Shut Up and Write the Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Novel From Plan to Print

by Jenna Moreci

Writing a book can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

Are you struggling to finish, or even start your novel? Are you overwhelmed by the many steps in the writing process, drowning in endless drafts, or creatively blocked?

Shut Up and Write the Book is a step-by-step guide to crafting a novel from your first spark of an idea to the final edit. Whether you’re brand new to writing or wanting to hone your skills, this action plan provides straightforward advice while demystifying the art of storytelling.

In Shut Up and Write the Book, you’ll learn:
- Ways to select an exciting, marketable concept that incites your passion and intrigues readers
- Techniques for creating multi-dimensional characters your audience will love (or love to hate)
- How to navigate the dreaded first draft with confidence
- Tips for writing an impactful first chapter that hooks readers
- The key to eliminating sagging middle syndrome so your story is engaging from start to finish
- The best way to craft a plot twist that wows your audience
- How to write a climax that takes your story to a new, thrilling level
- And much more

Enjoy bestselling author Jenna Moreci’s no-nonsense guidance and saucy sarcasm as she walks you through every step of the writing process. If you want to finally hunker down and finish your novel, read Shut Up and Write the Book today.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts, Audiobook, Research

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2023

About the author

Jenna Moreci is an award-winning romantasy and writing craft author and YouTube sensation. Her first installment in The Savior’s Series, The Savior’s Champion, was voted one of the Best Books of All Time by Book Depository. Following the release of her first writing craft book, Shut Up and Write the Book, she’s been asked to speak for many literary communities and affiliations about the writing process and romantasy genre, including Robinson College at the University of Cambridge, the University of Groningen, and the London Screenwriters’ Festival.

Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Jenna spends her free time snuggling up with her charming husband and their tiny rescue pup, Buttercup.

Reviews

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘That’s the beauty of being a writer; we have the power to destroy and create however we please.’

[Sacha Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her iconic snarky, sweary, and honest style, Jenna Moreci brings you the ultimate guide to getting your book written. If you’re fed up with wading through the weeds of your manuscript, this book is the kick up the ass you desperately need. Delivered with a fresh and unique perspective, if you love Jenna, you’re going to adore her debut writing book. I have just one question… But Jenna… how is this book so fucking good?

[B.R. Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you follow Jenna Moreci on YouTube, you will get the same vibe from her words in this book as you do in her videos. If you don't know her, well, hopefully the title here will give you a clue as to the snarky and sometimes vulgar ways of the 'cyborg'... though she does warn of it in the book too.

This wasn't the first craft book I've read, nor is it the most comprehensive. I'd already learned writing is hard, (which Jenna mentions in the first lines) writing well at least. In fact, I knew a lot of what is brought up in this guide beforehand. However, it was an entertaining and fairly quick read.

I did really like how Jenna broke things down, tackling everything from the idea/planning stage, outlining (which is something I resisted early on in my writerly journey), all the way through the big story beats, and beyond. With a few tips and examples from her own work thrown in.

At the time of this review, I still have a long way to go before I get to the final stages of edits and polishing my own WIP, but in the last few chapters of this book Jenna goes over those very things. I'm sure this part is going to be especially helpful when I do get there.

Could it have been better? Sure. But I still found plenty of noteworthy tidbits... and some points she made even clicked for me in a way I'd never grasped before. For me, the best part was the last few chapters. I've made the most notes there and will likely reference them again.

So, would I recommend this book? Yes. While I doubt an advanced writer would get much from it, most others should be able to learn a little something.

Even though I have the ARC myself, I still plan to buy a copy. I may even send one to another writer friend too.

{Note: I happily share my honest review, despite the fact I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book}

[Dorothy Wise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,3* (with goodwill)

Shut up and write your book instead of reading this one.
You'll be better off and learn more from the experience, I promise.

[Cass Cutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I wanted to thank Jenna for giving me an E-ARC in return for an honest review. That being said, all thoughts and comments below are my honest opinions and I stand by them.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. If you are a fan of Jenna's YouTube videos where she shares her thoughts and opinions on different writing topics with her own brand of snarky humor then you will love this book, if you are in the market for a nonfiction book about the writing process that is.

I have read many writing craft books over the years. Everything from Save the Cat and Save the Cat Writes a Novel to books like The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes and How To Avoid them, and Shut Up and Write the Book is by far the best at explaining its message of the writing process.

