As a requirement for my MFA program, I am required to read a book on the craft of writing each semester. I have tried to select books that will help me with each of the challenges I faced during that term. My first term I selected, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King because I knew from previous experience that editing would be a challenge for me. During my second term I selected, How to Write a Great Synopsis – An Expert Guide by Nicola Morgan since that was the semester I was required to submit a synopsis. When my first mentor suggested I kill the person I had slated as my killer in my cozy mystery, I chose The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Your Plot to Life by Noah Lukeman to help me figure out what to do with my manuscript which had gotten stale while I tried to figure out whodunit. But as I start my last term at Seton Hill, I was puzzled about which book to choose. I heard on Facebook that one of the mentors in our program, Lucy Snyder, had written a nonfiction book; and the title sounded intriguing, Shooting Yourself in the Head for Fun and Profit: A Writer’s Survival Guide. Lucy Snyder is one of my friend’s mentors. The fact that Lucy Snyder is a multi-award winning author might have also crossed my mind.
Now that my manuscript is finished, I wonder what happens now. There are countless books on getting an agent. They can all be summed up in one sentence, “Write a good book.” Thankfully, I have an agent. But, the bookshelves are pretty scarce on practical books about what to do after you have sold your book; or how to survive in the writing industry, until now. Lucy Snyder’s book fills a void by covering the writing life from beginning to end. Stuck on what to write and how to get started? Shooting Yourself has a chapter that will help you get started. Want to write short stories? There is a chapter on how you can support yourself writing short stories with practical tips on surviving without taking a job that will suck the life (and creativity) out of you. Snyder covers everything an aspiring writer needs to know including how to market your book, surviving at Conventions and getting libraries to carry your book.
The fact that the book is humorous and well-written, made it a quick read, although the information is so good that you will want to go back and reread some sections multiple times to make sure that you have all of the information and didn’t miss anything while you were laughing. I downloaded it onto my eReader but I’m thinking about ordering a hard copy also (because I’m a bit old school and really like having actual books).
I have spent a ton of cash on books to help me develop my craft as a writer. By far, Shooting Yourself in the Head is the best book I’ve read to date. Lucy Snyder is not afraid to share her personal experiences, including the ups and downs of life as a fiction writer. She tells the good, the bad, and the ugly side of writing, in an unpretentious way that is honest and straight-forward. If you’re interesting in pursuing a career as a fiction writer, save yourself some time, money and heartache and pick up a copy of Shooting Yourself in the Head for Fun and Profit by Lucy Snyder. It’s the only writing craft book you’ll need.