How I Write: secrets of a best-selling author by Janet Evanovich and Ina Yalof ISBN 978-0312354282
cover art from “How I Write” by Janet Evanovich and Ina Yalof
This is another book I listened to on audio book and it was fun.
Janet’s daughter, Alex, has been her web-master since the beginning and has kept a page for questions about writing. Ina Yalof is a professor of English who lives in New Hampshire where Janet used to live. So this book is written like a group of ladies gathered around a table drinking coffee and eating coffee cake. Alex poses the question from the web site; Janet answers the question and at the end of the chapter Ina inserts her blurb from the non-fiction realm. When examples are needed, they are pulled from Janet’s Stephanie Plum Series and are read by Lorelei King — reader of the Plum series and she is just extraordinary.
This is wonderfully light and humorous — I wouldn’t say this is the intellectual capstone of the publishing industry but she uses her wonky sense of humor and love of life to share insights on what works for her. She encourages people to just sit and write. Plow through the self defeating ideas that are wont to distract beginner writers. Janet candidly shares that the first three novels she wrote are still in her desk drawer, but they are written and complete. She also shares that it took her ten years of constant rejection to get published.
This is recommended for people interested in writing but needing a slight humorous boost to get their butt in the chair. Maybe a person who has stopped a story because of some life experience. This book is also for people who love Janet’s other books and just want to understand a little more about how she does it!
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