Shut Up and Write the Book succeeds where other books of the genre fail, by simplifying an already overwhelming process by explaining things in a more conversational manner. I found with books like Save the Cat and its spiritual successors; the authors take a more academic or clinical approach when explaining the process. Jenna takes what can be a difficult and very overwhelming process and makes it easily digestible. I don't know about you, but for me back when I was in school like 100 years ago, I had a hard time understanding the "rules" of any course when they were explained academically. A lot of times it took the teacher breaking it down conversationally for me to grasp the concept at hand. That being said, I have a learning disability that affects the way I learn, even to this day.

In addition to breaking down the outlining process there are other helpful hints and tips throughout the book. Jenna breaks down the editing process, which is more prudent for those who are going the indie route. There's a whole chapter devoted to critique partners, beta readers, and sensitivity readers. A chapter all about titleing your book and so much more.

I am outlining (truly for the first time) my next book and Shut Up and Write the Book has already streamlined what I found to be an extremely daunting process. Besides that, at this moment in time, I am querying a book and some of the feedback has planted a seed that was fully sprouted by reading this book. So I am going to make those changes and then re-query my manuscript to see if that makes any difference for me.

If you are on the fence about yet another craft book thinking, you won't get anything new from it. I feel you should give it a read for yourself before passing your judgment. I found this book 100 times more helpful than most of the craft books I've read, including those more popular titles.

You can preorder Shut Up and Write the Book in ebook, paperback, and hardcover here. books2read.com/suawtb Your preorder comes with a free workbook.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shut Up and Write the Book is a good writing 101 guide for newbies with some flavor and not much else. If you've been around the block in your writing journey, you're unlikely to find much new here.

This covers every step of the writing process, from getting the ideas, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing. Jenna Moreci goes through each step with good detail. She uses examples from her own work to re-enforce some of these lessons, and draws from her own experience. She also provides resources for deeper dives, which I really wish she did do at some points during the book.

If you like Moreci's snarky style of delivery of writing advice on her YouTube channel and some slightly raunchy humor, you'll get some extra enjoyment out of this, as it's pretty much her videos in text (or podcast) form. If you aren't a fan of the raunchy humor, are more of a discovery writer, or find the advice to be abrasive, you might find less out of it. As a personal note, I felt some of Moreci's advice in sections to not be the best, leaning toward "my way or the highway" at times.

What also concerns me is that several chapters were allegedly copy and pasted from her videos (that are available for free), and it wasn't expanded upon or noted on the chapters, it rubbed me the wrong way. Also, I know she has to make her money via her affiliate connections, but she mentioned ProWritingAid multiple times in the self edit chapter. Once was enough, especially since other software exists.

Overall, good for new writers, though I'm not sure this book would be my first choice. Personally, I was expecting something a bit different or more substantial for the experienced writers, some writing 201 mixed in.

[Jennie Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Tuber writing guru Jenna Moreci brings her unique style to this craft book on the process of getting a completed manuscript written. There are a million craft books out there - Moreci says it herself - but what makes this stand out is her no-nonsense style filled with lots of swearing and sexual jokes. I'll be honest that the moments she leaned into that style was, for me, the strongest parts of the book, and I wish she had used it even more. However, there were long passages where she had a lot of great information, but it didn't speak to me in the same way that her "But Jenna...." inserts did. I was hoping that this might be a book that I could refer to my students and alumni, but my biggest concern with the book is that it doesn't completely have its audience figured out yet. Yes, it wants to speak to people who are interested in writing a book, but sometimes, it feels like she is speaking to beginnings and sometimes, it feels like she is speaking to people who should already have some basic knowledge under their belts (for example, her section on structure is awesome, but I'm not sure that a beginner will be able to see the difference between that and an outline). Overall, though, I think that a writer who hasn't quite hit their first professional publication that has some experience under their belt will definitely find some great information, including a check list of all the steps they should follow while going through the revision phase. So, overall, really solid, but I think it has some room to grow.

[Victoria Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this not an hour ago. I enjoyed every minute of it and when I get my paperback copy to highlight and make notes in, it will be worth every penny spent. Jenna, it was an honor to be chosen as an ARC reader for your book and it's already saved the novel I've been working on. I knew something was off about it, but I didn't realize how big of a problem it had until I started reading your book and discovered that mine didn't have any subplots.

