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The Writer's Bookshelf A-E
10 Steps to Creating Memorable Characters Sue Viders, et.al. Watson-Guptill Publications 770 Broadway, New York NY 10003 1580650686 $17.95 www.watsonguptill.com Writers serious about learning how to create and develop memorable characters will relish 10 Steps to Creating Memorable Characters: A Writer's Workbook. It packs in forms, checklists, and exercises to help both screen and fiction writers develop personalities, teaching the basics of building multi-layered protagonists and showing the foundation keys to possible success. It's a 'must' for any public library lending collection strong in writer's guides, as well as for many a high school or college-level collection catering to student creative writers. 2008 Writer's Market, 87th Edition Robert Lee Brewer Writer's Digest Books/F&W Publications 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 9781582974972, $49.99 www.fwpublications.com Over 5 million copies have been sold of the annually-updated Writer's Market, but one of the key reasons why this reference mainstay requires annual acquisition and updating is that information on the publishing industry changes so rapidly – and there are many authors out there who need the latest details on how to sell what they write. Any general interest lending library thus needs the very latest: this lists over 3,500 listings for book publishers, consumer magazines, trade journals, literary agents and more. It's been completely revised and updated to include over 600 new listings and is a 'must' for any reference library. 21st Century American English Compendium Marv Rubinstein Schreiber Publishing, Inc. 61 Monroe Street, Suite 101, Rockville, MD 20850 1887563563 $24.95 schreiberNet.com Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, Marv Rubinstein's 21st Century American English Compendium is an impressive assemblage of American proverbs, expressions, slang, and colloquialisms. Enhanced with a British-U.S. English Glossary; foreign words used in American English, abbreviations and acronyms, this imminently portable guidebook is ideal for translators, interpreters, writers, editors, publishers, as well as school and community library English language and linguistic reference collections as well. The ABCs Of Writing For Children Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff Quill Driver Books 1831 Industrial Way, #101, Sanger, CA 93657 1884956289 $26.95 quilldriverbooks.com Expertly compiled and painstakingly organized by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff , The ABCs Of Writing For Children: 114 Children's Authors And Illustrators Talk About The Art, The Business, The Craft And The Life Of Writing Children's Literature is a comprehensive reference focusing on diverse aspects writing books and stories for children of various ages, including the business aspects of being published in various forums and formats. Providing especially informative interviews and commentaries from such expert and seasoned published authors of children's literature as Ted Arnold, R.L. Stine, David Greenberg, Alexis O'Neill, Richard Peck, and so many others, The ABCs Of Writing For Children offers a complete grasp and all-inclusive analysis of the literary art and practical business of writing for a juvenile readership ranging from preschool to young adult. Included are lists of recommended books and periodicals, a glossary, resources, and an extensive index. A core addition to personal, professional, and scholastic "Writing & Publishing" reference collections and supple-mental reading lists, The ABCs Of Writing For Children is very strongly recommended for all aspiring children's authors whether they are writing poetry, short stories, novels, or other forms of creative literature for young readers. About Writing Samuel R. Delany Wesleyan University Press 215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459 0819567167 $24.95 www.wesleyan.edu About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, And Five Interviews by literary critic, writers workshop teacher, and world renowned science fiction author Samuel R Delany (Professor of English and Creative Writing, Temple University, Philadelphia) is an informed and informative study of the expertise necessary for a writer in any genre to become more organized, more knowledgeable, and more effective with the ultimate goal of profitable publication. As an analysis of modern and contemporary writing styles, About Writing informs the aspiring author of the ins and outs of technique, ideals, and styles for the most effective writing. About Writing is very strongly recommended to all literature enthusiasts, readers, writers, and students. Absent Voices Rochelle Altman Oak Knoll Press 310 Delaware St, New Castle, DE 19720 www.oakknoll.com 1584561084 $59.95 1-800-996-2556 Absent Voices: The Story Of Writing Systems In The West by writing systems historian, script designer Rochelle Altman (who also holds a doctorate in Medieval English Literature), is a scholarly survey of the history of the art of writing. Inspecting