A review by simonlorden
Write Good Sh*t by RoAnna Sylver

5.0

RoAnna is one of my favourite writers, so of course I'm going to read their tips for other writers!

Write Good Sh*t is great because it's written by a marginalised (queer, disabled) person, and while the tips in it can be useful for anyone, it centers other marginalised writers. It has tips on writing marginalised characters, sensitivity readers, publishing, advertising, writing while depressed/anxious/in pain/etc, and a bunch of other things.

This book doesn't deny that writing is hard, grueling, awful work, but it shows you while your effort is worth it. It simoultaneously made me want to run away screaming, and start working on a new book - even though I currently have no ideas or time to write one anyway.

The only thing I kind of disagree on the analysis of Regan and Jay in Runtime and how many people missed that they were together. When I was reading it, it was clear to me that they care about each other deeply, but... friends can do that, too? I'm not sure what the right solution here is, and I definitely don't think characters HAVE to kiss in order to show they are in a romantic relationship, but I don't think "let's recognise that romance isn't inherently superior to friendship and friends can have deep relationships" and "these characters deeply care about each other, so that signals they are boyfriends" works at the same time. Especially because orientations are so different and people's relationship needs are so different, I think it's important to use clear words to define how they feel about each other. Anyway, I'm just rambling here.