[Rucha Pantoji · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, Thank you so much Jenna for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is as insightful and hilarious as Jenna's youtube channel. It starts right from coming up with the idea, structuring it, outlining it, getting through the first draft even if it sucks, and editing it until you throw up.

Jenna doesn't sugarcoat anything and that's exactly what I was expecting from the book. As an indie author, I found some great tips that I'd try to incorporate into my books.

Step-by-Step guide books are often boring to read, but not this one. You'll laugh as you learn.

If you are in a hurry, you will find a chapter summary after each chapter which is as insightful as the actual chapter. Or, I'd recommend reading the whole book and then referring to the summary whenever you are stuck in any particular phase of the book writing.

Absolutely loved it. Going to rely on it for so many things. Highly recommend it to fellow authors to get some awesome tips.

[Kate Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough and fun. I have read many how-to's on writing, and I'm seasoned for the most part, but the book helped me get through the writing of the current book I'm working on. It is detailed and to the point, which is what some writing books aren't. She doesn't labor the whole thing. I enjoy her channel as well. Jenna gives great writing advice, she's funny, sometimes naughty, I love it.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 5 out of 5]

It reads like Moreci spoke into a recorder and this came typed out. Her voice just comes off the ereader screen. What I like about this is the book is done like a formal business process. Outline- character-structure-edit. She says to write a proper story and book, but this isn’t flowery descriptions of the joy of writing. This is a business model of what to do.
I’m keeping this open as I figure out my next story.

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

I’ve always enjoyed Jenna’s fiction and her craft videos so I was intrigued by what her first craft book would bring and I’m happy to say, it didn’t disappoint.

Most craft books don’t work for me because they present the info in a boring and unenthusiastic manner. Not here! All Jenna’s sarcastic wit is present here and the reader gets enthusiastic about writing because Jenna clearly is.

She covers a wide range through this book with a ton of emphasis on the pre writing and planning stage which is where a lot of the magic happens. Jenna stays real throughout the book, always mentioning how writing is an individual process and she’s offering what’s worked for her and why it works rather than a “this is the only way” method.

Definitely a great writing craft book for both beginners and experienced writers. We all sometimes need a guide and Jenna makes for a very entertaining and informative one!l

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and I’m sure beginning writers will find it more useful. However, if you’ve been writing a while or have any books under your belt, it’s pretty basic. I didn’t take anything new from it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a craft book at the tail end of a monthly project that is supposed to be wholly devoted to drafting a novel is one reason why I don’t necessarily think craft books are for me. :P

Why do it, then? I suppose a big part of the reason now is tradition; for the past few NaNoWriMos, I’ve checked a craft book off the TBR. I suppose it puts me in the mood of taking part in a worthy endeavor, so much time spent on teasing stories out of my own mind. But I’ve never actually followed a craft book in a practical way (other than, perhaps, while attending writing programs as a kid? Anywho.) I find them all to be a bit overwhelming.

“Overwhelming” is a strange word to use, especially in conjunction with Jenna Moreci’s book. Most of what she covers here, from idea creation to professional editing of a manuscript, she’s also covered quippily on her famous “AuthorTube” channel. Her tone isn’t much different here (snarky and assured, friendly but PG-13 at least.) I think what feels “overwhelming” is putting the theoretical to vaguely realized examples of craft fiction, including this book, into practice. Mythcreants (geared primarily towards science fiction and fantasy writers) at least points to book and other pop cultural examples when describing a specific aspect of storytelling. Here’s a recent example on the subject of “believability”: https://mythcreants.com/blog/seven-co...

But I’m losing the thread here. (Maybe I’ve made the subplot into a bigger deal than the “main plot” of this review? :P A big no no in Morcei’s book!) This famous YouTube author wrote a book that is quite obviously aimed at novices (and it would be most helpful if you’re writing genre fiction, especially fantasy, romance, maybe science fiction.) I agree with Moreci most when she embraces specifics—like honing into the sensory experience that most makes you feel when looking for story ideas (listen to music if you’re moved by melodies! Watch films if you’re a visual learner!) Even more in that vein, she succinctly lays out her listicles on the variety of geographic, cultural, historical and etc factors that make up a world. But her goal is not to get lost in the worldbuilding; it’s mostly cautionary tape against writing characters or situations that are too monotonous.

