Writing Without Rules: How to Write & Sell a Novel Without Guidelines, Experts, or (Occasionally) Pants

by Jeff Somers

Stop What You're Doing and Write! Yes, You; Write!

Most writing guides imply--or outright state--that there's a fixed, specific formula or list of rules you must follow to achieve writing and publishing success. And all of them are phonies. Well, not completely. There are real, applicable techniques and strategies in any writing reference to help you.

But the idea that there's only one way of writing? Nuts!

With unconventional approaches to the craft, fresh angles on novel writing and selling, a healthy dose of humor, and no promise of refunds, Writing Without Rules is for those writers who have tried and tried again--and are ready to success on their own terms. In these pages, accomplished author Jeff Somers will show you:
The key to a successful writing career is doing the actual writing, no matter the circumstances.
Fantastic ideas are available everywhere--you just need to know how to tap into sources through a variety of approaches.
Important craft aspects that you should focus on, such as characters and dialogue, while spending less time on others, like setting.
Effective ways to get published--whether it's traditional or self-publishing--and how to supplement your income.
Whether you're a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between, Writing Without Rules is for those writers who are looking for a fresh take on tackling the challenge of writing and selling a novel, and building a career. As Somers will show you, it's less about being perfect in everything, and more about having the confidence to complete everything.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Jeff Somers (www.jeffreysomers.com) began writing by court order as an attempt to steer his creative impulses away from engineering genetic grotesqueries. He has published nine novels, including the Avery Cates Series of noir-science fiction novels from Orbit Books (www.avery-cates.com) and the Ustari Cycle series of urban fantasy novels. His short story “Ringing the Changes” was selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery Stories 2006, his story “Sift, Almost Invisible, Through” appeared in the anthology Crimes by Moonlight edited by Charlaine Harris, and his story “Three Cups of Tea” appeared in the anthology Hanzai Japan. He also writes about books for Barnes and Noble and About.com and about the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest, which will publish his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules in 2018. He lives in Hoboken with his wife, The Duchess, and their cats. He considers pants to always be optional.

Reviews

[Melly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got much more out of the marketing side of it than the craft side, but I enjoyed the whole thing thoroughly (and I expected to hate the marketing side, which for me is usually boring as fuck.)

The style is friendly without being smarmy, pally, a bit like Bird by Bird in that way, though the book isn't much like Bird by Bird at all. It reads like this dude sat down next to you at the bar and decided to keep talking as long as you kept paying.

Super-fun, probably at least a little bit informative no matter who you are, and lovely to behold, besides.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few writing guides over the years, and generally they've left me underwhelmed (because they were full of things I'd already worked out for myself) or anxious (because all the things set forward as 'rules' are the antithesis to my own style of working). Jeff Somer's Writing Without Rules is therefore a breath of fresh air in an oft-stagnant pool. Rather than outlining firm dos and don'ts, Somers present a variety of options to suit any writing style, with emphasis on everyone finding their own way of working. Along the way, he shares amusing anecdotes on his own writing journey and hilarious footnotes that are well worth reading alongside the main text. If you are a budding author and only plan to read one writing guide, make it this one. It offers some wonderful tips and nuggets of advice without preaching a particular path, and by the time I put it down, I was bursting with enthusiasm and ideas for current and future projects. I think every author should pick up a copy of this book. It will spark your creativity as well as giving you a good laugh.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book on writing.

[Camille McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really helpful if you're not a type-A personality and you are not especially organized so you have a lot of ideas but aren't going to just write every day and bang out a story like a robot. So much writing advice centers on writing every day, outlining, and other habits that are a lot better for rationally-minded people but not so great for intuitively-minded people like myself. I feel like Jeff Somers is similar to me in this way, so I really related to his advice. He doesn't take himself too seriously, either, which makes this book different from other writing how-to books. I enjoyed his sense of humor, though at times all the footnotes got a little distracting for me. I learned a lot from this book and it was nice to hear it from a successful author who is not a runaway bestseller but makes a decent living from his work. He is realistic, down-to-earth, and does a good job of separating the important things about writing from the tips that may work for some people but not for everyone. I definitely enjoyed this and will recommend it to all my writing friends.

