
Sunday Book Review – Polish Your Prose by Harmony Kent
Welcome back to a new year of my Sunday Book Reviews. In this first review of the year I’m featuring my review for Harmony Kent’s – Polish Your Prose. This book is an invaluable guide book for every writer’s desktop to have nearby for both refreshing the seasoned writer and a must have for every new writer.
Blurb:
Polish Your Prose is a powerful new guide that gives essential editing tips for authors.
Lots of books have been written on the art of writing, and here—at last—is a guide that will teach you the essential techniques of editing your own book. This will help you turn a promising manuscript into a published novel. And, it does this without the jargon. You don’t need to know all the grammatical terms in order to make use of this book. You don’t need to know the definition of a split infinitive, a comma splice, or a ‘to be’ verb, as this manual explains these in detail in easy to understand terms, and a lively and engaging style.
Chapters on Passive Writing, Tense, Point of View, Dialogue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an editor would go through to polish and perfect your manuscript.
Good writing is nothing without good editing. Learn the secrets of good editing and writing with this essential author reference, which offers so much more for so much less.
Harmony Kent is an award winning author, and accomplished editor and proofreader. Her passion is helping Indie Authors to successfully achieve their goals and dreams.
New Apple Book Awards Top Medalist Winner 2015
“This book is a mine of useful information. It’s concise and easy to understand. You don’t have to wade through pages upon pages of chatter; Harmony Kent gets straight to the point. ” — Michelle Abbott, Romance Author
“If the complexities of grammar and punctuation sometimes confound you – this gem of a book is for you. This is a guide I’ll be dipping into over and over.”–Wendy Scott, Fantasy Author
My 5 Star Review:
A concise writer’s guide written in simplicity with easy to refer to chapters, no filler babble in these bite-sized chapters to help hone your editing skills. This book succinctly covers chapters on all bibs and bobs of writing a clean and concise manuscript. However, this is not a book about how to write a book, but rather, a complete checklist on the dos and don’ts of writing clean, complete with easy to understand lessons with examples covering all the topics that make for better writing.
In this book Kent covers such topics as: show don’t tell, how to avoid head-hopping, weeding out adverbs and cliches, importance of staying in tense, use of contractions, dialogue tags, overuse of starting sentences with same pronouns, common stylistic and grammar issues, and more! Kent also adds good tips for proofreading, what to include when writing book reviews – and what not to, how to handle bad reviews, and once learning the rules – how they can be broken.
Polish Your Prose also includes added bonus charts on common word replacements from British to American English, and a list of commonly used words that are used incorrectly. Point of view use is also discussed and demonstrated with concise examples.
This book is a handy guide for writers on all levels. For the seasoned writer, it’s a wonderful refresher guide for those moments we are stumped while revising and editing. And for new writers, it’s a must have on every desktop.

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64 Comments
Robbie Cheadle
A lovely review, Debby. I must get this book as I am a bit bad with head hopping. Sharing.
dgkaye
I have no doubt you will find this helpful Robbie – in simple terms, no fancy shamncy elaboration, that’s what I liked about it. 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Robbie. This book will prove a gem for curing head hopping and other ills, lol 🙂
Harmony Kent
I’m sure you’ll find PYP helpful and fun. Thanks for sharing and supporting, Robbie 😊
Anita Dawes
This very helpful book should have been in every writers stocking this past Christmas…
dgkaye
Here, here Anita! (Jaye?) Lol 🙂 xx
Harmony Kent
Thanks for this lovely comment, Anita and Jaye 🙂
Sally Cronin
Thanks Debby and congratulations Harmony… I will share the review in the Cafe Update on 24th… I am sure it will be of great interest to all the writers in the group… hugs
dgkaye
Thanks Sal, as always. I would highly recommend this easy-to-read book in simple terms for writers at all stages. <3 xx
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Sally. You’re so awesome with supporting us all. Hugs, xx
Jacqui Murray
This sounds really good. And your comment–“not a book about how to write a book, but rather, a complete checklist on the dos and don’ts “–that’s appealing.
dgkaye
That’s why I added that Jacquie. Thanks for catching that. 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks, Jacqui. So glad the book sounds appealing 🙂
Marian Beaman
I’m surprised I haven’t heard of this book before, one I will surely check out. Thanks for the tip and the good review. You definitely keep on top of things here, Debby!
dgkaye
Thanks Marian. I get around, lol, so I hear and see lots. 🙂 Happy to recommend. 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks, Marian. I’m sure this is a timeless book that will be a useful tool for writers at any level. I’m delighted to see Debby showcasing it here 🙂
Darlene Foster
Sounds perfect! A book we could all use. Thanks!
