Rob Parnell

This book is actually quite useful. It contains several tips on writing short stories and sending them to publisher. Parnell really makes the whole process sound quite easier than what it actually must be like, but it still is a motivating book with several nice sources and research links.
I do think that it could use some reviewing though. I saw several occurrences of basic grammar mistakes (which is actually ironic given the fact that one of the tips for a successful short story is making it grammatically impeccable).… (més)

Part philosophy, part biography, part instruction. In a genre dominated by textbook like workbooks, this book really stands out as something different. The question is, what will you get out of it? Unfortunately, a highly subjective question.
I thought the use of Tarot cards in an early example was an interesting idea on character development, but to come back to it over and over got a little too New Agey for my tastes. Combine that with the philosophical angles, and i wasn't really sure what the point was, or if there was one. It put me in my mind of listening to the ramblings stories of my Grandfather when I would nod my head and smile and not have a clue what on Earth he was talking about.
"We used to tie an onion to our belt, which was the style of o' the time..."

In the end, not for me as I prefer more direct and precise commentary, but it may work for others. I suggest taking advantage of Amazon's "look inside" feature , if available, to see if this style will work for you.… (més)