writing systems in the context of the dictionarny meaning of the "word" - a set or assemblage of things connected or associated so as to form a complex unity - Absent Voices traces the evolution of writing customs, from ancient times to the modern day. Extensively researched, with some black-and-white photographs of ancient script and a wealth of archaelogical research supporting its narrative and suppositions, Absent Voices is a fascinating tour through the ages and human perception. Achieving Financial Independence As A Freelance Writer Ray Dreyfack Blue Heron Publishing 420 SW Washington St., Suite 303, Portland, OR 97204 0936085479 $16.95 1-503-221-6841 Achieving Financial Independence As A Freelance Writer takes up where most creative writing classes leave off. How to market what you write so that you can make a living at it. Raymond Dreyfack has authored more than twenty books, and enjoyed a profitable career as a freelance writer of articles, speeches, booklets, newsletters and corporate assignments. He draws upon his considerable experience and expertise to provide the aspiring writer a complete game plan for creating a sustainable career as a professional freelance writer. All aspects are covered including the essential considerations and prerequisites, specialization, marketing and selling what you write, self-promotion, the role of the computer, whether or not to write a book, and a great deal more. Achieving Financial Independence As A Freelance Writer is very highly recommended reading for anyone aspiring to a professional and profitable career as a freelance writer. ACTS Of Teaching Joyce Armstrong Carroll & Edward E. Wilson Teacher Ideas Press PO Box 6926, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926 9781591585176, $45.00 www.teacherideaspress.com 1-800-225-5800 The art of writing is a learned skill honed through practice. Now in an extensively updated and significantly expanded second edition, "ACTS Of Teaching: How To Teach Writing" by academicians Joyce Armstrong Carroll and Edward E. Wilson (both of whom are Co-Directors of Abydos Learning International) is a 501-page compendium of instruction on all aspects of the art and craft of teaching aspiring authors how to write effectively regardless of the genre or discipline they are writing in or for. After an informed and informative introduction, "ACTS Of Teaching: How To Teach Writing" is dived into two primary sections dealing with 'Process' and 'The Theory and Pedagogy'. An overview of writing as a process beings with 'Prewriting: More Than the Beginning', continues on with 'Writing and Organizing', 'Writing as a Social Act', 'Grammar and Correcting', 'Grammar through Revision', Grammar through Reformulation', 'Postwriting and Publishing', and 'Assessment'. "ACTS Of Teaching: How To Teach Writing" continues with a major and detailed chapter on the way the brain works in the writing process, before going on to address such issues as 'Learning How to Learn', 'Early Literacy', 'Research', and 'Writing as a Mode of Learning. Enhanced with an extensive and extended bibliography, "ACTS Of Teaching: How To Teach Writing" also features nine highly relevant appendices (note especially the first one offering a List of Genres), and a comprehensive index. "ACTS Of Teaching: How To Teach Writing" is note only very highly recommended as an educational curriculum guide and supplement for the teaching of writing in a college or university level course, it is also invaluable reading for any aspiring writer seeking to become as effective as they can be within the demands of any scientific discipline, literary genre, or commercial enterprise they might find themselves working in. Alleviating Prepress Anxiety Ann Goodheart Leaping Antelope Productions 231-C South Whisman Road, Mountain View, CA 94041 0965922286 $14.95 1-888-909-5327 In Alleviating Prepress Anxiety: How To Manage Your Print Projects For Savings, Schedule And Quality is an invaluable, "reader friendly" instruction manual for the novice small press "desktop" publisher. Ann Goodheart draws upon her more than twenty-years of "hands on" publishing experience in showing how the aspiring publisher can save money, time, and stress by defining concepts for printed projects; choosing design and print vendors wisely, developing cost-effective production terms, understanding the basics of type and design, selecting papers and colors, and writing concise printing specifications. Enhanced with case studies and an extensive glossary, Alleviating Prepress Anxiety is a "must" for anyone venturing into desktop publishing for the first time, and has a wealth of practical, useful information for even the more seasoned publisher. The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines, sixth edition Stephen Blake Mettee, Michelle Doland, Doris Hall Quill Driver Books 1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657 1884956580, $29.