She also brought up a story method I’d never heard of before; The Heroine’s Journey, where the protagonist’s quest involves a communal goal, not just a personal one. :0 The more you know!

Sometimes I didn’t like her advice. When talking about deepening plot in the “soggy” middle (I tend to use the word “murky” or “muddy”), her suggestions all seemed like chasing magical maguffins to me. Moreci may be a writer who is more focused on plot than character than I am; I’d say a writer should deepen a plot by making the stakes more interior. If the heroine can’t save the day in act 1 (cos then we wouldn’t have a story), then whatever happens in between should speak to her state of mind.

I certainly fall short of some of Moreci’s other advice. Alas. Like it I were to talk about outlining, I’d dub my method “the anxious ping pong” where I go back and forth between drafting and outlining until the item in play overwhelmed me. And I’ve employed beta readers before finishing a first draft, which almost everyone, including myself, thinks is a little insane (but also it worked to jumpstart my project? Also, going by Moreci’s definitions, my writing group exists somewhere between “critique partners” and “beta readers,” making it obvious that this advice is malleable, not concrete.)

It’s nice to see behind the scenes to some of her personal procedures though. That’s maybe what I like about craft books over all; finding out what makes other writers tick.

Really, as more time goes by, I’m increasingly an advocate that the only viable writing advice is that one must sit down and write. Beyond that, it’s down to our own personal proclivities. Moreci, at least, has detailed a lot of possible steps for people most comfortable with a lot of planning. And she understands the need to emotionally engage the audience, even if I’d personally talk less about plot tropes and more about the deepening character stakes I read about last year in Donald Maas’s THE EMOTIONAL CRAFT OF FICTION.

But I don’t think I can complain that I didn’t get what I paid for here. It’s likely, at least from the criticism I’ve consumed, that Moreci doesn’t actually follow her own advice in her published novels. But I do think she’s brought a unique voice to the online instructional community---both in her succinct, listicle advice and her raunchy, memorable personality.

[Julian Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci (2023): 5 out of 10: In “Shut Up and Write the Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Novel From Plan to Print,” Jenna Moreci provides an accessible, no-nonsense approach to guiding aspiring writers through the entire novel-writing process. Drawing from her own success as an author and her experience in mentoring aspiring writers, Moreci shares her expertise with a sense of humor and candor, making the daunting task of writing a novel feel more approachable and enjoyable.

The book is organized into three parts, each focusing on a different stage of the novel-writing process:

1. In planning your novel, Moreci begins with essential tips for brainstorming, developing interesting characters, and constructing a solid plot. She delves into creating dynamic character arcs, establishing believable world-building, and setting realistic goals for your writing journey.
2.In the writing your novel section, Moreci shares strategies for overcoming writer’s block, managing time, and staying motivated while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She also discusses the importance of embracing the editing process and refining your writing through multiple drafts, as well as the benefits of critique partners and beta readers.
3.During the preparing your novel for publication section, Moreci tackles the often-overlooked aspects of the publishing process, including understanding the ins and outs of traditional publishing versus self-publishing, and mastering marketing and promotion techniques to maximize your book’s success.

The Good: If there is one thing that you will get from Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci, it is the need for story structure. Jenna does a marvellous job and goes into some depth about story structure. If you are not a pantser, she also has some solid tips on outlining as well. She briefly goes over the various types of structure and she gives you her secret sauce, the structure she’s used for the three books she’s written.

Okay, I am being slightly snarky on the secret sauce bit because her structure may appear on the surface as the actual structure used by an ‘80s action film. This is because it is the actual structure used by ‘80s action films. So if you want to write the literary equivalent of Cobra, you’re all set.

Snark aside, Jenna’s focus on the need for structure in a story is easily the most useful part of Shut Up and Write the Book.

The Bad: There are some things missing from Shut Up and Write the Book. We have nothing about formatting. Nothing about choosing cover art. Jenna’s self-published, but she seems to be under the impression that we could go either way. Still nothing much about querying agents or much else regarding publishing traditionally.

We do, however, have quite a bit about editors. Jenna somehow manages to recommend four different types of editors. (Developmental, Line Edit, Copyright, Proofreader) This is in addition to the critique partners, beta readers, and sensitivity readers.

