focus is on becoming the wisest and best writing you can. The tips on writing are written short and succinct, but much of the focus of the book is on keeping the joy and passion of writing alive in the writer.

If you're looking for a book that encourages you as a writer, especially as a writer looking to make a career out of writing, I highly recommend this book.

[Abigayle Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well laid out and covered a lot more than just knowing the craft. With its focus on how self-publishing has changed the market, it was very helpful to see how the publishing world has evolved in the years since my birth. I'm not sure I could ever highlight this one enough! A favorite for sure, with many colorful examples and humorous comparisons.

[Elena Druță · Rating 4 out of 5]

O carte bună la capitolul organizare/corectură după ce termini primul manuscris şi te apuci de editat, corectat, tăiat şi adăugat.

[W. Whalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Can Only Buy One How-To Book, Get This One

I’ve known James Scott Bell for many years and long admired his work and his commitment to the craft of writing. I do not write fiction but have spent most of my writing life in the nonfiction world (yet I acquire fiction and read fiction). Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you need JUST WRITE to learn from this skilled teacher and bestselling novelist.

Every chapter of this book is packed with insights. I encourage you to read with a yellow highlighter. The book is broken into two sections: Unforgettable Fiction and A Rewarding Writing Life. Each section has four chapters. Whether you have written numerous novels or never written a novel, you will profit from Bell’s instruction.

Here’s a couple of samples: “Craft mastery in any subject is a matter of study, observation and practice. As a writer, the better handle you have on the craft, the better prepared you’ll be to break a rule when the time comes. You’ll know why you’re doing it and whether it’s worth the risk to break it.” (Page 31) Or the chapter on Study the Craft begins, “When in doubt, just write. Write your way out of a corner, out of your fears, out of your setbacks. It’s a good default setting. But right up alongside it put another track: study the craft. Make constant and never-ending improvement a goal just as important as your daily pages. Just write and keep learning—these are the two steel rails that will carry you to a productive career.” (Page 146)

Every writer or would-be writer will profit from the study of these pages. I highly recommend JUST WRITE.

[Terri Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my husband.

Sometimes it takes about 100 times of hearing the same thing before it really sinks into my head. Bell has no new formula, but has an incredibly down to earth way of presenting the information in this book. It encouraged me in a way that many other writing books have not. I highlighted and/or took notes on almost every page of this book. I recommend it highly for every writer at any level. You won't regret this purchased and I doubt it will just sit on your desk.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would suggest reading this after you've finished your first draft as it is mostly on re: working your story and editing. Great book for self published authors.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like everything Bell has to teach about craft. I hope to read more of his books. But this one is 50% about marketing and sales, and while those things are important, I'm not there yet.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mixture of writing motivation and craft tips, with a good chunk of the advice geared toward indie / self-published writers. But there's great words of wisdom here for writers following the traditional publishing path, as well!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you just read a book on writing in your life, let it be this one.

[gage sugden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of writing, but too crippled by self doubt and anxiety to actually write? This book is for you! It's full of all sorts of advice about writing, from plot structure to writing quotas and everything in between.

I'm definitely still a pantser, but the way Bell organised his thoughts about structure were really revelatory for me. I'm not about to outline entire plots, but I feel like I have a better grasp now on where to put different things within the book and how to connect them together. That's really freed me up to actually write! With quotas! I had always thought quotas were the bane of someone with anxiety, but the way Bell explained his methods with them just clicked with me. That's just two examples of things I took away from this book.

I did find some of the material, particularly toward the end, rather vapid. Did this book really need a paragraph instructing the reader to drink six 8oz glasses of water a day? There was a lot of repetition of ideas as well. And I don't mean recurring ideas that he expands on and explains in a different way, I mean literal copy-and-paste paragraphs placed throughout the book. I really don't think that was necessary because this book is already super approachable as it is. Plenty of that kind of stuff could have been cut out.