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com Knowledgeably compiled and meticulously edited by the team of Stephen Blake Mettee, Michelle Doland, and Doris Hall, "The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines" is an 816-page, alphabetically organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' compendium of more than 1,700 magazine editors and book publishers along with descriptive explanation of what these editors and publishers want when considering submissions from freelance writers. Now in a substantially expanded and newly updated sixth edition, "The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines" offers more than 1,300 periodical publishers and more than 400 book publishers, along with their criteria for work that is either commissioned or submitted on spec by aspiring writers wanting to be published. This superbly organized reference provides detailed submission guidelines that will help a writer to determine if their particular projects are suited to a given magazine or book publisher, as well as providing an indispensable resource when seeking an appropriate publication outlet for a proposal or a manuscript. "The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines" will prove to be an invaluable and indispensable asset to any professional (or aspiring to be profession) author regardless of the genre of work they are pursuing in their writing career. The AP Stylebook And Briefing On Media Law Norm Goldstein, Editor Perseus Publishing Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142 0738203084 $17.00 1-800-242-7737 The AP Stylebook And Briefing On Media Law is a classic reference has been fully revised and updated to provide readers with the latest details on media law, probing newsrooms, journalism classes, and different styles of writing. Fifty new entries and revisions keep up with world events, common usage, and AP procedures and include sections on the Internet and current media law. An excellent technical guide. Archetypes for Writers Jennifer Van Bergen Michael Wiese Productions 3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard #1111, Studio City, CA 91604 1932907254, $22.95 www.mwp.com Years of training in theatre and decades of teaching lends to the author's unique approach of how to utilize personal archetypes to fuel stories – and how to find such archetypes. Screenwriters and any library catering to them will find ARCHETYPES FOR WRITERS: USING THE POWER OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS packed with exercises and keys to utilizing them successfully, from understanding character facts and dialogue to underlying psychology. Examples of monologues, dialogues, and effective scripts throughout lend body and insight to an excellent survey essential for screenwriters who want to get the most from their efforts. Art of Creative Writing, The The Art of Creative Writing presents the fundamentals of all good writing and offers a step-by-step guide for the development of fiction, plays, television and radio scripts. The Art Of Creative Writing outlines in detail the "Egri Method" for creative writing, used successfully with writers and producers in Hollywood and with student writers around the country. Clear, concise, simple, The Art Of Creative Writing will prove invaluable for any aspiring writer seeking to achieve professional competence in his or her work. The Art of PlottingLinda J. Cowgill Lone Eagle c/o Watson-Guptill Publications 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 9781580650700, $18.95 www.watsonguptill.com Plot is the meat and main course of any and all fiction scripts script regardless of film genres - without a good plot, it takes a miracle to have a good movie. "The Art of Plotting: Add Emotion, Suspense, and Depth to your Screenplay" covers all you need to know to make your plot the best it can be, explaining the complex principles, advice on integrating characterization and exposition to make the story more compelling, how to spot and overcome common plot problems, and demonstrate how plot can enhance everything else about your screenplay. "The Art of Plotting: Add Emotion, Suspense, and Depth to your Screenplay" is enthusiastically recommended to aspiring screen writers everywhere and deserves a place on any community library's Writing and/or Film Studies instructional reference collection. The Art Of The Poetic Line James Longenbach Publicity Department Graywolf Press 2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114 9781555974886, $12.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077 Poet and literary critic James Longenbach presents The Art Of The Poetic Line, a discussion of the function of the line in metered, rhymed, syllabic, and free-verse poetry. Drawing upon classic examples ranging from Shakespeare and Milton to Ashbery and Gluck, The Art of the Poetic Line demystifies ambiguous elements in creating poetry to evoke mood and experience. "Poems are poems because we want to listen to them. Some poems have a prominent argument; some poems don't. But all poems live or die on their capacity to lure us from their beginning to their ends by a pattern of sounds. This is why a poem we don't understand may seem wonderfully satisfying, and this is why a poem we understand all too well may also