[Delia Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book only confirmed what my rebel mind already knew about writing. One should do what works best. You can listen to advice from others but if it doesn"t make sense to you, don't do it.

I love how the author addresses the writer as an individual and not a collective group of writers that must follow a certain set of rules. He uses humor to explore the process of writing and learning how to do what works for you as an individual writer. And, footnotes, lots and lots of footnotes.

There were many moments where I laughed out loud while reading and my children looked at me like I was a six-headed dragon. It's an insightful, humorous, and practical guide to figuring out your own writing rules.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

First and foremost, this was a bizarre read. It's as though the writer wishes to affirm his writing bona fides by flaunting his social awkwardness bona fides. Yikes! Still, there are lots of interesting nuggets here. However, one has to wade into the morass of weirdness to find them. It can be a damned tough slog at times, but serious writers may find it worth the slog. You've been warned!

[Colin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review on my blog: http://www.colindsmith.com/blog/2018/...

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Pantser/Plantser, this is the ideal writing book. Somers gives great advice, in a funny, easy to swallow way. And also allows that his way may not be the way that works for you! (love a man who covers all the bases)
However, this book has absolutely inspired me to take on his methods (well, I may keep my pants on, not adopt 5 cats, and keep my drinking to a reasonable level, but other than that...). I won't go into detail what methods I'm talking about, cause you need to get the book. Man's got a drinking habit and 5-ish cats to support after all. But I will say, if you're writer, specifically of the Pantser variety, this is the book for you.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not wearing pants 😉 as I write this review of Jeffrey Somers’ wacky, wild and very helpful guide to writing ... he said I didn’t have to!
He’s my kind of guru. No ego but immensely wise in his prescriptions or lack thereof. Recommended for writers of all stripes and all levels of expertise. Thanks to the author, I can put my pants back on and shop my finished work out there in the real world. 😁

NetGalley and F+W Media, hearty thanks for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#WritingWithoutRules #NetGalley

[Kari Veenstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good with lots of valuable insights into the world of writing. As a novelist, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Dennis Mitton]

For every writer who agonizes for days about writing with Word or Scrivener or Novlr, Somers has advice for you: “Good gawd, man. Sit your butt in a chair and write.” I have to agree. In Writing Without Rules (WWR), he strips away the rules that have been developed by big business and gatekeepers.

Gatekeepers and Big Business aren’t all bad, and Somers doesn’t really address that. I know that when I pick up a book published by Penguin, it will be at least readable and probably enjoyable. For that, they sift through a heavy slush pile and cull what doesn’t fit their business plan. That’s okay with me, and I don't hold it against them. That’s the flip side of WWR.

In WWR, Somers mostly skewers the self-imposed rules the writing community shackles itself with, but don't imagine that following his advice will get you magically published: you still have to write readable prose. The only magic I know of that confers this jelly drop of sunshine is hard work and lots and lots of writing and reading. And coffee.

But being a writer is so much more than writing, and that’s what Somers addresses. He wants to get you out of your own way to just start writing. He sifts through the whole shebang of plot, characters, and dialog and ends with lawyers and self-publishing. They all get the same treatment: Go for it. Without being in any way pedantic, Somers advice throughout WWR reminds me of the sage advice about my brain from my neuro: “If it works, keep doing it. If it doesn’t, quit and do something else.” It's that easy and that hard.

My take is that seasoned writers will enjoy the book. If you’ve spent years of your life and a hundred thousand dollars earning your MFA, you might not. He makes light of most sacred cows, and, c’mon, I’ve taken plenty of lit courses and know that sacred cows are, well, sacred. He doesn't care much about any of them. And he is VERY FOND of pretty bad jokes. Be prepared for both.

I sense that a brand new writer will still struggle with knowing what in the world to do next. But, if you write, and if you struggle with any part of the process, you’ll laugh and get a few pointers. The book is a whole lot more entertaining and has a lot more information than my nutshell, but I dish it out my summary just the same: have fun, enjoy yourself, loosen your belt, and have at it. Stop when you’re done and watch the game.

Three stars.

