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QuitBooks for Writers #1
Dear Writer, You Need to Quit
I know, I know, you don’t want to quit writing, and I’m not going to convince you to quit writing. (I’m really not trying to do that…)
But what if you could quit other things? Things that weren’t moving the needle? Things that weren’t bringing you the outcome you want? And there are *so* many things you do need to quit, if you want to be a career author.
How do I know this? Because I’ve coached thousands of writers. Six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. And there are very important patterns to what writers need to quit, what we need to keep, and what we need to question.
Those patterns are why I’m here, writing to you.
Anyone can tell you what worked for them, and of course they can say, "it might not work for you," but they can't tell you why. I can tell you why.
- Becca
But what if you could quit other things? Things that weren’t moving the needle? Things that weren’t bringing you the outcome you want? And there are *so* many things you do need to quit, if you want to be a career author.
How do I know this? Because I’ve coached thousands of writers. Six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. And there are very important patterns to what writers need to quit, what we need to keep, and what we need to question.
Those patterns are why I’m here, writing to you.
Anyone can tell you what worked for them, and of course they can say, "it might not work for you," but they can't tell you why. I can tell you why.
- Becca
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2019
267 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
About the author
Becca Syme
10 books73 followersBecca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for almost fifteen years. She’s coached 4,700+ individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is the host of the YouTube QuitCast channel and a mystery author. She lives in the mountains of Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
January 12, 2022
This book. Yes. Just yes. I would recommend it to pretty much all of my writer friends.
This is not a how-to book. It barely scratches the surface of how to become a better, faster, more effective, more productive writer.
What it does do is to take a sledgehammer to some of the myths and lies and well-intentioned advice that's cluttering up your path.
Some background on me... I've known for a long time that I don't fit comfortably into some aspects of the "typical" writer's mode. I can't place myself easily on the plotter vs. pantser scale. I *gasp* edit while I write, because to me, the rhythm and flow of words on the page is half of the pleasure of writing. I cannot diagram my plots (or, to be fair, anyone's plots) in a three-act structure to save my life.
Where I buck the trend a little (and why I may not have needed this book quite as much as some people might) is that I've come to accept that some of these differences are just how I write, and trying to change them is going to be counterproductive because it's just going to break all the parts of the process that are already working for me. But in becoming comfortable with these aspects of me, there's another lie that I've unintentionally swallowed, and that is that my process is inherently "weird" or "wrong," but that's okay because it works for me.
That, my friends, is the lie that this book shattered.
Like I said, this is not a how-to book. It doesn't promise to make you a six-figure author, or teach you to write a book a month, or give you a shiny formula for a successful book. What it does do is gently and humorously and sometimes bluntly shove the truth in your face. Dear author, you are unique. You have strengths and weaknesses and ways your brain is wired to work, and trying to pin yourself down to another author's system while ignoring what makes your writing so beautifully you is only going to end in heartache and frustration and a lingering sense of failure. I'm right there, even though I've bucked the trend. If taking some big-name writer's advice leaves you feeling hopeless, maybe the problem isn't you! And to be fair, maybe it's not the big-name writer either. Maybe it's the simple fact that you. Aren't. Them. (Shocking, right?)
I'll shut my mouth now before I spoil the point of the whole book, but let's just say that after reading it, I feel freer than I have in a long time. Free to do what I've already been doing, but without tacking on little apologetic caveats about my total ineptness at story structure. ("A reviewer said they couldn't put the book down? That's weird because I wouldn't know a three-act structure if it hit me in the face...") Free to skip reading writing blogs that don't resonate with my style, and not to feel guilty about it. Free to concentrate on finding and fixing the things that are actually getting in the way of writing the stories I want to in the way I do it best, rather than trying the hundredth new character worksheet because maybe this one will finally work.
If any of that resonates with you, then I highly recommend this book. It's not easy answers, it's not simple formulas, it's not even definite solutions. It's a bit tough-love at times. But so, so freeing. Thank you, Becca, from an author who had already figured out part of the point but feels so much better knowing she isn't a delusional freak for being happy in her own skin. :)
Content--a few instances of language
This is not a how-to book. It barely scratches the surface of how to become a better, faster, more effective, more productive writer.
What it does do is to take a sledgehammer to some of the myths and lies and well-intentioned advice that's cluttering up your path.
Some background on me... I've known for a long time that I don't fit comfortably into some aspects of the "typical" writer's mode. I can't place myself easily on the plotter vs. pantser scale. I *gasp* edit while I write, because to me, the rhythm and flow of words on the page is half of the pleasure of writing. I cannot diagram my plots (or, to be fair, anyone's plots) in a three-act structure to save my life.