seem wonderfully satisfying. A poem may harness the power of meter, rhyme, syntax, and line to establish and disrupt a pattern of sounds, and a poem may with equal integrity reject the power of meter, rhyme, syntax, and line. But the poet needs to understand what she is rejecting as well as what she is harnessing." Highly recommended for poetry connoisseurs, and an absolute must-read for poets and would-be poets of all walks of life. The Artful Edit Susan Bell W.W. Norton 500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110 9780393057522, $23.95 www.wwnorton.com THE ARTFUL EDIT: ON THE PRACTICE OF EDITING YOURSELF provides a refreshing, new look at the idea of editing and how writers must step apart from their writing process to develop editing as a separate, distinct tool. From holding back on premature editing and using longhand to avoid mistakes made by computer editing choices to using tips and exercises to streamline the editing process, THE ARTFUL EDIT is packed with insights important for aspiring writers. Artful Sentences Virginia Tufte Graphics Press, LLC PO Box 430, Cheshire, CT 06410 0961392185 $16.00 www.tufte.com Artful Sentences: Syntax As Style by Virginia Tufte (Distinguished Emeritas Professor of English at the University of Southern California) is a remarkable collection of over one-thousand sentences demonstrating the utilization of syntax to create a distinctive writing style, and which were selectively compiled by Professor Tufte from the works of authors published in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Exemplifying the use of syntax to create a uniquely recognizable writing style, Artful Sentences features sentences showcasing every imaginable style as an writer, speechmaker, essayist, storyteller, and novelist, ranging from the example of Frank Lloyd Wright to David Gelernter. With a logical and definitive analysis of the actual root sentence structure, Artful Sentences is very strongly recommended for linguistics, literature, and English students, as well as aspiring authors seeking to distinguish their work in the highly competitive publishing marketplace. As-I-Learn Poetry Terrence Clark Wilson Outskirts Press, Inc. 10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134 9781432717711, $8.95 www.outskirtspress.com 1-888-672-6657 It is said that everyone has at least one good novel in them, but "As-I-Learn Poetry: or I Can Write and So Can You - A Spiritual Approach" believes it can apply to poetry as well. Although filled with grand, elaborate poetry throughout, "As-I-Learn Poetry: or I Can Write and So Can You - A Spiritual Approach" acts as a guide to make the reader a better writer, whether it be for poetry or pose, explaining vital life lessons and knowledge that should be available to all. Highly recommended to both poetry and writing shelves alike, and for any aspiring poet or writer who needs some extra advice for their craft. Author 101 Rick Frishman & Robyn Spizman Adams Media Corporation 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 www.adamsmedia.com 1593375247 $12.95 1-800-872-5627 Rick Frishman is president of Planned Television Arts and Robyn Freedman Spizman is an award-wining author. Together they have provided a truly "user friendly" instruction manual for aspiring authors trying to promote themselves and their books in a highly competitive marketplace. Offering a kind of "crash course" in the mechanics, strategies and tactics of book publicity and promotion, Author 101: The Insider's Guide To Promoting Your Book--and Yourself is a compendium of field tested, effective, "tips, tricks & techniques" for reaching the reading public that includes practical advice for writing press releases, arranging book signings, getting on the talk show circuits. Also covered are "insider tips" from authors, agents, and publishers on what to do (and not do) when promoting books. There are even special sections devoted to building grassroots support through book clubs and readers groups. All this and more are carefully, methodically laid out so as to be completely accessible to the novice author -- and has much to offer even the more experienced writers. The appendices providing extensive resource information could prove invaluable in and of itself. No aspiring author who is now faced with the task of promoting and marketing their book can afford to be without their own personal reference copy of Author 101. Authoring Books and Materials for Students, Academics, and Professionals Creating a book for the academic or professional market is a major undertaking and one that is likely to require an investment of hundreds of ours. Franklin Silverman's Authoring Books And Materials For Students, Academics, And Professionals offers a complete guide to the process, from weighing the costs and benefits of becoming an author, through negotiating a contract, to marketing the final book. Authoring Books And Materials For Students, Academics, And Professionals is highly recommended for anyone wanting to write for the academic field of research and/or classroom texts. Author Law A-ZSallie Randolph, et