If you’re writing your first novel and self-publishing it, and this I believe would be the audience for a book called Shut Up and Write the Book, I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that you don’t need a developmental edit on your first book. I mean, your first book probably could use one, but the developmental edit realistically is going to cost you a couple thousand dollars and you probably don’t want to spend that on a book that may be bought by 18 people. (Or at least use some of those funds to the more important cover art.)

To Jenna’s credit, I thought she was going to go harder on the sensitivity reader recommendation since she has done that on the videos in the past, but she wisely shows a light touch. She still recommends it if you’re writing about something you don’t have personal knowledge of, but again, since this is somebody who’s writing their first book, perhaps simple guidance of stay in your lane on your first drive may be more practical advice.

Just like any statue of a naked muscular man with a small penis will be compared to Michelangelo’s David, any book on writing is going to be compared to Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Now if one has read On Writing they know it is not a how to write and publish a novel guidebook. In fact, for many chapters, it is a journey down memory lane with Mr. King as he slowly doles out lessons on writing and how his technique is reflected and shaped by his experiences and past.

Jenna Moreci certainly understands the power of a personal story. Her YouTube channel is filled with references and stories, and occasional appearances of her boyfriend Cliff and her dog Buttercup. Viewers are updated regularly about Cliff’s various medical emergencies and Buttercup’s latest cute escapade. Creating this type of parasocial relationship with her audience is the cornerstone of her success. Yet it is nowhere to be found in Shut Up and Write the Book.

Even stranger, Jenna never uses her own work to demonstrate the techniques she is discussing. It is an amazing oversight that she talks about outlines but does not include a sample of an outline she created for one of her books. Nor does she use quotes from her book as an example of how editing can improve a scene. (Imagine if she took a few chapters from The Savior’s Champion before editing and beta readers and then showed us the same after). She does this when discussing the same topics on her YouTube channel, so its absence here is puzzling.

The Ugly: All right, so let’s start with the unfortunate fact that Jenna’s book does not start off strong. I mean, she’s trying to do everything you possibly need to write a novel. I really like this idea. This is a nice soup to nuts, A to Z approach. So she starts off with how to get an idea of what you’re going to write about. This is really a sign that she does not know who this book is for.

Ideas Jenna has on how to get, well ideas, include “Create a mood board” “Watch other people” “Use the creativity you currently channel into picking outfits or cooking meals”. Eventually Jenna gets to “write what you want to read” which is a nugget of good advice buried at the end of a lot of useless and bad information. One would expect that someone looking to shut up and then write a book would at least have a book idea.

When covering how to follow market trends, Jenna once again leads her flock astray. What she might have gone for is figuring out what genre or type of book you are writing. (What do you mean War Crime Erotica is not a category?)

Instead, we now have a budding novelist who is going to try to figure out the current popular trends and then pen a book they know nothing about and would not be interested in themselves. Based on what I see on Kindle this week, I am looking forward to Jenna’s readers treating us to a non-binary autistic cupcake baker with a small dog solving a mystery about slavery.

Had Jenna been a bit more laser focused on her advice, (If you are going to write a romance, see what tropes are currently popular with readers, for example) I believe this opening chapter would have been more value added rather than the head scratcher that it is.

In Conclusion: Shut Up and Write the Book touts itself as “A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Novel From Plan to Print” and by that measurement, it is shallow and incomplete. I am genuinely disappointed. Jenna Moreci has a good voice and gives good advice on her other platforms.

A comprehensive guidebook to writing and publishing a book is an excellent idea that the market could easily support. I can’t help but think that such an undertaking may be out of Miss Moreci’s wheelhouse. What would be interesting is her take on creating a successful marketing campaign for self-published works, particularly regarding networking and YouTube. This is something that Jenna Moreci has shown mastery in. And this would be information that many readers would find both useful and interesting.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a good time reading this (Jenna’s voice is funny) and I was glad to see the whole writing process covered here, but it’s definitely laid out for beginners and doesn’t cover each topic in depth. If you are just starting out and are overwhelmed, I’d recommend this book.

[Adrian Jimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of mostly really basic information regarding storytelling, but there is a decent amount of good and unique advice.

[Ephemera Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advise for beginners. Was hoping for a tad bit more information about what to do when the book is written and you want to self publish. However, I'm certain I've seen videos of her explaining what she has used for formatting her ebooks and such, so I'll dig through her YT archive.

[Layla Reaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 47%

I feel mislead by the 4 and 5 star reviews, which is why I'm reviewing this although I didn't finish. I bought this book on Kindle with my own money. I subscribe to Jenna's YT channel and find her videos entertaining and full of practical advice.

