Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. - by Lisa Mangum (Paperback)

About the Book

"Thousands of writers--from first-time authors to #1 New York Times best-selling authors--have learned from Lisa Mangum's masterful literary advice and inspiration. Now she's collected the best of her writing and editing tips in this helpful book that covers the entire writing and querying process, from nurturing a story idea all the way to submitting a polished manuscript"--

Book Synopsis

Wherever you are in your author's journey, this book is like teaming up with a personal writing coach who has more than a quarter century of editorial and publishing advice.

Thousands of writers--from first-time authors to #1 New York Times best-selling authors--have learned from Lisa Mangum's masterful literary advice and inspiration. Now she's collected the best of her writing and editing tips in this helpful book that covers the entire writing and querying process, from nurturing a story idea all the way to submitting a polished manuscript.

In the first half of the book, Lisa guides readers through the various steps of the writing process, including starting the story in the right place, developing characters with high-stake goals, mapping character relationships for increased conflict, and introducing tension and plot twists. She also shares tips and tricks for nailing a satisfying ending as well as helping authors discover their own unique voice that can help them break through writer's block.

With her decades of experience, Lisa then takes writers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the many levels of editing, including a handy flowchart that unravels the mystery of where the commas go in a sentence.

Finally, she helps writers prepare to "get published" by deconstructing what makes a query letter catch an editor's eye and how to answer the all-important question: "What's your book about?"

Packed with Lisa's own personal stories of encouragement and inspiration, Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a literary adventure that's as fun as it is informative.

Review Quotes

"A wise and witty guide for writers at every stage, I wish I'd had this years ago! This is a fantastic book for writers, like having an expert take you gently by the hand and lead you through every stage of writing and publication!"--Jessica Day George, best-selling author of Tuesdays at the Castle

"Be prepared to slay your inner demons, uplevel your next story, and launch your career! This book has the writing-success secrets you've been looking for. With her trademark heart and honesty, Mangum is a legend in this industry--and you don't want to miss
her best advice!"--Angela Eschler, CEO of Eschler Editing and best-selling author

"Craft books and books about publishing can often be dry reading, but Lisa Mangum's Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is highly readable, entertaining, and full of great information. It is perfect for aspiring authors, authors preparing to find agents, and established authors who will find valuable nuggets of wisdom to add to their toolbox. It is also a breath of fresh air to read a craft book that references works of genre fiction rather than stale literary classics. This is a book I will be recommending."--Stacey Kondla, literary agent, The Rights Factory

"Lisa Mangum has managed to distill a lifetime of writing wisdom into these pages. Every writer, at any stage in their career, has something profound to learn from this book."--Jennifer A. Nielsen, #1 New York Times best-selling author

"Lisa Mangum's Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is an incredible tool that all unpublished authors should read! Not only does she get into the craft elements of writing, but she also digs deep and shares personal experiences that really make this book stand out!"--Lynnette Novak, literary agent, The Seymour Agency

"There are great writers, great editors, and great teachers. Lisa Mangum is all three. Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a master class that could be taught only by someone with more than twenty years of experience in guiding countless authors through turning their stories into published works. Get. It. Now!"--J. Scott Savage, best-selling author of the Farworld, Mysteries of Cove, and Graysen Foxx series

"With an openness and humility that will draw you in, Lisa takes us through the creation of a novel. But not just any novel--your novel. I'll be recommending this book to all my authors before we start work together, especially the 'Edit Smart' section. This book
is freakin' awesome, and if you want an inside perspective from a masterful editor with decades of XP on how to make a book work, you need to read it."--Joshua Essoe, freelance editor and author of Essoe's Guides to Writing

"As an editor, the greatest skills Lisa brings to bear on a manuscript are a desire for clarity and the generosity of spirit needed to help the author achieve it. Both are present in abundance in this book."--James A. Owen, author of Drawing out the Dragons (4/30/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a great guide for editors and writers alike. Lisa not only explains what you need to do to create a compelling and engaging story, but she gives examples from her own personal experience as a writer (and editor) and how she's applied it to her own work. I recommend that any author (or editor) read Lisa's book and keep it close by as a quick and easy reference."--Mia Kleve, MRK'd Up Editing

"A worthy, must-have addition for any writer's toolkit, Lisa Mangum's Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is more than a how-to book. Built for authors at all levels, this handbook delivers poignant personal experience from an author and editor about the necessary tools, mindset, and motivation for creatives to bring their ideas to the page. Lisa's stories and examples hammer home the important information in a funny, engaging tone that will make your first read fast, but this is a book you're going to want on that shelf next to your desk. It's a reference to treasure."--Kevin Ikenberry, international best-selling author of The Crossing (4/22/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Mangum's craft book is filled with useful tips for the novice and more tried author alike, but what really stands out is the message of hope. Mangum's words will encourage you to reach until you feel as though you can touch the sky."--Tricia Levenseller, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author

"When I need inspiration to write, I go to Lisa Mangum. Whether I'm reading her fiction books or asking for advice on my own craft, she is the place to go. I'm ecstatic to put her in my pocket and take her everywhere!"--Katie Cross, author of Miss Mabel's School for Girls

About the Author

Lisa Mangum has worked in publishing for more than twenty-five years. She has been the managing editor for Shadow Mountain since 2014 and has worked with several award-winning and New York Times best-selling authors. Lisa is also the author of four national best-selling YA novels (The Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello), several short stories and novellas, and a nonfiction book about the craft of writing based on the TV show Supernatural. She regularly teaches at writing conferences across the country as well as hosts a writing weekend twice a year in Capitol Reef National Park. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy.