SYNOPSIS

You’ve read all the self-publishing pep talks.

Your book still isn’t published. Or finished.

So why not try a different approach?

Not Write Now isn’t like any book on writing you’ve read before. It won’t tell you to get your hiney in the chair and write. It will tell you to do the exact opposite.

Acclaimed fantasy author Kyle Robert Shultz launches a reverse-psychology attack on your creative blocks that will leave you more eager and determined to write than ever. And he’ll give you plenty of laughs along the way.

This may not be the creativity book you’ve been looking for, but it’s definitely the one you need.

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The short version of this review: If you’re a writer, starved for motivation, and like to laugh, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

We clear? Awesome.

Okay but GUYS. THIS BOOK.

Confession time here. I verrryyy rarely make time for reading nonfiction. IT’S TRUE. You may judge me now! I have a huge list of writing help books I’ll read “someday”, and other self-help and historical books that I vaguely promised myself I’ll read before I die (I’m so great at this whole goals and self-discipline thing), buuut yeah. When I take time out to read, I want it to be fiction. #shame

WELL. Not Write Now was just as entertaining as any fiction book I could grab off my shelf. And, as a bonus, it was one of the most inspiring and hilarious books I’ve ever read.

So what exactly is Not Right Now?

It’s an entire writing self-help book trying to convince you to not be a writer. Yep, just the book we all need. I mean, why would you ever want to be one of those insane author people? We’re adults who think it’s still okay to have imaginary friends. We spend hours at a time staring at blinking cursors on the screen and downing gallons of coffee hoping the caffeine will magically make our fingers type out a perfectly constructed story. We pour our hearts and souls into something for other people to freely rip apart.

Authors are weird.

Mr. Shultz, having made the mistake of becoming an author and unable to get out of the Pit of Storymaking, has taken it upon himself to caution others of the signs that they may want to be a writer, and how to avoid it at all cost and live like a normal person.

Because the first step of becoming a Not-Writer is to crush that story idea and stuff your creativity in a box before you fall into the Pit of Storymaking (because once you’re in….there’s no way out).

This book takes you through the whole writing process, from first draft to a published book, telling you the things you should absolutely do to avoid taking any of these measures. One slip up, and you may just find yourself being a successful author. Obviously you wouldn’t want that. The horror!

Sure, it seems like it’s easy to not write. Us writers do it all the time, after all. Sometimes we’d rather move to the mountains and raise alpacas than have to type one more word. But…if there is a story inside you, it will never stop trying to get out. Plot bunnies are the most savage of animals. Thankfully, this book tells you how to continuously keep alert and squash that creativity.

If you’ve read Kyle Robert Shultz’s novels before, then you know you’re in for a treat of humor. His nonfiction is no different! This book had me ROLLING.

It takes on a second person tone as he is trying to convince you why becoming an author could be your undoing, while suggesting clever ways to avoid it completely (like filling your valuable time with Netflix instead; though even that can fuel your creativity with story ideas, so you have to be careful!).

Chapter 2 was my absolute favorite as Mr. Shultz tells his story of how he was unable to fight off the urge to become an author, mainly due to the insistence of a certain couple of stubborn characters. I. Laughed. So. Hard. This book is worth getting for chapter 2 alone. But every word is pure gold.

In reverse-psychology fashion, it tells you why becoming an bonafide author is, obviously, a very bad idea. It brilliantly takes you, step-by-step, through the book making process and how to keep at it and stay inspired— AHEM. Excuse me. How to not keep at it and never, ever let that story idea out, is what I meant. Yes. Slip of the tongue there.

Near the end, it has a whole chapter on tons and tons of writing resources—from books, to YouTube Channels, to podcasts—that should absolutely be avoided so you don’t accidentally get inspired and start writing.  There’s also a few stories from other authors, sharing their downfall on how they become writers and tips on how you can avoid their tragic mistakes.

AHEM. All right. If we’re being serious, sometimes self-help books can be a little overwhelming as they try to convince you to achieve ALL THE THINGS. Not Write Now is completely different. It hilariously gives you examples of how we, truthfully, do avoid writing. From wasting time on social media to letting our perfectionism and fears hold us back. But instead of shaming you for it, it inspires you to pick up pen and WRITE, all while providing so very many laughs.

This is a writing self-help book unlike any other. Instead of making writing sound like so much work with a thousand different things you have to juggle and remember while drafting a novel, it reminds you people out there will love your story, all you have to do is write it in whatever way works best for you. All while, ya know, trying to convince you that you should, absolutely, be a normal person and not one of those crazy novelists. Of course.

In truth, I haven’t been this inspired by a book in a long, long time. It is ingenious the way it takes you through the process of becoming an author, totally inspiring you and showing you anyone can be a writer, all while hilarious attempting to convince you not to go down the one-way road of authorhood.

It’s also a very quick read! At just 119 pages, it’s a breeze to get through, and just enjoyable. I laughed so much, guys. SO MUCH.

Conclusion

If you’re a writer of any kind, you need this book! It is for everyone who has a story inside them. For those of us who know this life of writing is absurd and difficult, but we want to do it anyway. Because creating a story is also one of the most magical, beautiful things on this earth.

It’s not so much a guide of how to craft a book, but why you should be writing, with wonderful tidbits on staying motivated and getting words on the page.

Quick, hilarious, and beyond brilliant with its tongue-in-cheek humor and reverse-psychology methods, this is the book, like the blurb says, you didn’t know you wanted, but NEED.

. . . 5 Out of 5 Stars . . .

LET’S TALK!

Does this sound like something you’d like to read (answer: yes)? What’s a writing self-help book that’s really inspired you? (I need more recommendations for that list I’ll totally get to one day. 😉 #butseriously) And for all my non-writing followers, tell me about a nonfiction book you LOVE. Because, well, I need to read more of those!

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to write a positive review. I just wanted to because YOU GUYS NEED THIS BOOK.