Extremely Useful Writing Book By The Author of Way of the Peacful Warrior

This book is a couple of years old as of this writing. But I have to review it because it has been such a great help to me in working on my novel the past couple of months. Dan Millman is the author of the bestselling self-help book The Way of the Peaceful Warrior and many other self-help books. The coauthor is his daughter Sierra Prasada, also a published author and editor. The book is easy to read and flows very quickly from start to finish. But I find myself using it as a reference. I have read most of the book, but I keep rereading sections as I get to a new stage in my work. This is the kind of guidance I would expect from an editor. And with his long experience as an author, Millman knows a little about how editor's work. Prasada works as an editor and brings that perspective. But the voice is not that of a harsh critic telling the reader what works and what doesn't work. It is a considerate coaching voice of encouragement, with a concern for the creation of the best possible narrative work. The analogy of the "golden thread" from the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is key to the message. As Theseus followed the golden thread to navigate his way through the labyrinth, an author must find his or her golden thread, which is what the narrative is about, not necessarily the plot.

If you are Millman fan, you will appreciate his description of the stages he traverses, from procrastination to obsession, during the process of writing a book. And the father-daughter duo give some suggested steps to finding and honoring the "golden thread" that are easy to follow or modify.

This book is a great reference for authors of any kind of narrative, whether fiction or nonfiction. Even poetry and other forms. The authors draw on the wisdom of many famous writers, philosophers, and others. This book should be part of every author's toolkit. Put it on your shelf!