Where I buck the trend a little (and why I may not have needed this book quite as much as some people might) is that I've come to accept that some of these differences are just how I write, and trying to change them is going to be counterproductive because it's just going to break all the parts of the process that are already working for me. But in becoming comfortable with these aspects of me, there's another lie that I've unintentionally swallowed, and that is that my process is inherently "weird" or "wrong," but that's okay because it works for me.
That, my friends, is the lie that this book shattered.
Like I said, this is not a how-to book. It doesn't promise to make you a six-figure author, or teach you to write a book a month, or give you a shiny formula for a successful book. What it does do is gently and humorously and sometimes bluntly shove the truth in your face. Dear author, you are unique. You have strengths and weaknesses and ways your brain is wired to work, and trying to pin yourself down to another author's system while ignoring what makes your writing so beautifully you is only going to end in heartache and frustration and a lingering sense of failure. I'm right there, even though I've bucked the trend. If taking some big-name writer's advice leaves you feeling hopeless, maybe the problem isn't you! And to be fair, maybe it's not the big-name writer either. Maybe it's the simple fact that you. Aren't. Them. (Shocking, right?)
I'll shut my mouth now before I spoil the point of the whole book, but let's just say that after reading it, I feel freer than I have in a long time. Free to do what I've already been doing, but without tacking on little apologetic caveats about my total ineptness at story structure. ("A reviewer said they couldn't put the book down? That's weird because I wouldn't know a three-act structure if it hit me in the face...") Free to skip reading writing blogs that don't resonate with my style, and not to feel guilty about it. Free to concentrate on finding and fixing the things that are actually getting in the way of writing the stories I want to in the way I do it best, rather than trying the hundredth new character worksheet because maybe this one will finally work.
If any of that resonates with you, then I highly recommend this book. It's not easy answers, it's not simple formulas, it's not even definite solutions. It's a bit tough-love at times. But so, so freeing. Thank you, Becca, from an author who had already figured out part of the point but feels so much better knowing she isn't a delusional freak for being happy in her own skin. :)
Content--a few instances of language
February 16, 2019
A fellow author strongly recommended this book to me, and I am so, so glad. I've read a LOT of non-fiction about business, habits, writing, inspiration - you name it. I'm a HUGE fan of Cal Newport's Deep Work, Greg McKeown's Essentialist, Alex Ping's Rest -- and for authors, Dear Writer, You Need to Quit is now next to (er, in my digital space) them in terms of useful, thought-provoking advice that isn't really advice (and that's good).
Syme takes so many myths and disintegrates them, because general advice just doesn't work in the self-publishing space. Period. Other than "write a book that readers want to read" and "make your cover fit the genre," how we write what we write and how we build our audiences is SO individualistic. Time after time, I felt like I was being smacked in the face with a reality I knew, but saw through a slightly different lens, one that provided clarity (and, at times, a gut punch). I HIGHLY recommend this book, and am now planning to take one of Syme's courses.
Syme takes so many myths and disintegrates them, because general advice just doesn't work in the self-publishing space. Period. Other than "write a book that readers want to read" and "make your cover fit the genre," how we write what we write and how we build our audiences is SO individualistic. Time after time, I felt like I was being smacked in the face with a reality I knew, but saw through a slightly different lens, one that provided clarity (and, at times, a gut punch). I HIGHLY recommend this book, and am now planning to take one of Syme's courses.
January 29, 2019
“As a writer, you don’t get stuck in a book because you’re stupid. You get stuck in a book because there’s something off in your system...productivity is complicated.”
Becca takes the “you do you” mantra further making it “you do the best you.” Instead of willy nilly adopting systems and processes that work for other writers, she encourages the reader to dig deep into their personality, environment, platform, resources and patterns to determine what, as an individual, makes a person’s writing process work better. Focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses is a game changer, providing for exponential growth.
While I’ve taken several of Becca’s fantastic writing courses and am a coaching client, this book provides a great tool to continue to optimize my writing process. For me, understanding my Gallup Strengths and how they affect my endeavors and interactions with others helped me to appreciate the things that make me unique and special, and to end the frustration of trying adopt systems that would never work for me.
Note: This book shows why all writing systems don’t work for everyone and how to go about finding the ones that will work. The deep work in understanding one’s specific personality and how it can used to optimize the writing process is done in Becca’s workshops. However, this book is an excellent reference tool and a great step in understanding her philosophy and how it can work for each person.
