Review: WRITE A NOVEL IN 100 DAYS by Kim Purcell

Library Journal: YA novelist Purcell’s (Trafficked) first foray into nonfiction is a dependable road map for all those who want to take the ultimate leap and write a novel. She doesn’t shy away from the fact that the act of writing a novel can be tied up in so many real-life obstacles. Purcell outlines the process by breaking the steps down into a tangible timeline and manageable exercises. Purcell uses bestselling books, such as Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, to showcase examples of planning out a novel from start to finish. Purcell’s method is extremely detailed and relatable overall, and she explores what to do if would-be authors only have 15 minutes a day to write. She calls them “Fifteen Magic Minutes” and offers some thought-provoking prompts to get the writing flowing, such as laying out every aspect of the world and characters so that at the end of each exercise there are no doubts about the characters or the story. VERDICT: A great book for writers who are at the beginning of their journey and don’t know where to start.