Writing is a vulnerable occupation; it is both personal and intimate. The act of writing, cycles of revision, and the confusing publishing industry can shatter a writer's confidence, leaving you feeling like an imposter, overcome with rejection. Survival--and success--requires commitment, honesty, courage, resilience, sacrifice, and miles and miles of heart.

You have everything you need as a writer--it lies within, in the form of consistency and self-confidence. With Write Smart, Write Happy, best-selling author Cheryl St. John will help you unlock your skills, guiding you to overcome every hesitation, obstacle, a form of writer's block, and procrastination habit you have. Within these pages, you'll learn to:

Organize your writing life by using a planner, scheduling your yearly goals, and acknowledging career plans. Sharpen your saw by recharging your creativity, developing positive motivation, and creating healthy writing habits. Affirm your beliefs by overcoming self-doubt, learning to use affirmations, and altering your thinking. Conquer remaining fears by releasing tendencies towards perfectionism and establishing strategies for habitual success. Written with a no-nonsense attitude, St. John's "advice from the trenches" will help you take an introspective look at your own writing habits and life. Through examples and inspiration from writers who struggled with--and overcame--rejection and reservations, discover the path towards writing smarter and happier today.
If you are thinking of writing, this is a book that you should read. It's helpful and insightful

This book on writing, but not the craft of it, is just right as what it is. If you want to learn about plot or POV, then you'll want a different craft book, but if you're struggling with self-esteem and endurance in a difficult industry, this book reminds the struggling writer why they do what they do and how to keep themselves inspired to keep going. Cheryl St. John writes with an approachable voice and intersects useful information with relatable anecdotes to keep the pages turning. It's hard to stay happy in this writing business sometimes, but St. John does a great job of reminding a writer how to set obtainable goals and survive until success.

This book is an interesting take on motivation and success. The advice given here is something that could be applied to many aspects of life, but the application towards writing emphasises the importance of goal setting, and a professional attitude. A useful addition to a writer's library.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy ARC of this book

I enjoyed this book. It was highly motivating and just what I needed to read.
I loved the positiveness and everything this Author wrote to help those become more successful and motivate us to write daily.

Fantastic read!!

Highly recommend.

*Recv'd copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is the perfect gift for the wannabe author in your life. This unlocks and enhances the skills we all have within us to potentially become the next JK Rowling or JRR Tolkein.

This is a practical approach to creating a writing practice. Full of helpful suggestions and advice on how to become a productive writer that helps to lift the veil on the myths surrounding the craft.

I thought Write Smart Write Happy was going to be a book about writing—and it is. And it isn't. It isn't what I was expecting (which was something about how to write better). It is about writing, but it's not about the craft of writing. It's more about the mindset behind writing—what it takes to be a successful multi-published author. One of her big points is to focus on what we can control.

A publisher declining your manuscript is out of your control. But there are two things you can control:
- The quality of your work
- Your attitude and strategy in selling

We can't control whether an agent will take us on or whether an editor will acquire a manuscript.

If we traditionally publish, we can't control how many books we sell or know what marketing activities result in sales. (Self-published authors have a little more control in that they can see their daily sales and therefore make a connection between daily sales and marketing activities).

Defining our success by matters outside our control is only going to lead to stress and unhappiness. Instead, we should focus on what we can control: how much we write, how many submissions we make to publishers, how many books we write (and self-publish, if that's our chosen path). St John says:

We only fail when we neglect to set goals and work towards them.

St John goes on to say:

Saying I want to write and traditionally publish a bestseller is like saying I want world peace. If we set goals that are nearly impossible to obtain, we're setting ourselves up for disappointment and frustration.

We can't rely on external factors for our writer happiness. That's not smart and it won't make us happy. Instead:

Our self-esteem must come from a job well done and having given our best.

The book is also full of inspirational quotes from other writers, such as this line from Ann Landers:

Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognise them.

St John is full of handy tips to write smart, and write happy, such as changing the font colour to white if we want to write freeflow without the internal editor getting in the way. Clever.

Being a successful writer is work. Hard work.

There is no Secret Handshake, no secret key to success, no information that the successful published authors are withholding. But there are blogs and books like Write Smart Write Happy which share many valuable tips (e.g. all the different types of editing a traditionally published novel goes through).