A reader can find a wealth of information in this book and make the decision if they want to take the next step to create a personalized program. Becca encourages the reader to stop making assumptions and to instead, question premises. She reminds us that writing can be hard and that we shouldn’t expect it to be easy. A fact that helps me immensely when I find myself getting frustrated while staring at the blank page.
Becca takes the “you do you” mantra further making it “you do the best you.” Instead of willy nilly adopting systems and processes that work for other writers, she encourages the reader to dig deep into their personality, environment, platform, resources and patterns to determine what, as an individual, makes a person’s writing process work better. Focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses is a game changer, providing for exponential growth.
While I’ve taken several of Becca’s fantastic writing courses and am a coaching client, this book provides a great tool to continue to optimize my writing process. For me, understanding my Gallup Strengths and how they affect my endeavors and interactions with others helped me to appreciate the things that make me unique and special, and to end the frustration of trying adopt systems that would never work for me.
Note: This book shows why all writing systems don’t work for everyone and how to go about finding the ones that will work. The deep work in understanding one’s specific personality and how it can used to optimize the writing process is done in Becca’s workshops. However, this book is an excellent reference tool and a great step in understanding her philosophy and how it can work for each person.
A reader can find a wealth of information in this book and make the decision if they want to take the next step to create a personalized program. Becca encourages the reader to stop making assumptions and to instead, question premises. She reminds us that writing can be hard and that we shouldn’t expect it to be easy. A fact that helps me immensely when I find myself getting frustrated while staring at the blank page.
June 18, 2021
There are about two pages of really good material in here. And between that, there is self-aggrandizing, and ENDLESS selling of her services to you. It's mostly ad. I suspect she might defend that as "monetizing" and "platforming." (Why people who are allegedly writers, with some basic sensitivity to language, jump onto the business community's ruination-of-language bus, goddess alone knows.) But hey, sugar pie, this is already "monetized." It has a cover price. See how that works?
When I encountered the TRADEMARKED TERM "STRENGTHS" as applied to human psychology, I wanted to slap the author, and then storm to the US trademark office to find the idiot who has allowed insane/greedy people to trademark words like "invasion" for SF and "cock' for erotic romance and "Strength" for self help, and rip off his testicles and choke him with them, and then hit him so hard with a bat about the head for such a long time that seasoned homicide detectives would call it "the worst blood spatter I've ever seen." Good thing I live a ways from DC.
My library bought it. I've written them a letter asking them to quit buying books that are basically ads for the author's other shit, pretty please.
When I encountered the TRADEMARKED TERM "STRENGTHS" as applied to human psychology, I wanted to slap the author, and then storm to the US trademark office to find the idiot who has allowed insane/greedy people to trademark words like "invasion" for SF and "cock' for erotic romance and "Strength" for self help, and rip off his testicles and choke him with them, and then hit him so hard with a bat about the head for such a long time that seasoned homicide detectives would call it "the worst blood spatter I've ever seen." Good thing I live a ways from DC.
My library bought it. I've written them a letter asking them to quit buying books that are basically ads for the author's other shit, pretty please.
May 11, 2025
All writers need this book.
December 23, 2019
I have read so many books on writing without writing that I feel it's become my official career to write about books about writing.
Dear Writer, You Need to Quit is a good book about writing and manages to put a bit of a unique spin on the usual advice. Instead of addressing story structure, plot, characters and other mechanics, or providing the nitty gritty about finding a good agent or other specifics of the business of writing, Becca Syme instead tackles the things a new or indie writer needs to quit doing--including up to the possibility of not writing anymore.
It's a light read and the tone is conversational--perhaps a bit too much at times--and the way Syme repeats key phrases, like "QTP" (Question The Premise) makes sections of the book feel more like a transcription of a class or talk (which it is, more or less, based on material she uses in coaching sessions and classes). On the plus side, this lends a kind of authenticity to the topics, as Syme isn't just writing what sounds good, she's providing advice based on her own experiences with authors. As a bonus, she is not afraid to point out where she has plainly blown it herself.
A lot of the book is built around tempering expectations and looking after yourself while pursuing the dream of making a living as a writer. Syme flatly states that for most people that this will not happen. Don't quit your job is not a cliché here, it is a repeated mantra. Chapters are spent framing writing as a hobby you might make a little money from, but that's all. Do it because you love it, but work it into your existing routines, don't forfeit your job, time and money pursuing a dream that is unlikely to come true.
That sounds like a downer, and Syme admits as much--that if you don't have the drive, it's perfectly fine to just quit writing altogether.
