Finally Finish Writing Your Book: Review of Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker

I have been called Scrappy myself, so I had to read Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Barker. Enjoy the review.

Who is Donna Barker?

Donna Barker is an author, author coach, and one of the minds behind the Creative Academy. Her book Scrappy Rough Draft offers 22 brief chapters to inspire, motivate, and educated authors who are struggling with completing a manuscript. 

Big Question Answered

Donna Barker writes to help struggling authors get their first draft finished, and not just any draft but a scrappy first draft. One any author can be proud of completing because it’s not perfect. It’s done!

What I like about Scrappy Rough Draft

Barker knows her audience and meets them where they are so she can help them get to where they want to be.
I love that you can pick it up and read a chapter that speaks to you rather than read from front to back and it is still helpful.

Stuck on where to start? Read chapter 16.

Plus, each chapter comes with exercises to help you move past the theory and into action.

One of my favourite things is that she doesn’t dictate but gives you a structure to fill in for yourself. For example, chapter 3 talks about habits but doesn’t dictate certain habits. Instead, she encourages you to develop your own habits. You know how you hear authors, full of confidence, tell you their way is *the* way. They are successful with their habits and we are all the same, so you should be successful with their habits too. If you aren’t, it’s your fault. This book isn’t that!

Scrappy Rough Draft is never all or nothing, never fail or succeed. Life is all grey, and Barker honours that in this book letting you know that mindset will go far in helping you get your book finished, now or in 5 years.

As a bonus, she offers downloads and goodies which are on her website. Two things about that. You don’t need to re-invent the wheel and two this is an awesome marketing strategy. Pay attention.

The Downside

Sometimes I felt like I was reading summaries or ‘Blinks’ of other books and how they related to authorship. Pro/con, I don’t know. Some of the other books I would recommend you read, anyway. So if you are reading along and she refers to a book regarding a subject you are interested in, add another book to your long list. (I do read some books that I buy!)

Who is the book for?

This book helps those who have not even started (see chapter 1, 2 and 16 for example) and those who have started and are stuck. Overall, I’d say grab yourself a copy so you can pick it up when motivation wanes and you want to read something to kick start your writing again.

Do I Recommend Every Author Read This Book? 

Yes! Grab your copy using one of the links below.

Let me know what you thought of the book in the comments!

– Keep writing

Melody Ann


Author Nation is your go-to resource for becoming a successful nonfiction author, from planning to promotion and everything in between. Download the resource for the stage you are in.

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