On the whole though, it's very good! I'd recommend it to anyone who identifies with the first line in this review. Definitely worth the price of admission (my paperback copy was $12 USD, definitely worth the $17.99 list price though!).

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book back in 2016, started it, then got distracted by a hundred other books, and put it back on the shelf. I was blogging regularly then, satisfied with my status-quo life, when in 2017, staggering tragedy hit me. I couldn't write. I could barely get out of bed. When I could get out of bed, caring for my family was my number one priority, or to put it another way, survival was my priority. I had no more words, not valuable or interesting ones, anyway. Nothing that others would care to read.

Then, as I was glancing over my bookshelf last week, I noticed this book. I'd only made it to page 14. So, I just started over.

What I found in these pages was more than I expected from a book on the craft of writing. I found hope. I found encouragement. I found a workable plan for managing my writing time. I found out that the words were still there. Yes, they are buried beneath the rubble of heartbreak, but they are there. It may take me a while to uncover them all, to put them into the right phrases, sentences, and paragraphs, but I have hope, I have a plan, and I even feel something I haven't felt in a long time: excitement! Most of all, though, is the hope. Perhaps my dream isn't dead after all.

If you need a plan for brainstorming, tracking your work, plotting, or self-publishing, this is your book. It's not only loaded with great information but it's also an enjoyable read. Most importantly, if you need to infuse some enthusiasm into your sagging writing career, look no further.

[Kim Catanzarite · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a freelancer for Writer's Digest Books, I was the copyeditor for this title, and I found it so inspirational and informative. Before I read it, the idea that someone could earn a decent living self-publishing eluded me. I'd heard of people doing it, but I didn't believe I could, or that there was an actual path that could be taken, a way to go about it. Bell's advice is down-to-earth and doable, and this book is an enjoyable read. One of my favorite writing craft books.

[A.J. Vanderhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read a half dozen books on the craft of writing, but this one jumped to the top of the heap for me. In turns humorous and applicable, always highly accessible. I appreciate that Bell doesn't limit his advice to writing only, but takes on the entirety of a writing life, including the rapidly changing industry. I'll be reading more by this guy.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading all the James Scott Bell books to enhance my writing craft. I think because I read more than 5 of his books, some information was a repeat. At least the knowledge has been reinforced. I highly recommend this book for those who are improving their writing or just need motivation to write.

[عبدالله فخرو · Rating 5 out of 5]

كنت اقرا على فترات متقطعة لكن جددددددا مفيد! 😍

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on writing! I will be reading it again and have a highlighter ready next time.

[Ellen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for writing a novel. It gave me several things to consider and helped me generate a to-do list to help me get started.

[Kristen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information! I’ll certainly be rereading it for my second novel. I recommend reading only after you have a book written or at least started. It doesn’t really work if you have no personal material to reference.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much meat in it, I took notes all the way through and did the exercises. I am also going to implement the suggestions he made. James Scott Bell is very adept at giving useful strategies to fully embrace the writing life and to make the most of your talent. This is the second of his books on writing that I have read. I have several more on my night stand that I am also going to read now that I have completed this one.

If you are serious about the craft of writing and write every day and treat it like a job this book is for you.

[Kay Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good refresher course for Bell fans: lots of repetition (probably taken from blog posts) and references to his short ebooks. About half on craft of writing, half on writing life. I bought the paperback edition (which doesn't seem to be on Goodreads) to have the paper reference. Always a few nuggets worth the price of admission. Good intro to Bell if you haven't read his earlier books.

[Lada]

A longish pep talk, including some advice about writing well (but less in depth than his other books). Not sure about the intended audience. Some of the advice is so basic, it appears to be aimed at new authors, yet a lot of it pertains to writing fulltime and cranking out numerous books.

[Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a non-fiction book about writing that I enjoyed very much since God knows when. I am very passionate about writing and creating a world of my own but sometimes, when the juice runs out, you just gotta look for inspiration.

I wanted to write my own story. Since I was a kid, I’ve been in love with writing. You should see the wallpapers in our old house. You should see the diary I had when I was eight. You should just see all the notes I’ve scribbled on my high school and university notebooks. There is one known fact about myself that I think will always be consistent: I love to write. And I will continue doing so until my last breath.

I’m not very good at it. I’m okay, I guess. I’m your typical fangirl who writes fanfiction and also is super lost in her own world of fantasy that sometimes she gets stuck in it. I’ve been writing short stories/novellas/fanfiction since 2012. I’ve been writing poetry since I was 13. And I’ve been writing since I was young.

Stumbling upon a book that is about writing as good as this one is very rare. The last time I felt this good about a book about writing was in 2012 when I bought AA Patawaran’s Write Here, Write Now. That book hasn’t been returned to me since I lent it. And I remember the hardship I went through just to get that book.

Anyway, this book has practical tips for young writers and beginner writers alike. It’s easily understandable from a newbie’s point of view. I’m not really good at writing reviews but I just want to point out that this book isn’t boring like the rest. It takes you places and gives you tips, very useful ones.

If you’re a newbie writer or just in love with the idea of starting your own story. This book is a basic need for your to-reads. Applicable and concise. You’ll enjoy the humor of the author as well.

5 Stars for a really entertaining and fun book!

P.S. Forgive my review, I wrote in haste. Hahaha!

[Sohail · Rating 3 out of 5]

نقد فارسی

دلیل اینکه من این کتاب را برای خواندن انتخاب کردم، امتیاز های بالایی بود که در گودریز گرفته بود. اما واقعیت این است نه تنها نوع رمانی که این کتاب تلاش می کند نوشتن آن را آموزش دهد با انتظارات من فاصله زیادی داشت، بلکه حتی برای جامعه هدف خودش هم کتاب مناسبی نیست. اگر از تکرار مکررات—که درد بی درمان این کتاب است— بگذریم، نکته اول این است که این کتاب نه برای اشخاصی که می خواهند رمان ادبی و ارزشمند بنویسند؛ بلکه برای کسانی نوشته شده که می خواهند رمان کوچه بازاری پر فروش بنویسند و از قِبَل کتابشان، قوت لایموتی بخورند، چه در زمینه تکنیک های نگارش رمان آموزش چندانی نمی دهد و بیشتر روی شیوه های پر کردن کاغذ، نوشتن متون عامه پسند و بازاریابی تمرکز دارد. تنها چیزی که در این کتاب برای من واقعاً جدید بود و باعث شد امتیاز نسبتاً بالایی به آن بدهم، تکنیک های بازاریابی بود.

English Review

I picked this one for a reason: because the generous people on Goodreads have been perhaps a little too generous with it, notwithstanding the fact that it is more about filling the pages, hitting the deadlines, marketing, and publishing, than actually writing a novel.
For me, it was far from what I expected. Even the chapters that discuss writing, try to teach you how to appeal to the masses (AKA writing a page turner) than writing a book with true literary merit. Rely on this book as a mediocre pamphlet on writing pages turners, and nothing else.

[Lyri Ahnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of James Scott Bell's writing books, some of this will be familiar, but most of the material is unique to this book. Just Write is divided into two sections: “Writing Unforgettable Fiction” focused on writing craft, and “A Rewarding Writing Life,” which gives excellent advice on becoming a published author.

His has three rules for novels that sell: “1. Don’t bore the reader. 2. Put characters in crisis. 3. Write with heart.” He says: “Create a compelling character and put [her] in a “death match” with an opponent…and only write scenes that in some way reflect or impact that battle.”

He says: "Don’t warm up your engines. Get the reader turning the page not because he’s patient with you, but because he needs to find out what is going to happen next."

On creating a rewarding writing life:
"What talent you have is not up to you. What is up to you is what you do with it."
"You do your work the best you can and you let the results happen, because you can’t manipulate them. . . . You can only give it your best shot each time out."
"Put your head down and work. Do not check your phone or your email. Do not go to Twitter [X] or Facebook. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200."
Good advice! I'm headed back to my novel manuscript right now . . .