She does address more specific topics, too, taking on the idea that you must plot out your story first (or just improvise and never plot), pulling back to essentially say what works for one writer may not work for you. Do what works for you.
In all, this is a breezy and eminently sensible set of tips on how to tackle the writing life. While it seems aimed at indie writers who have a few published novels already, new writers will benefit from at least considering the advice on offer.
Recommended.
Dear Writer, You Need to Quit is a good book about writing and manages to put a bit of a unique spin on the usual advice. Instead of addressing story structure, plot, characters and other mechanics, or providing the nitty gritty about finding a good agent or other specifics of the business of writing, Becca Syme instead tackles the things a new or indie writer needs to quit doing--including up to the possibility of not writing anymore.
It's a light read and the tone is conversational--perhaps a bit too much at times--and the way Syme repeats key phrases, like "QTP" (Question The Premise) makes sections of the book feel more like a transcription of a class or talk (which it is, more or less, based on material she uses in coaching sessions and classes). On the plus side, this lends a kind of authenticity to the topics, as Syme isn't just writing what sounds good, she's providing advice based on her own experiences with authors. As a bonus, she is not afraid to point out where she has plainly blown it herself.
A lot of the book is built around tempering expectations and looking after yourself while pursuing the dream of making a living as a writer. Syme flatly states that for most people that this will not happen. Don't quit your job is not a cliché here, it is a repeated mantra. Chapters are spent framing writing as a hobby you might make a little money from, but that's all. Do it because you love it, but work it into your existing routines, don't forfeit your job, time and money pursuing a dream that is unlikely to come true.
That sounds like a downer, and Syme admits as much--that if you don't have the drive, it's perfectly fine to just quit writing altogether.
She does address more specific topics, too, taking on the idea that you must plot out your story first (or just improvise and never plot), pulling back to essentially say what works for one writer may not work for you. Do what works for you.
In all, this is a breezy and eminently sensible set of tips on how to tackle the writing life. While it seems aimed at indie writers who have a few published novels already, new writers will benefit from at least considering the advice on offer.
Recommended.
July 5, 2024
I heard about this book from clare lydon’s recommendation on Lesbians Who Write podcast. It’s been one of the only craft books I’ve read cover to cover and I feel inspired to question the premise and to do the damn work.
It’s a fast paced fantastic read.
The rest of the title as you discover when you read it really should be:
Dear writer, you need to quit … trying to be like others.
I loved this book and just might have to get it in paperback to have on my craft books shelf as a good reminder to reread (in part or full) when I need that extra oomph in a dark moment of writing.
It’s a fast paced fantastic read.
The rest of the title as you discover when you read it really should be:
Dear writer, you need to quit … trying to be like others.
I loved this book and just might have to get it in paperback to have on my craft books shelf as a good reminder to reread (in part or full) when I need that extra oomph in a dark moment of writing.
January 18, 2025
It was great to revisit this book in 2025. There’s a lot of essential wisdom in here that can help you improve in so many ways beyond writing process. Always question the premise.
December 14, 2024
Good stuff in here for us wannabe writers. It was written during the gold rush (I don't think anyone is trying to put out a book a month anymore), but lots still applies. I was very interested in the chapter on how the publishing industry works and the good reminder that most books just plain don't sell.
November 29, 2019
Extremely thought provoking, especially for indie authors. I recommend this for all creatives!
August 24, 2019
This is an honest look into what derails writers and how we can navigate that territory. It is more directed toward authors who are self publishing, using Amazon as a platform, and/or believe they should be writing a book a month. This is NOT the kind of writer I am! However, I still found many useful tidbits when it comes to productivity and self-sabotage. I also appreciate the simple fact that this book reminds me I am not alone in my struggles. I liked the core concept of the book, which is Always Question the Premise, meaning if you're thinking I should be doing X, you need to ask yourself if that's really true (it's not.) Ultimately this book is about breaking down our misconceptions about ourselves and what we think we should be doing as writers, versus what we are capable of. It's also a guide on how to recognize what you're doing well as a writer and to set yourself up to succeed.
January 14, 2022
Irritating Style And Wants To Sell You More Stuff
There were some interesting bits in this book but the author's style grated on my nerves. I'm sure plenty of people will like it, but her literary voice made me want to yank her chair away from her at the last second.
The other thing that really bothered me was the promotion of more stuff, like the strength index thingy. Oh, I need to take a 20 buck test so I can rEaLlY understand this system you're certified in? Nah, lady, I picked up a book - I expect it to be self contained. Every time I saw a big old circle R I just about rolled my eyes out of my head.