al. Capital Books, Inc. 22841 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166 www.capital-books.com 1931868263 $21.95, 1-800-758-3756 The latest installment in the "A-Z Legal Series" from Capital Books, Author Law A-Z: A Desktop Guide To Writers' Rights And Responsibilities packs the collective wisdom of author-lawyers Sallie Randolph, Stacy Davis, Anthony Elia and Karen Dustman into plain terms for lay readers - and writers! Author Law A-Z is organized like an encyclopedia, with A-Z entries of common legal and writing industry terms or issues that every author should know, from "abridgement" and "acceptable manuscript" to "young adult books" and "Zapruder film", which denotes a landmark legal case about film rights concerning the home video film that accidentally documented the assassination of JFK. In addition to the entries, numerous tips, tricks, techniques, and warnings for the aspiring author in a legally complex world, from a sample demand letter (as written to a vanity print-on-demand publisher masquerading as a traditional publisher) to a sample complaint for copyright infringement, advice for what to say when one's editor calls, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for spot research or simple cover-to-cover reading in order to grasp valuable basic lessons of the writing and publishing business. Author! Screenwriter! Peter Miller Adams Media 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 1593375530 $14.95 adamsmedia.com Author! Screenwriter! How To Succeed As A Writer In New York And Hollywood by Peter Miller (an active literary and film manager for more than thirty years) is for writers who want to enjoy success as both a screenwriter and author, teaching the aspiring writer how to turn a book into a Hollywood script and back. Chapters from the President of a film management and media agency represent the only book which teaches writers how to customize their proposals for both literary and film markets. The Author's Toolkit Mary Embree Allworth Press 10 East 23rd St., #210, NY, NY 10010 1581152604 $16.95 1-800-491-2808 The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing And Publishing Your Book offers beginners a handy basic reference to writing a book; from nurturing initial ideas and changing them to first drafts to creating a polished, finished work and understanding publishing options. No prior familiarity with the writing world is assumed, making this a perfect introduction for beginners. A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End Avi Harcourt 525 B Street Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495 9780152055554, $14.95, www.harcourtbooks.com Write what you know - it's a common proverb told to all writers. "A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing" is a guide designed for all ages to help writers get off on the right foot in creating excellent writing, writing that people will want to read, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that so many writers tend to fall into. Composed in the form of a short fictional story that children writers will be able to relate too, and enhanced with beautiful illustrations by Tricia Tusa, "A beginning, a Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing" is highly recommended for writers of all ages and for community library children's fiction sections as a strange bridge between picture books, chapter books, and non fiction. Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting K. Tim Wulfemeyer Iowa State University Press 2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300 0813828708 $24.99 1-800-862-6657 Now in its fourth edition, Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting: A Self-Instructional Learning Experience by Tim Wulfemeyer is a solid primer on the basic ins and outs of writing professionally for radio and television. News terms, sample writing assignments, examples, tips, tricks, techniques, and more make Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting a an invaluable instructional reference for anyone with an interest in entering this exciting and specialized field of writing. Also very strongly recommended is Tim Wulfemeyer's accompanying text, Radio-TV Newswriting: A Workbook, 2nd Edition (0813829097, $29.99). Behind the Mystery Stuart Kaminsky Hot House 760 Cushing Highway, Cohasset, MA 02025 0975524526 $29.95 www.hothousepress.com Start Kaminsky is an award-winning mystery writer himself, and is in the perfect position to introduce his fellow mystery writer friends to audiences in BEHIND THE MYSTERY: TOP MYSTERY WRITERS INTERVIEWED. Working with professional photographer Laurie Roberts, who captures images of these writers in their home settings, Kaminsky provides insights into the personal lives and inspirations of Sue Grafton, Donald Westlake, Faye Kellerman, Lisa Scottoline and other modern notable authors who have made major impacts on the genre. Mystery fans will relish the charming black and white shots and Kaminsky's probe into family, friends and perspectives on mystery writing. Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary Christine Maxwell Lande Communications PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477 9812469818 $7.95 www.berlitzbooks.com Teacher Christine Maxwell presents Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary, a one-of-a-kind reference especially for students, English-language learners and others who have extreme difficulty in spelling words - and as a result, find it hard to look up the words' proper spellings in an ordinary dictionary. Berlitz Spell It Right lists both commonly misspelled words and their most frequent misspellings, in two-color format so as to make it perfectly clear which spelling is the correct one. Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary does not give dictionary definitions of words or pronunciations, though it does offer specific tips for searching for words when a first glance and guess at the word's spelling yields no success. A key to spelling rules is on the bottom of each page for easy reference in this user-friendly, go-to guide for aspiring writers regardless of their personal level of spelling skill. The Best of Write Now Danny Fingeroth Twomorrows Publishing 10407 Bedfordtown Dr., Raleign, NC 27614 9781893905924, $19.95, www.twomorrows.com Every comic book reader wanted to draw their own comics at some point as a child – but what do you do when that urge doesn't go away as an adult? "The Best of Write Now!: How To Interviews & Art From the Premier Publication About Comics Writing" is a compilation of, as the title says, the very best of a publication dedicated to the writers and artists of comic books and graphic novels with advice from big names such as Stan Lee, J.M. Straczynski, Neil Gaiman, and many more. If one is an aspiring artist or writer of comic books, the advice found in "The Best of Write Now!: How to Interviews & Art from the Premier Publication About Comics Writing" is essential and a great place to start, making it highly recommended for community library comics and graphic novels shelves. Beyond Book Indexing Diane Brenner & Marilyn Rowland Information Today, Inc. 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055 1573870811 $31.25 1-800-300-9868 In Beyond Book Indexing: How To Get Started In Web Indexing, Embedded Indexing, And Other Computer-Based Media, Diane Brenner and Marilyn Rowland successfully collaborate to present as series of twelve outstanding essays by experts in the specialized field of indexing. These informative essays are divided into four sections: Beyond Stand-Alone Indexes: Embedded Indexing; Beyond the Book: Web Indexing; Special Topics in Computer-Based Indexing; and Beyond Traditional Marketing: Selling Yourself in Hyperspace. Beyond Book Indexing offers writers, publishers, webpage designers, e-commerce marketers, and indexing professionals a very highly recommended, informative, in-depth survey of current and emerging computer-based technologies, offering valuable suggestions for obtaining work in these fields, as well as extensive references and a glossary. Beyond The Internet Barbara A. Chernow Bernan Press 4611-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391 9781598881738, $19.95 www.bernanpress.com 1-800-865-3457 "Beyond The Internet: Successful Research Strategies" by Barbara A. Chernow (a career encyclopedist, researcher and reference book editor who founded Chernow Editorial Services, Inc. specializing in producing professional books for a variety of publishers) is a critically important instructional reference book for aspiring authors, as well as anyone else engaged in a research project of any kind. Relying solely on the internet for acquiring information will prove to be inadequate because while the internet is a valuable research tool, the majority of documents and resources in the collections of libraries and archives have not been digitalized and made for internet access. Therefore writers and authors who must research their material need to be able to utilize all available resources at their disposal. "Beyond The Internet" was written for just that purpose and covers all the elements and factors relevant to the research process for best results. Thoroughly 'user friendly' itself, "Beyond The Internet" should be considered essential reading for all aspiring authors and is a core addition to any professional, academic, and community library Research Reference collection. The Birds And Bees Of Words Mary Embree Allworth Press 10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010 97811581154955, $14.95 www.allworth.com 1-800-491-2808 The crafting of legible, literate sentences is a learned skill. A skill that separates the amateur from the profession, the incoherent from the competent. "The Birds And Bees Of Words: A Guide To The Most Common Errors In Usage, Spelling, And Grammar" by Mary Embree (a freelance editor, successful author of six books, and founder of the Small Publishers Artists and Writers Network) was specifically written to provide aspiring authors and practicing writers to communicate clearly and correctly through the use of the written word. A thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide to 21st Century American English, "The Birds And Bees Of Words" covers frequently misused words, the parts of speech, word roots, common grammar mix-ups (and how to correct them), often misspelled words, as well as brand new words and phrases. The perfect antidote to a flawed or substandard public school English Department or classroom curriculum, "The Birds And Bees Of Words" is especially recommended for school and community reference collections, as well as anyone wanting to write professionally or personally with an authority and accuracy unmarred by blunders of spelling or grammar or usage. Blockbuster Plots Martha Alderson, M.A. Illusion Press 704 Blossom Hill Road, #146, Los Gatos, Ca 95032 1877809195 $25.00 illusionpress.com Confused about the basics of building a plot in a story? Martha Alderson's narrowed focus on how to produce a superior one applies to novels, memoirs and nonfiction alike, using scenes by contemporary writers from Twain to London to show how to create logical and substantial plots. Visual representation of scenes is the focus of a step-by-step workbook packed with tips on everything from character development and depth of story line to action and theme clarification. Any writer seeking to produce not just acceptable but superior works must have this guide. The Blue Book Of Grammar And Punctuation Jane Straus Peakview Consulting, Inc. 115450 Archer Terrace, Elbert, CO 80106 www.peakviewconsulting.com 0966722175 $12.95 grammarbook.com Now in an fully updated eighth edition, Jane Straus' easy to use reference guide and workbook, The Blue Book Of Grammar And Punctuation: The Mysteries Of Grammar And Punctuation Revealed, provides writers with the rules of writer free from jargon while utilizing real-world examples of proper grammar and correct punctuation that are universal in their cultural content. A consumable, The Blue Book Of Grammar And Punctuation begins with the most common rules of grammar and punctuation, then goes on to provide numerous practice exercises followed by answers to provide instant feedback for comprehension and confidence. Of special note is www.grammarbook.com, the companion website offering excerpts of the book and updated information. If you are an aspiring writer seeking to be published commercially, or simply someone who wants to enhance their writing ability for personal improvement, then The Blue Book Of Grammar And Punctuation is the ideal do-it-yourself instructional workbook. Bob Bly's Guide To Freelance Writing Success Robert W. Bly Filbert Publishing 140 3rd Street, Kandiyohi, MN 56251 1932794034 $15.95 Bob Bly's Guide To Freelance Writing Success is a straightforward guide to earning up to $100,000 in the business of freelance writing. While many struggling writers barely earn a living wage, Bob Bly's Guide To Freelance Writing Success is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for tapping hidden markets, earning money form the "quiet" magazine market, writing a "bullet proof" book proposal, 22 rules for successful self-promotion, managing one's time with consummate efficiency, insider secrets to put the Internet to good use, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for any freelance writer looking to earn a steady living. The Book On Writing Paula LaRocque Marion Street Press, Inc. PO Box 2249, Oak Park, IL 60304 0966517695 $18.95 1-866-443-7987 Professional writing coach, consultant, award-winning journalist and assistant managing editor at "The Dallas Morning News" from 1981 to 2001, Paula LaRocque offers her impressive expertise in The Book On Writing: The Ultimate Guide To Writing Well. Individual chapters informatively detail just how to make prose more accessible by eliminating pretensions, unneeded euphemisms, and overly long dependent phrases, as well as strengthening storytelling skills, debunking the myths of writing mechanics, and more, The Book On Writing is an excellent and highly recommended guide to clarity of thought and printed word. Book Promotion Made Easy Eric Gelb, MBA/CPA Career Advancement Center Box 436, Woodmere, NY 11598-0436 1890158089 $12.00 The slim appearance of this 55-page paperback almost places Book Promotion Made Easy in the pamphlet realm, but spine lettering and an attention to depth makes it more than a pamphlet. Book Promotion Made Easy covers the event planning, presentation skills and marketing necessary to promote a book. Gelb is author of several self-published titles and provides a system of self-promotion through seminars and working with local bookstores: Book Promotion Made Easy provides a focus on creating such events to help market a book. Important information which goes beyond the usual tips on how to obtain publicity. Book Report Mark Shaw Books for Life Foundation Publication 1060 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis IN 46203 www.booksforlifefoundation.com 0971759634 $17.95 1-317-685-2500 Book Report: Publishing Strategies, Writing Tips, And 101 Literary Ideas For Aspiring Authors And Poets is a solid collection of nicely presented writing tips and publishing strategies for aspiring