This book is basic and suited for someone who doesn't know much or anything about writing a book, maybe a high school student. I'm no master writer, but I've read tons of articles about writing and am a somewhat avid reader. I know all of this stuff already.

For some reason, I guess by the title, I thought that this book would help me or give me the motivation to finish the book I've been procrastinating on and can't seem to finish writing.

It doesn't go in depth. The chapters are short. It doesn't seem to offer anything new.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhh, some of the writing was inappropriate and seemed to be written for edginess rather than than to be informative. I also thought the formatting and design needed a lot of help — some of the headers ended a page without its content. It looked very amateur, especially not what someone who’s writing about publishing should do.

[Inês Martins dos Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna's snark will smack you repeatedly on the face while taking you through the adventure of writing a book and, to be honest, I'd advise you to read this only if you're ready to work for your writing goals. If so, great. You'll find many useful resources and tips which are tailored to every step of your journey. Definitely worth keeping nearby and refer to it whenever needed.

[Aiden Feltkamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great starting place, especially for beginners. It’s approachable but it also gives you a good kick in the butt. I found a few helpful things here and there but I don’t think I was the right audience for this book.

[Arista Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guide for baby writers.

Shut up and write the book is a comprehensive breakdown on how to write a book. It covers everything from how to come up with ideas, worldbuilding, and character creation, through a full breakdown of the common story beats, and even how to approach self and professional edits.

It covers choosing tense and point of view, it addresses subplots and pacing, and all of it is written in Jenna's familiar and sassy tone that anyone who has seen her youtube videos would be familiar with.

And yet, I was left feeling... just a little despondent.

With the caveat that I don't read many non-fiction books, those I do pick up tend to be related to writing. I just don't know what I expected from this except... more.

And maybe this is on me. Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I was expecting some hidden secrets into the mind and world of a "bestselling author". Maybe I simply know more about how to write a book than I thought I did and need more confidence in my own skills, but while I found the book's voice clever and entertaining, its substance left me feeling like I'd read it all before with only a half decent internet search.

It left me feeling like this would be a great book for first-time writers. It gathers all the basic information together in one place and keeps it concise and easy to parse. The ARC copy I received had 216 pages of content covering twenty-six chapters, and every chapter came with a summary at the end, like a helpful reference sheet reminding you of what that chapter had just gone over.

It's short, and sweet, and would be a fantastic reference book for a writer just starting out on their journey.

Or one who doesn't want to do the research and reading required to figure out their craft.

This book puts all the basics together for you, it's a fantastic beginners' guide, but if you've been writing for a while, if you have a handful of years under your belt or know how to do your own research, then don't think that the accolade of 'bestselling author' means this book is going to give you any fresh, new insights.

I recieved an ARC of this book from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review

[Kaylea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wanted to write but felt overwhelmed by the rules, this book is for you. It’s an easy, well-planned-out guide that doesn’t take itself too seriously—swearing and sex jokes included. The author speaks to the average person, making the process of writing feel accessible rather than intimidating.

Unlike some how-to books that can be dry or overly technical, this one keeps things engaging and lighthearted. It leans heavily toward writing in the fantasy and romance genres, making it especially useful for those who love crafting magical worlds or swoon-worthy love stories. The advice is practical, fun, and full of personality, without bogging you down in rigid structure or outdated writing style.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer looking for motivation or a complete beginner wondering where to start, this book is a fun and worthwhile read. Just don’t expect a stiff, academic approach.

[Ari Meghlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an easy read with a very conversational tone. It comes across like a friend sharing their thoughts and ideas with you. Some craft books on writing I've read have felt very stuffy and hard to slog through, despite the great information they have. There was no slog through this, it was enjoyable to read.

The book is structured as to take you through a step-by-step system of the different aspects of writing, from brainstorming to organising your thoughts, plotting, drafting etc.

There are lots of examples and explanations given to make the points clear and the author does use herself as a guide but explains why what methods she uses work best for her.

Overall, this book can be useful, though I personally feel it would be great for beginners who are new to writing as it covers a lot of very common issues newbie writers seem to face. If you've been writing for a long amount of time, even if you are not published, much of this will most likely be known to you.

Some areas did feel like they went on a bit like the part on tenses and chapters and there were parts that felt like chunks were just repeated from earlier.