If you're looking for a book about how to write better, then Write Smart Write Happy isn't the book for you. But if you're looking for some encouragement in your writing journey, or tips on how to be a more consistent and productive writer, and how to set (and achieve) realistic goals, then Write Smart Write Happy might be right for you.

Thanks to Writers Digest and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Overall, it is a quick read which could help someone in a writing slump get back on course. It has some amazing insight on the process and business of writing. There are sections about organization and mental processing to encourage the writer to write.

This book is so not for me. I'm not the type of writer who plans out her story or uses agendas. I don't even use agendas for my personal life. Once, it was clear that Cheryl St. John doesn't think highly of my type of writer, I put down the book. Now if you are the type of writer who creates storyboards then this book might be more for you.

I’ll start by confessing that I went to check out how many books Cheryl St. John had published: the answer is dozens of them. She knows what she is talking about. She’s a prolific writer that was already getting published in the nineties.
This is not the usual book about the writing process, inspiration, emotion and momentum. This is not about the magic of creation. It’s about organized work and productivity. It's about showing up. It reminds me of some books about time management and setting goals. All this applied to creative writing, with multiple examples. Good book.
I received this book as an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

There are a lot of writing books out there, for every possible type of, approach to, and interpretation of writing. St. John is a romance author, and while she doesn't actually mention that within this book, I think it's discernible through the style of her advice. I've noticed that romance authors tend to approach writing as a job, a craft like any other – potentially explained by the fact that it's a genre where it's not uncommon for authors to put out three books a year, unlike literary fiction, in which famous authors who publish once a decade (or less!) are easy to find. It's an approach I personally find very appealing, while books on writing with a more mystical or therapeutic bent put me off. Nothing wrong with either method, but Write Smart, Write Happy is very much not Bird by Bird or Writing Down the Bones; it's a more practical, businesslike, unsentimental take on writing. Basically, Write Smart, Write Happy is for you if you're interested in a writing book that's more about getting the words on the page and meeting deadlines and less about writing from the heart or finding your personal muse of inspiration.

Which is not say it's a perfect book. I was hoping for lots of specific tips, and there was a bit too much pep-talk/self-help esque advice about believing in yourself and not giving up than I personally would have preferred. Nonetheless there was good advice in here, enough for me to take notes and end up with some new things to try. Overall Write Smart, Write Happy is a quick, easy read with some helpful information, particularly on planning, time management, and setting goals.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2336614356

I received a free e-book copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Cheryl St. John's "Write Smart, Write Happy" caught my attention because I thought it would be a book about the creative process of writing; however, it is, more accurately, a guide to becoming a committed author and to surviving the publishing business. The key to both? Resilience, consistence, dedication. A lot of what St. John writes about can be summed up in "just sit down and write, nobody is going to do that for you." It's difficult to argue with such an approach.

An important caveat is that while some elements of the advice provided by St. John can be applicable to anyone who is thinking seriously about being a professional writer, other ideas pertain more specifically to the US (possibly also UK) publishing market. So when St. John describes the importance of having writing / critique partners, I can nod along (even if one doesn't have those IRL, it shouldn't be too difficult to find some online), but when she exhorts the prospective writer to go to writers' conferences and workshops -- well, unfortunately, I don't think this applies to where I live. (Of course, there might be online opportunities for such events.)

Overall, the book is an interesting insight into the life of a professional writer, and provides some pieces of advice worth considering, even if not all of them will work for every prospective writer.

Write Smart, Write Happy
How to Become a More Productive, Resilient and Successful Writer
by Cheryl St. John
F+W Media

Writer's Digest Books
Nonfiction (Adult) , Reference
Pub Date 01 Feb 2018

I am reviewing Write Smart, Write Happy through Writer's Digest Books and Netgalley:

This book reminds us that writing is a vulnerable occupation. We are reminded too that positive emotions change our brains, opening us up to possibilities, while negative emotions can cripple our ability to function.

As writers we are reminded too that we will have to deal with critical people. It is pointed out too that success will come at a cost. We are encouraged too to celebrate each success along the way.

We are encouraged to not take offense to all criticism. The author points out too that writers block is an excuse. The important read of building self confidence and rehearing our victories as authors is also brought up.