[Diane Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a writer who endlessly revises stories. Who complains that I don't have enough time to work on my endless rewrites. Who never completes novels because writing by the seat of my pants leads me to roads without end, or to dead-ends. So when I came across an article in the January 2019 issue of Writer's Digest titled: The 9-Minute Novelist, I opened the magazine instead of tossing it on my stack of Magazines to Read Someday When I Have Endless Amounts of Time. The article was written by Jeff Somers.

His advice of using 9-minute segments to write a novel appealed to my time-strapped mentality. His method of "plantsing" (a word that spell-check wants to reject), appealed to my instinct to pants my way through a novel until I get stuck, then switch to...dare I say it?...plotting to get my way out of the mess. And his hilarious footnotes on the bottom of every page appealed to the comic in me.

So naturally, I got his book.

In the book, he goes in-depth on what he touched upon in the Writer's Digest article, and then some. There's a chapter on where ideas come from and how to harness them. He talks about craft techniques like character and setting. He shares his take on revision, and covers the benefits of agents, the pros and cons of self-and traditional-publishing, and the pitfalls to avoid in promoting your work and building your platform. And yes, those hilarious footnotes appear on nearly every page, which I wanted to avoid as they interrupted my flow of thought, yet couldn't resist reading. But the most important lesson I took away is this: it's more important to get something done than get it perfect. Because the more you write, the better you get.

The only critique I have of the book is that after 30 minutes of reading, I started THINKING in footnotes.

This insanity, I'm pleased to report, ended after I finished the book.

If you're a novelist, do yourself a favor. Buy "Writing Without Rules." It's well worth having in your collection to refer to when mentally constipated, or to remind yourself that even a so-called lazy writer like Jeff Somers can become a successful published author. (Although writing a short story a month is hardly lazy, if you ask me.)

[Miles O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

f I were a petty person, I would downgrade this book to, say, 2 stars. Why? Because it's a book I wish I had written. But Jeff did a great job- better than I would have done. If nothing else, he added the word "plansting" to the writer's lexicon. It's brilliant.
But there's not nothing else (double negative alert!); there's far more. Between a style that frequently had me grinning, snickering, and even laughing out loud (Dave Barry fans will love this book!) and the way he weaves in vignettes from his own experience, I didn't want to put this down.
But I did, over and over, because while you will learn things[0] from this book if you read straight through, you will learn even more if you pause at least once a chapter to let things soak in.
Writing Without Rules covers a lot of ground: the process of writing; agents and publishers; an abhorrence of pants[1]; promotion; social media usage; editing; traditional vs self publishing; and more! One chapter is a witty short story, in which Jeff is hauled to Death's door as he explains how to supplement your income with short fiction. You'll have to read it to find out if he lives or not.
For years I have recommended Writing Down the Bones (Nat Goldberg) to anyone interested in writing. As of this week, I'm recommending Writing Without Rules as well. Aspiring writers will get a lot out of this book. Seasoned writers will still pick up some tricks. And everyone with a sense of humor will enjoy it. If not, Jeff has a liberal refunds policy (he liberally mentions "no refunds" throughout the book[3]).
I'm not aware of any other book on writing that mentions the fact that you can write while being dragged away by riot police! Also, his agent is a shark.

[0] At least three, and probably seventy nine
[1] Which I share[2]
[2] We also share a love of footnotes.
[3] As if booksellers base their policies on author suggestions. Were that the case, we'd all be rich!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Somers's Avery Cates series because it's clear the author is having so much fun writing it, so it made sense to pick up his advice on writing book.

Are you the kind of person that likes to plan everything for your vacation right down to meals before you leave because you're likely that kind of methodical, planning writer too, and you probably won't like this book.

Me, I love spontaneity. Let me book my lodgings and figure out how/when I need to travel to those lodgings and I will wing the rest of my itinerary as I go. I like to have an idea of the beginning and end of my writing and a few key points in between, but I'll figure out the rest writing my way there.

So many writing books will tell you, "you need to outline." or "Write every day" or "write what you know."

What Somers is saying is, "There's no magic formula for how to do this." There are some loose guidelines and a few rules, but once you know and understand them, you can break them. He gives multiple examples from his own career how just writing what you love and keeping at it works too. Without the outline (or with it) Writing what you know, or making it all up.