I could see this working better for someone else, but I just don't mesh with her personality, and this is a book that showcases it. Maybe you'll like it, or maybe you're like me and we can trash talk it in the corner together.
There were some interesting bits in this book but the author's style grated on my nerves. I'm sure plenty of people will like it, but her literary voice made me want to yank her chair away from her at the last second.
The other thing that really bothered me was the promotion of more stuff, like the strength index thingy. Oh, I need to take a 20 buck test so I can rEaLlY understand this system you're certified in? Nah, lady, I picked up a book - I expect it to be self contained. Every time I saw a big old circle R I just about rolled my eyes out of my head.
I could see this working better for someone else, but I just don't mesh with her personality, and this is a book that showcases it. Maybe you'll like it, or maybe you're like me and we can trash talk it in the corner together.
Read
January 26, 2021Some excellent advice in this book for the struggling author, although it is necessarily rather generalised, and I felt I was already intuitively grasping a lot of it. But, it did provoke some hard thinking in some areas. Becca's book provides a good dose of realism and encourages authors to work with rather than against their strengths...even if that means they'll never make a full-time living off their work.
April 12, 2023
Finally got to this little kick in the pants that has been on my TBR for some time. The past me knew what the present me needed, apparently. More work to do, but this was a really good start in getting me to think differently about my processes and most importantly… not to beat myself up about them. Going to lean into my strengths a bit harder now in all aspects of my life. Get ready for 156 pages of tough love writer friend.
Read
November 25, 2020In recent months, I've watched all of Becca Syme's QuitCast videos, and her systems-based, Strengths-based approach really resonates with me. (I now have an entire journal dedicated to Strengths development, for both writing and wider life stuff.) A lot of what's covered in this book is also covered in her videos, but I appreciated this format as well.
This book is about mindset shifts, self-analysis, and process alignment. That might be useful to where you are as a writer. It's big-picture and tough on provoking awareness of yourself and your decision making processes (subconscious or not).
One of my favorites of her videos: Question the Premise: Outline Your Book to Get Faster. I've long been frustrated by how ineffective outlining was for me. I mean, I understand how story structure works! I can analyze the heck out of stories! So why did outlining never end up with me writing a story I liked? Becca utilizes a lot of metaphors in this video, and each one lit a lightbulb overhead for me. (I use immersive, subjective tools when writing. That's how I make decisions! The whole plotting-vs-pantsing dynamic that the online writing world has inherited has always been monstrously tedious and useless to me, but this was actually very helpful, providing me with both a way to shift my attitude, focus on what I'm naturally good at--and develop those skills further--and give me a language to talk about it beyond the plotting-vs-pantsing bullshit.)
This book is about mindset shifts, self-analysis, and process alignment. That might be useful to where you are as a writer. It's big-picture and tough on provoking awareness of yourself and your decision making processes (subconscious or not).
One of my favorites of her videos: Question the Premise: Outline Your Book to Get Faster. I've long been frustrated by how ineffective outlining was for me. I mean, I understand how story structure works! I can analyze the heck out of stories! So why did outlining never end up with me writing a story I liked? Becca utilizes a lot of metaphors in this video, and each one lit a lightbulb overhead for me. (I use immersive, subjective tools when writing. That's how I make decisions! The whole plotting-vs-pantsing dynamic that the online writing world has inherited has always been monstrously tedious and useless to me, but this was actually very helpful, providing me with both a way to shift my attitude, focus on what I'm naturally good at--and develop those skills further--and give me a language to talk about it beyond the plotting-vs-pantsing bullshit.)
February 25, 2020
First off--Syme does NOT mean for writers to quit writing! She wants us to find our unique style and productivity based on our character traits. I've been absorbing everything I can from her YouTube channel, classes and other books and the difference in my work life has been amazing. If you write, read this.
August 9, 2022
This was refreshing. Honest in a very different way.
December 5, 2020
I got this book free in a writers conference gift box. I thought I'd take a quick look at it, but didn't expect to find it helpful. Instead, I read it cover to cover in practically one sitting. It's a simple premise with powerful impact: there are no sacred cows. If you're not progressing in your writing career the way you think you should be, the first step is to "question the premise." SHOULD you be doing what you're doing? I appreciated the explanation of how the brain works to reinforce bad habits and what it takes to break them. Very illuminating.
October 15, 2019
The title of this book didn't appeal to me until I watched a few episodes of the author's YouTube channel (QuitCast) & realized what it means. She means you need to quit doing certain things or you're going to burn out.
She is the real deal. She's a writing coach who has been through the mire & knows how to help others out of it. She lists the things you need to stop doing (unrealistic expectations, trying to change everything at once - and much more).
