I can’t say enough about all the advice Matt Bird crams into The Secrets of Character. This writing manual is full of tips, tricks, and examples for writers to use just within the first ten pages. That’s right, the first ten pages, because Bird knows that agents won’t read past that if they don’t love your main character. Bird preaches the mantra: Believe, Care, Invest over and over with a plethora of examples that he analyzes to explain how they work. Great writing is not just talent; it’s hard work. Matt Bird helps writers see and understand what authors do and why their choices work. Not only is the book helpful, it’s hilarious. Writers, if it’s not on your shelf, it should be.