He's also very honest and informs would-be writers that he's written many manuscripts that are still unpublished...but he doesn't care. He's honest about how little money there is in writing, and he's honest about how you can still make it. He has advice on creating a platform and social media presence, that won't really sell books, except somehow it helps.

The book was fun to read, because the author clearly sticks to his maxim, "I'm only writing what's for me because that will make it fun for readers."

It's far and away my new favorite book on the subject.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it has been a long time since I tried my hand at creative writing, I still sometimes find myself picking up a book of the "you can write, too" variety. Of those, this is a decent one. Somers writes with self-deprecating wit, describing himself as lazy, a drinker, a shambolic bumbler, but one who nonetheless makes a living writing fiction. I liked his lack of pretension, and thought his discussions of the nuts and bolts of characterization and dialogue were quite good. He also is good at addressing the sorts of practical things aspiring writers might want to learn from someone who has achieved some success. Not too long ago I read John Gardner's The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers . This is quite a different kettle of fish. Gardner describes writing literature as a high calling for a select few. Somers is not like that. His fun and unpretentious tone encourages aspiring writers to see themselves in Somers. He provides some good advice, too, on both writing fiction and the profession of writing, particularly about agents and selling your novel once it is written. Probably this book would appeal most to young men who read a lot of fantasy, SF, and mysteries and who aspire to write the same.

[Jason Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have hopes of being a professional writer this book is both encouraging and terrifying.

The author does a great job of demystifying the world of publishing and the life of an author. His self-deprecating sense of humor makes you feel like he's nothing special and he hasn't gone anything you can't also do. I really enjoyed his many anecdotes and real world examples of how his books came to life, how much money he actually sold some of them for, and all the many, many things he tried (and sometimes failed) to do to become successful and sell more stories and books.

On the other hand, the author paints a terrifying picture of just how random and inconsistent the world of publishing can be. The author spent years and years developing various works that eventually sold but at no time does he make it sound like a walk in the park (despite his continued insistence that all he really does is sit around pantless, sipping whiskey, and making up stories). While the author claims there's nothing inherently hard about writing, he sort of dispels that notion with the fact that he has worked very hard to end up where he's at.

I did envoy the book and the author is amusing even if he's not always laugh-out-loud funny. I breezed through the whole thing in a couple of days but I do feel like I learned a lot from the content.

[JT Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful and well written, two things I believe are hard to find, but perhaps I haven't read enough seeing as this is my first "book-writing help book". There were a few things I felt that interrupted the flow of the book though, like the unconventional tips that seemed to butt in and make me forgot what the previous paragraph had stated. Despite this I found that the unconventional tips were very useful. I also didn't quite enjoy all of the little annotations at the bottom of each page, the keyword there though is "all" I found that some of them either provided some great expansion on the topic at hand or a very well-timed comedic joke. This book also opened up my eyes to just how easy-hard writing a book is, I've always had a very grand and complicated image in my head of how the publishing, promoting, and general writing world is supposed to work, but this book showed me just how simple all of these aspects can be. But my overall favorite message of the book was how no journey is going to be the same and anyone who tells you it will be is trying to sell you something. Also this book worked well as promotion for yourself, Jeff Somers, as I now will most definitely seek out one of your books just to see how the magic of pantlessness comes across in fiction :)

[Angela Maher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the idea of this book, after all a lot of books about writing say you "must" do certain things, and I like to do what works for me. Some of what the author said aligned with my own views, and it was nice to see someone standing up and declaring that certain, well-known "rules" are rubbish for a lot of people.
In the end, this book just didn't click with me. The first issue was the footnotes. An occasional footnote is fine, and used properly, they are great. This book is full of them, with something like 27 in the first chapter alone. Most were unnecessary, and it was really disruptive to the flow of the book.
The narrative feels messy, with frequent digressions (aided by the footnotes). It has a lot of autobiographical content, which is fine if you want to know about the writer, but much of what was in here had little to do with the business of writing, which is what most people would buy it for.
The author admits to disliking using beta readers, and doing revisions. Unfortunately this book would have been a lot better if he'd utilised them more.
I received my copy through NetGalley.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say, it was a little difficult for me to get into this book at first... but it definitely grew on me over time. The author's tone of self-deprecation, while being funny at times, was so repetitive at the start that it seemed that the whole point of writing the book was to brag about how drunk and lazy he was, while still being able to write. This rubbed me the wrong way for a while.

