What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

The book I remember reading had a white cover with a brown coffee ring on the cover. It featured an editor going over some tropes to avoid, I specifically remember one about starting a book running through the forest, starting with dream sequences, and having your protagonist describe themselves in the mirror.

I read this book in 2009-2010.

I could have sworn this book was "The First Five Pages," but when I looked up both books by this title on amazon and used the look inside option nothing was familiar and the cover was different and I'm not finding old editions online.

If you guys can find it, that would rock. Thank you so much!

Hi, Kaitlin,
So you've ruled out The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman, correct? Just wanted to be sure that's that one you were referencing that was unfamiliar when you looked at it.

I'm also interested in non-fiction books about writing, so I'll be keeping my eye on this thread to see if anyone solves it.

I have based on the table of contents and the sample I read on amazon. I'll be getting it and reading it anyway because it sounds good, but I'm pretty sure this was a different book.

Hmm, Thanks, But This Isn't for Us: The Compassionate Guide to Understanding What's Wrong with Your Writing and Leaving the Rejection Pile for Good has a coffee ring on the cover. It was published in 2009. Do you think that might be it?

ETA the cover:

That's it! you're amazing! Thank you!

Solved!

Awesome! I'm going to add this one to my own list. Glad to be able to assist. :)