This is one of the best books on writing that I have had the pleasure to read. The Writer’s Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear is filled with writing tips and how to avoid some of the traps writers fall into, mainly social media, productivity issues, and the dreaded writer’s block. Author Anne H. Janzer explains many techniques that help writers, including the Pomodoro Technique, how to focus using the muse and the scribe, ways to get into the flow of writing without being self-critical, and how to find inspiration when stuck on a writing project. The book even includes recommendations for writing apps to help productivity, as well as some troubleshooting ideas for finding time for writing and dealing with writer’s block. There are research plans and steps for the nonfiction writer and, while the book focuses on nonfiction, there are helpful tips for the fiction writer as well.
It is very rare to come across a nonfiction book that grabs the reader and holds their attention as well as this one does. Throughout the book, I was engaged in the instructions and the writing and found myself immersed in The Writer’s Process as though it were a work of fiction. There were so many highlights, including the baking bread metaphor, the instructions on outlining and blueprinting, the seven step writing process, the many ways to avoid the temptations of social media and the internet, and the advice to let a piece of writing sit before jumping back in for edits or revisions. Author Anne H. Janzer is a superb writer who knows her craft and has done a fine job of educating others. I will take away a list of writing tips after reading this book, and I will certainly become a more productive writer. I recommend this book to all writers in all genres. There is something here for everyone!