However, as I continued on through the chapters, I found the straight-forward advice to be very helpful and the overall structure of the book leads the reader all the way through the writing and publishing process. As someone that's just starting to get back into writing, I was encouraged by the main points the author makes. Recurring themes included the importance of writing regularly, not being confined by "ideas", not being afraid to make mistakes, and writing in a way that makes you happy.

By the end, Somers makes it clear that being a writer is hard work, but there are many ways to be successful at it. This, I think, was my biggest takeaway. I would definitely recommend this is a resource for anyone that wants to write a book and is looking for a light, fun "how to" guide.

[Preethi V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing Without Rules reminds us that the most important step you can take towards being a writer is actually writing. It kinda reminded me of weight loss advice. We all know the only way to lose weight is to exercise more and eat less/ healthy, but the real challenge is following that advice.

In this book, the author offers tidbits of unconventional advice, urging writers to stick with whatever process works for them. I liked his focus on finishing books rather than following the perfect process. I could relate to a lot of that advice.

The grey boxes of unconventional wisdom included in every chapter alone are worth the price of this book. I recommend it to people who have trouble finishing manuscripts.

Pros:

- Cover (can we take a moment to admire that gorgeous cartoon-print?)
- Short and to-the-point
- Unconventional advice
- Covers all important aspects of a writer's life

Cons:

- Nothing really. This book might not be for everyone, especially more seasoned writers. Like I said, I recommend it to those people who have trouble finishing manuscripts.

Disclaimer: ARC provided by publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Art Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, especially given the subject matter which has the potential to be very dry. My wife went to see Jeff Somers speak (I couldn't make it) at our local bookstore and picked up the book afterward.

Positives: lightly humorous, with good personal anecdotes that bring it down to a personal level. He doesn't shy away from the fact that writing is hard work and the work is just starting when you get your "great idea". It's also a business, and it's important to know how to sell what you enjoy writing.

Negatives: The footnotes were a bit much and made a 250 or so page book into a much longer book. Also some of the recurring jokes were kind of beaten to death (for instance, the whiskey stuff)

I think this is a book that I'll return to if I ever get around to really writing. Once you're immersed in the craft, it's handy to know what to expect as you work your way through the steps of the process. Also if Jeff is ever at Little City Books in Hoboken again I'll be sure to make it this time!

[Ken Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent book on the writing process - albeit a different one - and the post-writing marketing aspect. If you can get past all the jokes, it works okay. We get it. The author does not wear pants, he drinks all the time, he's lazy and his wife is better then he.

That aside, Jeff Somers' book speaks to the common writer, the beginner who still may have hopes of scoring a big book contract and avoiding scores of rejections. Somers, although saying he tends to be on the lazy side often, does work hard. He said he sent out over 100 submissions of collections of short stories that were turned down. A lazy guy wouldn't have done that.

He also gives hope in that he admits he made a lot of typographical errors in his pitch letters and his manuscripts. If he can become successful, why not anyone else?

This is one of those books you should not read all at one time. Read a chapter or two, take a break, read something else and then return to it. It'll inspire the writer in us all and make us think twice about wearing pants.

[Jess Macallan · Rating 4 out of 5]

New and experienced writers will enjoy this funny but honest book on what it takes to be a writer. I giggle-snorted my way through most chapters and appreciated the clever advice Mr. Somers offers through his storytelling. The point of this humorous book is one most writers can appreciate--stop overthinking things and write (pants optional). My favorite line was, "Sometimes writing is easy, and some writers seem to think it should always be easy."

Although the author makes it clear he's incompetent in all areas but drinking, don't let his false modesty fool you. He's got a talent for footnotes too (just kidding, sort of). In all seriousness, this book should be on the shelf with your favorite writing books because it offers a refreshing take on how to cut through the noise and simplify your writing process. I definitely recommend it.