However, I thought the summaries at the end of each chapter were a good idea as these created a quick and easy reference guide. There were also resources at the end of the book which were useful.

If you are just starting out in writing and want something that breaks down the process in a simple, easy-to-understand method, then this book would be useful.

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Westveil Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent an eARC copy of Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci by Jenna herself in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity and sorry I wasn't able to get this review out until publication day! As always, my thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Whether you're already a fan of Jenna Moreci's books and/or YouTube channel or not, this book is fantastic! If you're in the process of writing a book or try to get started with that process, this book has all the advice you need for every stage of the process.

Much like the snarky, sarcastic content we're used to seeing on Jenna's YouTube channel, this book offers very valid and helpful advise without sounding like a dry instructional guide that takes itself too seriously. All the snark and sarcasm is here and it comes across just as fun and playful as it does on video. If you like the idea of having a one-stop guide for writing to refer to but you find those books are usually impossible to slog through, this book is here to save you! It's just as entertaining as it is informative.

Jenna breaks down her writing process so clearly and accessibly that I'm confident anyone determined to write a book could use this guide alone and survive the process in record time. Not only does this book provide great advice, but it also shares excellent resources, like Jenna's own character profile planner, complete with instructions on how to use it, why it's important, and how to use tools like this without stalling out on writing that doesn't further your book.

And again, yes, if you're a fan of Jenna's channel and her author advice videos, this book will feel pleasantly familiar! That's not to say that one replaces the other, I've been watching Jenna's channel since before The Savior's Champion came out, and I think this book has a lot to offer all in one place that you wouldn't necessarily be able to get from watching her archive.

In summary, this is the most fun I've ever had reading a writing advice book, and the advice is excellent! You don't need to be a Jenna fan to get a lot out of this, and you won't be wasting your money if you've already been taking her advice for years in other forms. If you're looking for direction in your writing process, read this book!

[Ignatius Bremsespor · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received an ARC-copy in exchange for an honest review)

Shut Up and Write the Book is a fun and easily-read introduction into structure and a more structured/disciplined way of writing your novel. For all the pantsers out there clutching their pearls, they can rest assured, that there's more to outlining than paint-by-numbers and a strict style of needing to make a perfect (and complete) outline from the get-go. One that you never deviate from. She's quick to dispel the notion and point out that there's as many ways to outline as there's authors, and Jenna does a great job of introducing a couple of the more common ways of outlining.

She address a lot of the common complaints and worries that I hear from newer authors, and I had a few I wanted to shove this book at while reading it. It's a book that faces the fears of newer authors – everything from 'is my first draft shit and should be deleted?' (no, by the way) to how people are afraid that learning story-structure or grammar will somehow make them 'less artistic' (spoiler: it won't).
She also covers a lot of ground with everything from worldbuilding to figuring out your genre to the different steps in the writing-editing-editing-editing again proces.

The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars, is that I'd have liked a more in-depth overview of structure and story theory – or some more ressources for further reading. I feel like she boiled it down a little too hard, but for people who're more resistant to structure, this might be just the gentle (yet funny and sarcastic) nudge they need to dip their toes and come back for more instead of running off for the hills.

All in all it was a great and entertaining read, and I'd definitely recommend it for people who're either new to writing or to outlining, or people who simply enjoy an entertaining book about writing.

[Kate Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam packed of useful tips, breaking down of the writing and drafting processes, how to edit, resources to use, and so much more.
And also jam packed of sass. What a queen

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a writer you need to read this book. If you want to be a writer you need to write this book. If you have ever picked up a pen or so much as looked at a pen: YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK

[David Pottier · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I've received an ARC copy of this book.
In exchange, I shall now give my honest review.

It's been a few years since I started following Jenna on YouTube and following her on her literary journey.
This book constitutes her take on the process of writing, hard work not withstanding, a fictional work of art.

In her very own style, she takes you through the trenches of planning, plotting, all the way through to editing.
Using her wicked sense of humour as well as her cut the BS attitude, she guides you past each hurdle of the process.
Clear chapters with straightforward explaining help you overcome what most of us perceive as a hugely daunting undertaking.

It can help you at any level. Whether you're just getting into it or being a veteran of NaNoWriMo, there's always some takeaway in there.

Although you may not write the next great work of a generation, you will however Shut up and write the book.