The author addresses the importance of good writing mentors as well as the danger of becoming such a perfectionist it paralyzes her. We are reminded too that rejection is not failure.

I give Write Smart, Write Happy five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This book came along 4 years too late for me, but still has some amazing insight on the process and business of writing. There are sections about organization and mental processing to encourage the writer to write. That is the writer's job. And sometimes we get in our feelings of inadequacy and fail to do our job. This book will serve as a reference when I'm having a tough time organizing myself and focusing on the work. I especially appreciated the advice and process of other authors which was included in this reference book.

Thank you to Netgalley, and the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. Write Smart Write Happy by Cheryl St John is an excellent resource for aspiring writers. She sets out how to set goals, overcome self doubt, conquer perfectionism, time management and many other useful tools to help you succeed as a writer. This book will work well as a practical guide to achieving the goal of becoming a writer. I do recommend this book highly. #WriteSmartWriteHappy #NetGalley

This is a helpful book that is well written. Reading this provided skillful ideas to help writers in their goals, which helps bring on happiness knowing they have what they need to succeed.

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

I am interested in any book dedicated to the craft of writing but often find the contents rather similar. This doesn't deter me, however, as I find it incredibly inspiring to begin my daily writing routine with some related reading. This book, whilst not delivering anything mind-blowingly unique, was a passionate yet straight-forward discourse on the subject of creativity, instilling me with boundless motivation and encouragement.

I loved this book for the way it delivered its messages. The author relayed anecdotes from her own creative journey, as well as including advice, quotes, and success stories from other writers. This delivered tough love and stark facts, when needed, but also maintained a sunny and positive outlook that had me full of self-belief and determination. This offered no promises and no secret hacks to get you published within the year. It did make me view the creative process in an entirely different light, however, and had me engaging with my work in a wholly new way, which I appreciated and am already seeing success with.

Whilst there a slew of similar titles available, this is one of the best I have read and I would urge any writer, at any stage in their career, to add this to their arsenal.

This is a great motivational book for beginner writers or those who need a bit of inspiration to continue down the writer's path. Not only did Cheryl share her own process and challenges, but she shared tips on how to overcome all potential roadblocks that often plague writers. It definitely renewed my passion for the craft and my desire to become a writer.

Talk about an incredible resource! This book is a wealth of information for those that want to get serious about their writing and being published. Ms. St. John goes into great detail about every aspect of writing imaginable, from the importance of continuing to have a social life and tips on getting organized, to the importance of self-discipline, making your writing time a priority, and even tips on creating a writing space. The author's honesty about her own personal journey as a writer is refreshing and is beautifully intermingled with practical tips that you can put into practice immediately.

So many believe that a writer's life is glamorous but Ms. St. John sets the record straight, outlining the many steps it takes to be published, as well as dealing with bad reviews, ugly rejections, and the personal sacrifices that you have to make to see your dream realized. The author does not sugar coat anything, but lays everything out there in black and white, leaving you with no questions about what it takes to be a successful writer.

I tried to read this book straight through but I kept stopping to jot down notes and highlight, so I finally gave up and just skimmed it. This will be a resource that I will be coming back to more and more as I get more serious about my writing. After skimming this book I actually pulled out a manuscript that I've been working on for a few years and started working on it again. I am now more motivated than ever to one day be published, and with Write Smart, Write Happy I have an incredible tool to help me get focused, and do it the right way.

Cheryl St. John has written a piercingly honest, encouraging, realistic guide to what it takes to be a professional writer. Again and again, I found myself scribbling down her notes and observations, my favorite of which is "Writing is about as glamorous as digging a trench to find a busted sewer line. Sometimes you can't see what you're doing for all the sweat in your eyes...The whole process often stinks." Or, it might be this question: "What would I rather be doing?" At times instructive, goading, searingly honest, and tough cheerleader, St. John lays out the whole inner and outer landscape for the prospective or accomplished writer. Some of the early sections of the book could have used editing for repetitive and intrusive expressions, but as the book progresses, it picks up power and momentum. I was privileged to receive an advance review copy to read and will be buying a copy for myself for some favorite passages in St. John's grounded, unique voice.