I've been burned out for a few years & didn't even realize it - I thought I was ill. I wasn't, I was just creatively paralyzed. Since devouring this book I've been enjoying self-care, doing the things that refill my creativity tank. I feel better than I have in a long time. And - joy of joys - I've started writing again. I'm sneaking it in between reading & walks on the beach and it feels wonderful.
I read a few reviews on Amazon that complain the author is using this book to sell her coaching. She's not. She's written the book for people can't afford or don't need the full coaching experience - but explains what it involves for anyone who can't manage their behavioral change on their own. She cares and she realizes not everyone can afford one-to-one therapy. This book is her generous way of distilling years of knowledge & skills into a self-help package.
The book is written in a very readable style, with humor & compassion. It's for every author who has felt overwhelmed, blocked, burned out, or lost in today's fast-paced publishing world. Read it before you hit rock bottom, or use it to help yourself up again.
She is the real deal. She's a writing coach who has been through the mire & knows how to help others out of it. She lists the things you need to stop doing (unrealistic expectations, trying to change everything at once - and much more).
I've been burned out for a few years & didn't even realize it - I thought I was ill. I wasn't, I was just creatively paralyzed. Since devouring this book I've been enjoying self-care, doing the things that refill my creativity tank. I feel better than I have in a long time. And - joy of joys - I've started writing again. I'm sneaking it in between reading & walks on the beach and it feels wonderful.
I read a few reviews on Amazon that complain the author is using this book to sell her coaching. She's not. She's written the book for people can't afford or don't need the full coaching experience - but explains what it involves for anyone who can't manage their behavioral change on their own. She cares and she realizes not everyone can afford one-to-one therapy. This book is her generous way of distilling years of knowledge & skills into a self-help package.
The book is written in a very readable style, with humor & compassion. It's for every author who has felt overwhelmed, blocked, burned out, or lost in today's fast-paced publishing world. Read it before you hit rock bottom, or use it to help yourself up again.
March 27, 2019
Dear Becca, thank you for writing this book. Thank you for reminding me that alignment with my own strengths is key. Thank you for urging me to question the premise of things I believe to be true. Thanks for re-iterating what I know for myself to be true but am always tempted to make false--that burning myself out to keep up with the book-a-month writers is only going to lead to misery and failed expectations.
At first, I hesitated to pick this up because it was $9.99 for the ebook. However, I was also intensely curious after seeing this recommended by a good writer friend. I've also heard several people I admire in writer circles speak highly of Becca and her Better-Faster academy and have listened to Becca on podcasts. I downloaded the sample to see if it was for me and one-clicked so fast after reading it.
Becca's perspective on systems and habits is one I've never seen before in all of the author mindset literature. The strengths-based focus for writing (along with so much more of what she said) really resonated with me. It was exactly the right message I needed at exactly the right time. I'm so grateful this book came to me when it did.
At first, I hesitated to pick this up because it was $9.99 for the ebook. However, I was also intensely curious after seeing this recommended by a good writer friend. I've also heard several people I admire in writer circles speak highly of Becca and her Better-Faster academy and have listened to Becca on podcasts. I downloaded the sample to see if it was for me and one-clicked so fast after reading it.
Becca's perspective on systems and habits is one I've never seen before in all of the author mindset literature. The strengths-based focus for writing (along with so much more of what she said) really resonated with me. It was exactly the right message I needed at exactly the right time. I'm so grateful this book came to me when it did.
July 22, 2021
I feel like I'm in the minority of people with this one. There are a large number of reviews that loved this and I...didn't.
I agree with some of the other reviews that it felt like one giant advertisement for Syme's workshops/courses.
While there's some decent advice in here -- namely, figure out what works for YOU, because not everything will -- there's nothing all that earth shaking.
I've read quite a few books about writing recently, and there was nothing in here that struck me as all that different from anything else I've read, except maybe the insistence on putting more effort into questioning things (though I've now read the words "Question the premise" and the abbreviation "QTP" so many times they make my skin crawl).
I may have liked the "Question the Premise" examples more if the examples used weren't ones that I hadn't ever bought into with the "Write a book a month" and the mythical "earn six figures a year" as the most repeated of these premises.
I agree with some of the other reviews that it felt like one giant advertisement for Syme's workshops/courses.
While there's some decent advice in here -- namely, figure out what works for YOU, because not everything will -- there's nothing all that earth shaking.
I've read quite a few books about writing recently, and there was nothing in here that struck me as all that different from anything else I've read, except maybe the insistence on putting more effort into questioning things (though I've now read the words "Question the premise" and the abbreviation "QTP" so many times they make my skin crawl).