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of JSB's instructional books, so I was excited to pick up this one. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew it would be good.

I was right.

If you've read any of his other books on writing, the first half of the book might be a bit of a repeat. Still, as I read it, it reminded me of some things I'd forgotten, and I went back to manuscript with a breakthrough idea for my previously stuck story.

Never underestimate the power of reminding yourself about things you already know.

What I wasn't prepared for, however, was the second half of the book. "Creating a Rewarding Writing Life" really doesn't do it justice. This book should be called Just Write: Creating Unforgettable Fiction and the Truth About (and encouragement for) Indie Publishing. I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to any author considering self publishing. I would INSIST that frustrated indie authors read it. JSB is honest about what it means to self publish and he gives great advice for authors.

Another great book. I'll definitely re-read this one.

(Note: most of his examples are older and for thriller/suspense. They might not translate perfectly for other genres, but the idea still works.)

[Anna Fantôme · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good kick in the ass, this is the book for you!

The book is well structured and easy to read. The first part of the book is about the writing process and tips on how to create, the second part is about publishing.

Be aware, if you're looking for in-depth writing tips, this may not be the book for you. This is a book for those who want to start their craft and are not sure where to start. James Scott-bell shares great tips to create characters' arcs, structure, how to brainstorm, and how to be productive. Which are amazing tips, don't get me wrong.

The second part of the book felt more surface level and repetitive. Again, nothing new if you're a veteran. You'll find more tips on where to starts and what kind of resources you'll need (and where to find them) for publishing your own book.

This book is about motivating new writers and, not only showing them the right direction, but also, how to walk our path. If I ever feel lost in my craft, I know which passages to go re-read so I can get motivated again.

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book on-and-off for ten months. Feels like longer.

But I learnt a lot, and I still want to go back through it and look at all the highlighted things, and all the activities he’s given, and try to do them.

The last chapter - about self publishing - wasn’t great because I’m not interested in self publishing. Though it was written very well, with many convincing arguments, that I was very nearly convinced.

Lots of great insights, and it was very funny at different parts, very well written. It kept my interest. I know it took me ten months to read, but it’s not like it was a story about dragons. Come on. It was teaching me things. That’s the point of it. And it did that very very well.

Recommend it for any aspiring authors, or even to those who have published a few books. Even just gaining one nugget of knowledge is always a good thing. And can be the difference between success and failure.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best writing book I've ever read!
Considering I've wanted to be a writer and have studied the craft for over 26 years, that should lend more credit to this book than that statement typically might.
In trying to explain to my husband why this book was so impactful, I was caught between sharing how confidence-inducing the reiterations of "Just Write" and "Study Your Craft" were or expounding upon how Bell's end notes on self-publishing in the new age of writing were incredibly concise and helpful. Especially since they touched on a subject that I've only ever studied in blog form before - as many writing books I've studied are focused on the traditional publishing route to authorship.
Mostly I think this book has hit my tops list because scattered throughout clever discourse were tiny treasures of writing tips that I will be digging up again and again as I focus on re-engaging my writing career and following the sound advice of the title - just writing. Every day, without indulging my inner editor, and trusting myself and my in-depth study of the craft without letting the outside voices of doom, gloom and failure impact this thing I was made to do.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. What can I say? Waste of time....this book was too much "this is how you self publish and get your book on Amazon"- and not any useful explanations of the writing process or how to create a plot/characters....etc. It was also A LOT OF movie references....and anecdotes....that lead nowhere. He needs to use examples from books....and spend more time giving actual information instead of copying adages...and explaining at least three times that he takes breaks and lays on the floor with his legs in the air resting on a chair to help with the blood flow....

Was this book what I expected? No. Blah. I kept reading in the hopes that it would get into the meat of the topic- and not explain how to create book blurbs to help sell my book....how to market a book I haven't even written....oof.

Read if you want to learn about how to market a book.

M&L Reading Challenge 2024: a book about writing