Book Review: Hurling Words into Darkness: A Book Doctor’s Dose of Brain Science for Writers

Hurling Words into Darkness: A Book Doctor’s Dose of Brain Science for Writers by Peter Gelfan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are a lot of books out there on how to become a better writer – I’ve got dozens on my reference shelf right now. But if you’re looking for guidance and inspiration beyond the mechanics of writing, this is a good read to help round out your knowledge and expertise.

You won’t find advice on how to match your word count to your genre, or where to break a chapter, but you *will* be given food for thought about how to really write for your reader and give them what they need to have a satisfying experience with your story. What they need isn’t always what you want to do – and you need to know why, and how to accomplish that.

The easy-reading non-textbook style of this book appeals to me as a reader (and I’m betting the author knew that!) and it can be read very quickly. Repeat readings may be helpful to reinforce concepts, so keep your copy close by for a while.

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