I may have liked the "Question the Premise" examples more if the examples used weren't ones that I hadn't ever bought into with the "Write a book a month" and the mythical "earn six figures a year" as the most repeated of these premises.
September 20, 2019
I often feel that how well a self-help book resonates with you depends on whether you click with the author's voice and how much you need the advice at that time in your life, as much as how good the advice is. For me, it was the right advice, at the right time, in the right - no-nonsense - voice I needed to hear.
January 16, 2025
Whoa! This was the perfect book for me to read right now. It really resonated with me. Now I have a short list of things to quit (things that aren't moving me forward), and I better understand why I ought to afford myself grace in certain circumstances. Thank you, Becca Syme, for sharing your writing wisdom with the world.
July 28, 2019
I loved this book so much!! Becca is awesome and she really tells it like it is. I've gone on to take two courses from her, and she's helped me figure out so much about how I work. Highly recommended for writers!
September 1, 2021
This book found me at the exact right time. Every chapter was a revelation.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
March 1, 2023
Fantastic read for writers of all levels! Enormously encouraging and affirming for me personally, after years of being a writer.
April 19, 2019
If you're a writer feeling pulled in many directions, stressing over how to write more books faster, or lamenting how your time disappears, this book is a huge stepping stone to discovering what your specific issue is and where to start. It isn't a 10 best productivity tips kind of book. It suggests how to turn inward and see where your own goals don't align with your real life, your personality, and who you are right now.
Where this book spoke to me: I'll just do these things real quick before I start writing...then I don't get started, can't get started, and wonder why I don't "have time" to write. How our own subconscious patterns thwart our productivity. Also the idea of expecting things to be easy. Realizing that points in writing and publishing are hard, acknowledging that and working through it, versus looking for a quick fix, a distraction, or an attempt to solve a problem that isn't actually there. I like to say I'll try any plotting method once. But why? Why do I try all of these methods and then get frustrated when it doesn't provide a magic, fix-all answer? Not to say you can't learn new concepts, but shoehorning yourself into a method that has never worked for you only causes further frustration.
Another big me moment: you don't feel ready yet, but there's a general sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that's driving you to want to publish too fast or too soon. Don't give in to the FOMO.
and
Both FOMO and internal drive can make you spend a lot of time and money trying to fix problems that just aren't there.
Playing up your strengths is what she spends time on as an author coach. Since much of that specific work is a certified, proprietary teaching concept, she directs readers to additional resources for CliftonStrengths training. She also admits she was skeptical publishing this book since she doesn't see it as a replacement for how individualized people's processes are and that there is no one-size fits all how to be productive guidebook, she advises this book as a starting point and for authors who are interested in taking on their own changes.
Becca Syme has free YouTube videos that expand on concepts from this book as well as a podcast called Smartypants bookmarketing podcast.
Where this book spoke to me: I'll just do these things real quick before I start writing...then I don't get started, can't get started, and wonder why I don't "have time" to write. How our own subconscious patterns thwart our productivity. Also the idea of expecting things to be easy. Realizing that points in writing and publishing are hard, acknowledging that and working through it, versus looking for a quick fix, a distraction, or an attempt to solve a problem that isn't actually there. I like to say I'll try any plotting method once. But why? Why do I try all of these methods and then get frustrated when it doesn't provide a magic, fix-all answer? Not to say you can't learn new concepts, but shoehorning yourself into a method that has never worked for you only causes further frustration.
Another big me moment: you don't feel ready yet, but there's a general sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that's driving you to want to publish too fast or too soon. Don't give in to the FOMO.
and
Both FOMO and internal drive can make you spend a lot of time and money trying to fix problems that just aren't there.
Playing up your strengths is what she spends time on as an author coach. Since much of that specific work is a certified, proprietary teaching concept, she directs readers to additional resources for CliftonStrengths training. She also admits she was skeptical publishing this book since she doesn't see it as a replacement for how individualized people's processes are and that there is no one-size fits all how to be productive guidebook, she advises this book as a starting point and for authors who are interested in taking on their own changes.
Becca Syme has free YouTube videos that expand on concepts from this book as well as a podcast called Smartypants bookmarketing podcast.
October 17, 2019
An extremely quick read, and a very useful way of making myself think about what I need to eliminate to make my writing life and business easier. A book written from the heart, far more so than Dear Writer, Are You In Burnout? in my opinion although the latter is also a useful book (in a sense it's the same topic but from a different angle).
