I read about this book somewhere and something about the title stuck in my head. Eventually (at least six months later since I'm guessing I read about it around the start New Year) I requested it from the library. I hoped it would be more of a book about writing than a self-help book (no luck) and when I went to the library to pick it up, the librarian insisted on loudly saying the full title a couple times--Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want--And Getting It!. Embarrassing.
The good: I'm giving this book two stars, which for me is a pretty poor review, but I'm not giving it just one! and here's why:
The blurb on the inside of the book jacket begins, "too often, people drift through life with a vague sense of purpose in life, envious of those whose lives seem exciting." This is me! (it may also be almost everyone, hence "people").
The book is broken up into 20 chapters, an introduction, and an epilogue. For the most part, each chapter is about a friend of the author or someone who approached her after reading one of her other books, and how that friend or someone wrote down his or her goals and how their written-down dreams came true. Klauser explains why and at the end of each (actually only at the end of 18 chapters) has a section titled "Now You" where she gives the reader an exercise or several. These sections were short and simple. Sometimes the ridiculousness from the preceding chapter lingers, but on the whole I found them helpful (or could understand how they might be helpful for others).
When I sat down to write this review, I had a good time writing over 1,300 words, picking out the most ridiculous passages, wondering why what should have taken perhaps 30 pages needed 247. But I knew that some parts had made sense for me and when I looked back to see what and why, they were all these "Now You" sections. Well, not all--seven of the 18, but that's a pretty good percentage given the rest of the book. Thanks to those I now have a couple things I'm planning on doing. I've written my list of goals, I've started writing every day, and so on. This is actually the first book review I've written in a while (/ever), a direct result of the book, so it's kind of a shame that it can't be a great, or even good, review.
The bad: The third paragraph of the jacket flap begins, "there is no 'right way' to write a goal down--a single line jotted on a scrap of paper is as valuable as a full-blown description of the goal that goes on for several pages." Consider that. A book setting out to tell you how to write your goals down and make them happen. Kaluser could have saved the reader a lot of time (and the embarrassment of Gloria's story--see "the ugly"), herself a lot of effort, and a lot of paper. Writing down your goals is helpful; find a way that works for you. Then the "Now You" sections. And you have a possibly helpful 20-page book.
A big problem with the book is its lack of organization, which is kind of surprising given the careful layout--introduction, 20 chapters, epilogue. It feels to me that either the publisher wanted 20 chapters or (more likely) Klauser made it a goal to write a 20-chapter book, a goal she wrote down and made happen. Some of the chapters are pointless and others are just continuations of other chapters. In chapter 12 ("Stacking goals: Raising the bar"), Klauser explains how learning to use a computer (back when they were a new thing) made her more confident in her ability to think--helping her creative work. She writes, "I became more logical and organized my ideas better." If only.
The ugly: Really, there are levels of ugly here.
Each story has a lot of what might be background detail, but really isn't--at least not to the stories Klauser's telling. Sideground, maybe? In the second chapter ("Knowing what you want: Setting goals"), she writes about interviewing an opera singer for the book.
"I made an appointment to meet him at the apartment the opera company had rented for him in the Queen Anne neighborhood. When I arrived, he made me some tea and put a crusty loaf of peasant bread and a dish of olive oil on the table. Then he sprinkled fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on top of the oil. He told me his story with great gusto and as he talked, he tore off chunks of bread and dipped them in the oil and cheese, inviting me to do the same."
None of this is relevant. And the Queen Anne neighborhood is not explained to people unfamiliar with Seattle. Wikipedia tells me "Queen Anne is disproportionately populated by unmarried, young adults. The population is more racially homogeneous, better educated and wealthier than Seattle as a whole." I guess including the neighborhood might show how successful a singer he had made himself? I included the bit about tea and crusty peasant bread because even before reading the opera singer's story, it was obviously out of place. I like bread and oil, but reading this is mildly disgusting--why, I wonder? I'm not a tea drinker, but wine seems like it might be the more natural pairing. And him eating with great gusto, tearing off chunks; picturing it, you imagine oil running down his chin as he talked. Gross.
None of this is relevant. And the Queen Anne neighborhood is not explained to people unfamiliar with Seattle. Wikipedia tells me "Queen Anne is disproportionately populated by unmarried, young adults. The population is more racially homogeneous, better educated and wealthier than Seattle as a whole." I guess including the neighborhood might show how successful a singer he had made himself? I included the bit about tea and crusty peasant bread because even before reading the opera singer's story, it was obviously out of place. I like bread and oil, but reading this is mildly disgusting--why, I wonder? I'm not a tea drinker, but wine seems like it might be the more natural pairing. And him eating with great gusto, tearing off chunks; picturing it, you imagine oil running down his chin as he talked. Gross.
And, if there were a category worse than "the ugly," Gloria's story would go there. I'll be brief here since it's so bad that it's fun to read--you may want to pick up the book and skip to chapter 4 ("Getting ready to receive"). Single and in her late-thirties, Gloria decided it was time to find herself a man. So... she starts writing letters to her soul mate. "Dear Soul Mate, My soul gets restless thinking that I might be alone in this life. My deeper feelings..." and so on. My personal favorite (I guess I'm not being that brief): "Soul Mate, I see you again as medium height, strong, nice-looking, with curly hair, light eyes. Strong hands, deep integrity, and spiritual truth, a businessman with a sense of security and knowledge about making and having money. Not for its own sake, but for the joy, love, peace, and bounty it can bring to the world." I too want a soul mate (but will settle for something more casual) with a knowledge about making and having money. Not for its own sake, but for the joy, love, peace, and bounty it can bring to me.