Harmony Kent
Thanks, Darlene! 😊
Diana Peach
This book sounds like it has a lot of great, no-nonsense, practical how-to advice. What a treat. Thanks for the review, Debby, and congrats to Harmony!
dgkaye
Thanks Diana. All of the above! 🙂 xx
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Diane 😊
lisa thomson
This sounds really helpful, Deb. Thanks for sharing and for your review. I often google questions while editing to double check these things but having a whole book neatly arranged would really be a help! I’m adding it to my TBR right now.
dgkaye
Happy to enlighten you Lis. Yes, definitely a handy guide for us all! 🙂 x
Harmony Kent
That’s fantastic. Thanks, Lisa 😊
Joan Hall
Nice review. I need to add this one to my TBR list!
dgkaye
Thank you. A definite must!
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Joan. That’s great to see 😊
Mae Clair
What a great review of Harmony’s book. It sounds like an excellent resource for all writers. Congrats to the author!
dgkaye
Thanks Mae. I found it a handy guide for the ‘blank out’ moments, lol 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Mae 🙂
Carol Balawyder
I love to read this kind of reference book – I find it relaxing and useful. Thanks, Debby for your encouraging review and for sharing. 🙂
dgkaye
Pleasure Carol. Then I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy this book/guide, written in relaxed conversational style makes the book an easy read without a whole lot of embellishment. <3
Harmony Kent
Thanks, Carol. I’m sure Polish Your Prose would appeal to you 😊
Norah Colvin
Thanks for your review, Debby. It sounds like a really useful book.
dgkaye
It is is Norah 🙂
Harmony Kent
I’m thrilled with this review. Thanks, Nora 😊
Beatrice Halton
This sounds like a useable guide. I will check it out later in the year. Thanks for the review. 🙋♀️🐝
dgkaye
Hi Bee. Yes, I highly recommend to have as a handy guide. 🙂 x
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Bee. I’m sure it will prove a useful read 😊
Sue Dreamwalker
I think maybe the Universe is doing a little prompting of its own today dear Debby and I seem to keep being guiding into the arts of writing and how best to do it… I think maybe this year I will take Note, and given your enthusiastic review of this book, Maybe its one I should be adding to my own book shelves..
Many thanks again Debby… Enjoy a beautiful day.. From a very stormy England.. <3
dgkaye
That is wonderful creative news Sue! Follow the moment! <3 xxx
Harmony Kent
Oh, Sue, you absolutely have to give writing and your creative side a go in that case! And I’m sure that Polish Your Prose (and its newer companion, Creative Solutions–which is all about inspiration and idea generation) will be uber useful. Best of luck with all your endeavours. 🙂
Pete Springer
I’m ordering Harmony’s book right now. It sounds exactly what I’ve been looking for.
dgkaye
Happy to enlighten you Pete! Happy writing! 🙂
Harmony Kent
Yay! I’m doing my happy dance (and spilling my morning coffee in the process, lols!). Thanks so much, Pete. I’m sure it will become one of your go-to tools. All the best 🙂
Natalie Ducey
I love this guide, too, Debby. Highly recommend it. Thanks for sharing your review with us. Cheers, and bravo to Harmony! 🙂
dgkaye
Thanks Natalie. Always happy to spread good news! 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Natalie. Your endorsement means a lot. 🙂
Bette Stevens
Excellent review, Debby. Polish Your Prose is on my kindle…time to open it up! Thanks for the nudge!
Harmony Kent
That’s great to see. Yes, open it up! Lol. Thanks so much, Bette. 🙂
Michelle James
Such a great review, Debby! You convinced me to hop over and download my copy. Congratulations to Harmony! Hugs.
dgkaye
Wow, that’s fantastic Michelle. Maybe I should go back into sales, lol 🙂 xx
Harmony Kent
Yay! Thanks so much, Michele 😁
Harmony Kent
Debby, thank you so much for this lovely review and post. I’m thrilled and grateful. Sending hugs and lots of good wishes your way. Hugs, xx
dgkaye
My pleasure Harmony. Just wanted to let others know how valuable your book is, and glad it’s being welcomed.:) <3
John Maberry
OK, looks like an add to the 2020 “To Read” list. Need to finish all those ones from the 2019 list first (a bad year for reading; c’est la vie).
dgkaye
Lol, I hear you on the backlist! 🙂
Harmony Kent
I’m with you on the scary TBR. I’m in permanent hiding from mine, lol! Thanks for your support, John. I’m sure that Polish Your Prose will make a great addition to your shelves. All the best for 2020 🙂
Liesbet
This book sounds like a winner to me, as I’m in the editing stages of my travel memoir. It would be a great “check list” after my final, final draft is finished. 🙂
Thanks for the review, Debby and congratulations on the publication, Harmony!
dgkaye
I’m sure it will be a helpful guide for you Liesbet. I’m happy to introduce you to the book! 🙂 x
Harmony Kent
Thanks, Liesbet. I’m sure Polish Your Prose will be perfect for that final, final draft. Best of luck with the writing and editing! 🙂
Julie Holmes
What a great review! Now I have to add this to my list 😀
dgkaye
Thanks Julie. A succinct book for all writers. 🙂
Harmony Kent
Thanks so much, Julie. I’m sure it’ll be a great addition to your list 😊