Syme's basic premise is that you can only thrive as a writer if you have aligned your writing life with your personality, your behavior patterns, your resources and so on. If you're struggling with your writing (as I am at present) something's out of whack and you have to understand what that is and do something about it before things will improve.
Because what's out of whack is going to be different for every writer, Syme is not giving you a prescriptive list of the steps you need to take. She's telling you to do the work to figure out for yourself what you have to do to align the different strands in your life (whether you can do that for yourself or need a coach). Yes, she's in the coaching business, but I didn't feel any pressure to take that route or adopt any system that involved paying her money.
So if you're looking for a quick fix or even a quick answer, this isn't the right book. If you're looking for a new pathway or a new way of looking at things, it might be. It's made me realize that the "productivity" path that worked so well for me ten years ago might not be working for me now, because circumstances around me have changed, my business has changed, etc. Like Dear Writer, Are You In Burnout?, this is more of a thought-provoking exercise for writers already well down the path, who feel that things just don't work as well as they used to, than a how-to for newer entrants into the field.
Syme's basic premise is that you can only thrive as a writer if you have aligned your writing life with your personality, your behavior patterns, your resources and so on. If you're struggling with your writing (as I am at present) something's out of whack and you have to understand what that is and do something about it before things will improve.
Because what's out of whack is going to be different for every writer, Syme is not giving you a prescriptive list of the steps you need to take. She's telling you to do the work to figure out for yourself what you have to do to align the different strands in your life (whether you can do that for yourself or need a coach). Yes, she's in the coaching business, but I didn't feel any pressure to take that route or adopt any system that involved paying her money.
So if you're looking for a quick fix or even a quick answer, this isn't the right book. If you're looking for a new pathway or a new way of looking at things, it might be. It's made me realize that the "productivity" path that worked so well for me ten years ago might not be working for me now, because circumstances around me have changed, my business has changed, etc. Like Dear Writer, Are You In Burnout?, this is more of a thought-provoking exercise for writers already well down the path, who feel that things just don't work as well as they used to, than a how-to for newer entrants into the field.
January 2, 2022
If you're a writer who is looking down the barrel of your career, wondering where to start, where to go next, how to navigate this ever changing profession, this is the book for you.
Becca does a great job of upending all the per-conceived ideas about what we "should" be doing as writers. She teaches you to question the premise of so much advice that is thrown around at writers from writers needing to write a book a month to succeed, that you're not a writer unless you write every day, to smaller things like what you should be writing and how you should be doing it.
I gained a lot of insight a permission from reading this book to allow myself to just be the writer that I am. I would recommend this to anyone who is questioning their process or to reaffirm that they are a writer regardless of their perceived "success."
Becca does a great job of upending all the per-conceived ideas about what we "should" be doing as writers. She teaches you to question the premise of so much advice that is thrown around at writers from writers needing to write a book a month to succeed, that you're not a writer unless you write every day, to smaller things like what you should be writing and how you should be doing it.
I gained a lot of insight a permission from reading this book to allow myself to just be the writer that I am. I would recommend this to anyone who is questioning their process or to reaffirm that they are a writer regardless of their perceived "success."
June 18, 2019
I'm in the throes of drafting a book at the moment and stumbled across Dear Writer... during some procrastination.
In short, this book was a much-needed truth bomb. It's tossed with great kindness and understanding, but man... with chapter titles like "Quit Thinking Facebook is Your Friend," I honestly felt a bit called out and rightly so.
A big part of getting a book written is figuring out how to persist and get it done. That how part is not going to be the same for every writer or for every book. I like that Syme addresses that while writing a book does require discipline and focus, your process will be most effective when it plays to your personal strengths. Identifying and addressing your weaknesses is also good, but really leaning into what you already know helps you get things done will make it all easier and less painful. It will never be easy or painless, but finishing the book will be achievable and your approach will be sustainable.
Very tempted to take her class. I'll update this review if I do.
In short, this book was a much-needed truth bomb. It's tossed with great kindness and understanding, but man... with chapter titles like "Quit Thinking Facebook is Your Friend," I honestly felt a bit called out and rightly so.
A big part of getting a book written is figuring out how to persist and get it done. That how part is not going to be the same for every writer or for every book. I like that Syme addresses that while writing a book does require discipline and focus, your process will be most effective when it plays to your personal strengths. Identifying and addressing your weaknesses is also good, but really leaning into what you already know helps you get things done will make it all easier and less painful. It will never be easy or painless, but finishing the book will be achievable and your approach will be sustainable.
Very tempted to take her class. I'll update this review if I do.
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