By Forris Day JR
“The Writers Advantage: a Toolkit for Mastering Your Genre” by author Laurie Scheer is an outstanding book. It teaches storytellers how to add elements to their story and understand their genre, whatever that genre is. It’s a book that covers writing overall. Whether you write screenplays, novels, plays, web-series or short stories you will glean information that will make you write better.
Here is a breakdown of the book. It’s divided into three sections. Kind of a “before your write, while you write and after you write” layout to it. Section one entitled “Know What Has Been Done Before”. In this first phase of the book Scheer encourages you to fully understand what you are writing and why. She covers such relevant topics such as transmedia. Think about what Disney does when they release a movie. They make books, video games, comic books…you name it, that is transmedia. You will analyze how today’s audiences ingest media and why you should care.
Section two called “Arming Yourself”. Here you will begin to write your project and really nail down the genre, focusing on creating something unique. You’re forced to ask lots of questions of your story. By answering these questions, your story becomes focused and more interesting. You’ll learn about elements you need to add to the tale. You will do lots of research. (a.k.a. watch shows within your genre so that you will fully understand the principles and formulas of it.) If you do all the exercises in this section you should pretty much be an expert in the genre you are writing in or about.
Section three “Getting Your Work Out into the World” is the shortest section in the book but still covers lots of ground. This is the part of the book where you go out and market what you’ve written. Learn how to prepare for meetings, what you need to have when taking a meeting and tips on pitching. It goes over the business side of writing.
“The Writers Advantage” is a quick read, yet it’s absolutely loaded with information to keep you on track and laser focused. I recommend reading the book straight through first, then go back again, but slowly. This time do the exercises and research Scheer recommends. By reading it once through I believe you will be able to comprehend the big picture and the second time through you will be much more focused on your goal as a writer.
It can be used as a reference book too. Read the “How to Use This Book” section and it goes into great detail which sections you should read depending on where you are at with a writing project. Think of this book a toolkit. It is truly that. You will acquire tools to become a better writer no matter what you pen. I dare say by using the tools in this book your grocery list will become more exciting to read. OK…that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but nonetheless your writing WILL improve and you will be one step closer to being the successful writer I know you want to be.
Rating: 8/10 – “Read this book before you write yours”
Purchase “The Writers Advantage”
Learn more about Laurie Scheer
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