I received an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Corynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I purchased Writing Without Rules on a whim. It has a lot of great advice and it made me laugh a lot. I read a whole bunch out loud to my husband because Jeff Somers' humor is the exact same as his. I am not entirely convinced this isn't a book my husband wrote and slapped a pen name on. The only reason I am thinking that isn't the case is because if he wrote a book and published it before me he would rub that in my face until the day he died and well it is also about writing. In this book you get amazing advice and tips on writing while also getting your funny bone tickled. I usually am not a fan of footnotes (I read them but I hate them interrupting the flow of reading) but in the case of this book his footnotes were magnificent and I was excited to see them at the bottom of the pages. All I can say is this is one of my favorite books on writing I have read and you should most definitely go read it if you are a writer.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of an article I read in the most recent issue of Writer's Digest,, in which author Jeff Somers talked about book signings and the time he read to an empty store. I enjoyed his wry wit, and decided I must read this book.

I'm glad I did. Peppered with witty footnotes alongside excellent advice (including "take what works for you and leave the rest, because there are no real rules"), the book was a joy to read all on its own. That it was replete with expertise was almost like icing on an entertaining cake.

In fact, one of the later chapters on short fiction inspired me to pull out a project that was falling apart, because I figured out how to better use the material. That alone made this book well worth the price.

Highly recommended for all authors.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the tone of this book, which doesn't take itself too seriously--or rather, it takes itself precisely as seriously as the author takes himself, which seems to be not at all. In spite of the casual chat-at-a-bar tone this book's advice often takes, it is GOOD advice, and very reassuring. There is a lot that boils down to, "I'm not going to tell you this is the be-all end-all of how to do things, but here's what worked for me and why. Here's how much luck was involved. Here's why it may or may not work for you." The No One True Way approach really appealed to me, and it's definitely the message that came through in every single chapter.

This book managed to both energize me and give me some insights I really needed as someone who hasn't (yet) been published, and I'm looking forward to keeping everything I've learned in mind as I carry on my journey.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was informative with lots of useful tips. He doesn’t give solid rules, just some basic advice. He shares a number of amusing stories from his own writing journey. There are numerous footnotes, and many are quite funny, but they get to be a bit overwhelming at times. In general, the book is far more lighthearted than other writing books I’ve read. Somers discusses the writing process, but he also gives advice on publishing and marketing. Some things aren’t necessarily new ideas, but they’re good reminders (such as the importance of writing and that rejections are part of the process). This book could be helpful to writers of various levels.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

[Jackie Pick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts hilarious, encouraging, and useful, Writing Without Rules is a kick-in-the-pants/pat-on-the-back book. Somers shares his experiences as an author who seemingly has done all the right things and all the wrong ones, the entirety of which lend him playful authority, which he uses carefully. (He points out several times that his process worked [or didn’t] for him, and might work for you, but it’s not gospel. Unless it works, in which case, yes, it is gospel.) In addition to – or perhaps in spite of – the subject, this book is great fun. This is the best gift, the reminder to Dear Reader that we cannot take ourselves so seriously, that the act of creating – of literally making things up – should have more than a small dash of joy. Highly recommend.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The good: this is a lightheaded, amusing book. Somers has a great comic voice.

The bad: despite the title, Somers gives all sorts of Guidelines and Rules. Some are decent, but some flat out don't work for me. Even worse, while some of the rules that Somers sets out include caveats, some don't, and those are precisely the rules that don't work for me.

For instance, Somers says that you must finish every story you start. While this may work for him, it doesn't work at all for me. If a story isn't working for me at a fundamental level, often it is better for me to set it aside and write something that does work.

Overall, I didn't find the book very helpful and don't remember a single new piece of advice that I can use.

[Anthony Brigano · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this book was marred I force you to jump all over the page between the main text, footnotes, and blurbs. It interrupted any semblance of rhythm. The other issue I had is that this guy absolutely hammers anything he thinks is funny .to the point where I wanted to throw the book across the room. I wish I wasn’t too lazy to go back and count, because I am almost certain that there are more jokes about drinking alcohol in this book than there are pages. It is absolutely relentless.

With that being said, it is not all bad. In fact, for some of you who share his sense of humor, it won’t be bad period. There’s not a lot of direction on planning and pre-writing, but it does motivate you to stop making excuses and write. And also to finish projects.