Of all the books I’ve read about writing, this one was one of the most influential. In simple but clear detail, it shows you how to cut to the chase and keep the plot rolling.

With examples and a lot of insight, Bell shows you how to achieve maximum effect with minimum slack. Through demonstrating revision of sample passages, he shows you how to tighten your paragraphs, minimize exposition by utilizing those details with subtlety in dialogue or elsewhere, and when you come to a snag, he challenges you to the “What If” scenario.

This book will make you ruthless about your work, and, while it offers a lot of AMAZING IDEAS to make your writing better overall, it will challenge your ability to just write – especially if you are notorious for being overly critical or have the urge to always go back and rewrite things.

So, while perhaps best left for after that first manuscript is finished, it will show you some amazing techniques to make everything you write and edit thereafter that much better.