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Thursday, February 03, 2022

Get My New Book

Hi guys, I can finally share some big news with you: My new book “The Secrets of Character: Writing Heroes Anyone Will Love” is up for preorder on Amazon! That means I can finally share the cover with you! Doesn’t that look awesome? 

The best news for you is that most of the book is new material, never before seen on this blog. I used all those Believe Care Invest pieces as raw data, but I spend most of the book analyzing that data for the first time!

But I know what you’re thinking: Is the book actually any good? Don’t take my word for it, listen to these folks:

“There are plenty of books on the craft of writing. But there’s only one Matt Bird, the ultimate writing coach: smart, funny, insightful, and armed with a toolbox of innovative tips for creating characters readers will love. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned pro, you need this classic-in-the-making.”
--Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“Secrets of Story instantly became one of my favorite writing guides. This follow-up dives under the water to take an even more in-depth look at the iceberg of character development. Meticulously researched and brimming with examples, it offers advice that is both precise and actionable. It reveals the genre-spanning patterns of memorable and resonant characters in an easy-to-access reference format that makes for both fun reading and a great tool to keep on your desk for easy thumb-through inspiration.”
--K. M. Weiland, author of Creating Character Arcs and Structuring Your Novel

“Matt Bird has done it again! The Secrets of Character is a book you want next to you when you write. From revealing what gatekeepers look for in your first ten pages to sharing powerful writing tricks from 150 years ago through today, this is a book to read with your laptop nearby. You'll see what your writing needs and it's sure to inspire you to write!”
--Torrey Maldonado, author of What Lane? and Tight

“All the great ideas in the world don’t matter if you don’t hook your audience out of the gate. In Matt’s new book, he lays it out plain and simple, practical advice for making readers grab on to your protagonists and never let go. The Secrets of Character is the perfect companion to The Secrets of Story, another essential writing guide from Matt Bird.”
--Lou Anders, Hugo-winning editor and author of Once Upon a Unicorn, and Star Wars: Pirate’s Price

“Who says there are no shortcuts to success? Matt Bird’s marvelous Secrets of Character offers indispensable, easy-to-implement story hacks that guarantee your character will grab readers’ attention—and ensure you have a story worth writing.”
--Keir Graff, author of The Three Mrs. Wrights and The Swing of Things (writing with Linda Joffe Hull as Linda Keir)

Feel free to pre-order yourself a copy!  Our big release day is April 19th.   


12 comments:

Nat 20 said...

Ordered! I've been looking forward to this one. It's great to hear the content is all new, too--I would've bought it anyway considering how much value your blog and podcast have given me, but I'm thrilled to get even more content.

Congrats!

Matt Bird said...

Thanks so much for ordering! Just to clarify: It's not ALL new. The back third has just 20 of the BCI pieces, but the first 2/3 are new analysis.

Tiger T said...

Looking forward to reading this! I find it harder with a female protagonist to keep her the eye of the storm. I am sure this will help me out a lot. Thanks

Rochelle Krause said...

Ordered! Can't wait!

McL said...

Congratulations, Matt! I'm looking forward to reading my copy!

Day Leitao said...

So excited to read it!

Paul Worthington said...

Ordered - looking forward to it.

Friday said...

The only thing that kept me from preordering this on the day of was my mother dying right before the announcement, so I didn't know about it until just now!

I'm stoked to say the least! Preordered and done.

Merryjest said...

Dear Matt, I have enjoyed this book immensely- however, as an opera singer I must make a factualcorrection. In one of your chapters you claim that the Waynes are watching the operetta Die Fledermaus, which causes young Bruce to have a freakout and want out. This is incorrect- in Die Fledermaus at no point is anyone ever dressed as a bat onstage, rather it is mentioned in dialogue that one character once dressed up as a bat for a party as part of a prank.

What the Waynes are watching is the opera Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito. The scene that causes Bruce distress is the Act II Walpurgisnacht scene which does have witches, demons, and in this production acrobats/dancers dressed up as bats gyrating in the air.

Anonymous said...

Hello, I'm currently reading your book now and am loving it. For the first time, I have been seriously sitting down and writing a story I had in mind and bought your book after I'd already completed a portion of it. I chose your book in hopes of possibly improving upon it and was pleased to find after reading the section on giving your hero "A Full Like," I had already done all you suggested correctly!
There is one error I noticed on Pg. 45 however that I'd thought I'd point out in case no one else had mentioned it (slim though that may be).
You state that Dean in the Supernatural pilot is about to have his law degree review. That was in fact SAM.

Alex Fin said...

comment devenir vraiment meilleur, très probablement en développant et en étudiant https://ebookgratuit.blog/ des livres ...

Arthur said...

Loved the first book; and am looking forward to my Amazon delivery next week!
Best of luck!