Genre: Nonfiction
Copyright: 2016
Remember me talking about gimmicky writing books? This book had that feel. It was drowning in “do this, and you’ll write the next bestseller” tone, like a car salesman.
I had high hopes for this one. According to the bio, Cron has worked as a literary agent, and a “story consultant for Warner Brothers.” She also teaches, however it does not say what she teaches. I should have been pickier with a “writer” who hasn’t actually written a novel herself.
It’s all about how to use psychology and “brain science” to understand how stories and characters work – which isn’t that different from every other writing advice book. It repeats everything else that’s been said. It’s very impersonal, which probably comes from the author’s lack of personal experience of writing a fictional story. She’s dealt with writers, but as Flannery O’Conner said, “I find that most people know what a story is until they sit down to write one.”
Beatrice B. Morgan 