When asked to review this book, my first thought was that everything contained therein could be found on a quick internet search, so why bother? At that point I hadn’t tied up the name with the author of ‘Pieces like Pottery’ which I read and reviewed last year.  Having great respect for Dan Buri’s work, I decided it would definitely be worth keeping an open mind.

Buri doesn’t touch on technique or structure, strategies, mechanics or plot – those he leaves to the author. His intention is to provide the tools to encourage good writing practice and avoid common pitfalls.

Each chapter is short and succinct with a quote towards the end. At 164 pages, it could almost be read at one sitting. Basically, it is exactly what it purports to be; 40 writing tips. However, it is interspersed with personal anecdotes, motivational segments and humour to encourage and cajole the novice author and those of us (me) who have fallen into bad habits.

There were many occasions where I felt Dan Buri was standing behind me and making notes. Yes, I do slob around in my pyjamas during the day because dressing will take time and encroach on my creative flow. However he is quite correct; I wouldn’t turn up at my office looking like I have just rolled out of bed, so if writing is my job, then I should present myself properly and of course I should also remember to eat.

In the second half of the book, Buri concentrates on encouraging authors to get involved in the writing community, publicity and marketing.  I’m pleased he has given so much space to this area, as many authors find the whole process of ‘getting the book out there’ twice as difficult as actually writing it in the first place.  So whether it be desensitising oneself to rejection or rationalising unfavourable reviews, we are offered practical coping mechanisms.

Having finished ‘40 Tips on Creative Writing’, I feel quite invigorated.  If you’re not a writer, it will have limited appeal but it is most definitely a useful resource for authors of both fact and fiction.  Whatever stage you’re at in your writing career, I would thoroughly recommend reading this book. I am at a loss to think of anything Dan Buri has overlooked and am smiling as I award five stars (you will need to read Creative Writing Tip 23 to understand why)!

About the Author

Dan Buri is a trusted resource for writers to gain insight into the difficult world of indie publishing. He is the creator of the website Nothing Any Good supporting indie authors (see below) and a founding member of the Independent Writers Guild, a worldwide organization of writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting the interest of quality indie literature.

Dan’s first collection of short fiction, Pieces Like Pottery, is an exploration of heartbreak and has spent time at #1 on multiple bestseller lists, including for inspirational short stories and inspirational fiction. The writing is uniquely heartfelt and explores the depths of the human struggle and the human search for meaning in life.

Dan’s second book, 40 Tips on Creative Writing, provides a fresh look at how to become published and find readers.

Dan’s non-fiction works have been distributed online and in print, including publications in Pundit Press, Tree, Summit Avenue Review, and TC Huddle. The defunct and very well regarded Buris On The Couch, was a He-Says/She-Says blog musing on the ups and downs of marriage with his wife.

Mr. Buri is an active attorney in the Pacific Northwest and has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Magazine as one of the World’s Top 300 Intellectual Property Strategists every year since 2010. He lives in Oregon with his wife and two-year-old daughter.