writers and poets seeking publication. Presenting the "ten golden rules of publishing", including "write a story you are passionate about - one that is marketable"; "take notice - rejection is not part of a writer's vocabulary"; and "you are what you write - protect yourself"; Book Report is a timely, welcome, and thoroughly "user friendly" advice guide which is very highly recommended reading for aspiring authors and novice poets wanting the kind of readership audience that only being published can achieve. Breathe Life Into Your Life Story Dawn and Morris Thurston Signature Books 564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 9781560850946, $22.95 www.signaturebooks.com Writing teacher Dawn Thurston and award-winning ancestral biographer Morris Thurston present Breathe Life Into Your Life Story: How to Write a Story People Will Want to Read, a no-nonsense guide to crafting an engaging autobiography. memoir or personal history. Chapters cover how to write at the gut level and reveal one's feelings, what to do and not do when writing about specific places, connecting the events of one's life to history, using suspense and conflict to draw the reader further in, and much more. A wealth of "learn-by-doing" exercises round out this excellent self-improvement guide highly recommended for would-be biographers, and also packed with valuable tips, trips and techniques for aspiring writers of fields. Bulletproof Book Proposals Pam Brodowsky & Eric Neuhaus Writer's Digest Press c/o F&W Publications, Inc. 700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990 1582973679 $14.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966 For every 100 book proposals submitted to publishers by hopeful authors, two will make it and the other ninety-eight will not. That's why literary agent Pam Brodowsky and successful author Eric Neuhaus teamed-up to create a 'how to' manual of instruction and advice to help aspiring writers seeking to break into print better the odds against them. The first part of "Bulletproof Book Proposals" addresses the book proposal writing process through clear instructions and exercises, along with a ten-step approach designed to teach the author how to craft an overview of their writing project that is clear, concise, and engaging; conduct a thorough competitive-book analysis; define primary and secondary markets, and write effective chapter outlines and summaries. The second part of "Bulletproof Book Proposals" presents twelve real-life book proposals that were successful in getting published. Also featured are informative commentaries from the authors and agents of those proposals, as well as the editors who accepted them for publication. "Bulletproof Book Proposals" is a complete, 'user friendly', and strongly recommended do-it-yourself seminar workshop in the creation of effective, successful, profitable book proposals – a skill that is a fundamental necessity for anyone seeking to create a professional writing career for themselves. Also very highly recommended from Writer's Digest Press are two other references for aspiring authors: "The Glimmer Trains Guide To Writing Fiction" (1582974462, $19.99) and Bill Brohaugh's "Unfortunate English: The Gloomy Truth Behind The Words You Use" (1582974438, $18.99). Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers Tad Crawford's instruction manual, Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers, provides over twenty blank forms and clear checklists and explanations for their use, appearing in a revised edition and including the forms on a handy CD-ROM. The sample contracts are particularly useful in this business guide. The Business Of Writing For ChildrenAaron Shepard Shepard Publications PO Box 2698, San Pedro, CA 90731 0938497111 $12.00 1-310-548-1380 Aaron Shepard is an experienced and award-winning author of books for young readers who in The Business Of Writing For Children brings to bear his considerable expertise in providing the aspiring children's book author a wealth of tips on how to write, sell, and promote their books. Shepard addresses common myths about children's writings, children's book categories, elements of successful stories, manuscript format, submission strategies, contract negotiation, the publishing process, career building, and children's writer resources. he also offers invaluable commentary on querying for multiple manuscripts, promoting a first book, and making arrangements for school appearances. The Business Of Writing For Children is a superbly presented, highly recommended, basic introduction for all aspiring and novice writers of books for young readers -- preschool through young adult. Business Writing Skills Those who dread producing memos, letters or other business documents will find this takes the sting out of writing: brevity and clarity are emphasized as fundamental skills, with chapters covering everything from grammar and usage to effective editing. Keep this desk reference at hand for quick on-the-job consultation. Bylines: 2008 Writer's Desk CalendarSylvia Forbes Sylvia Snowflake Press PO box 522, Fayette, MO 65248 9781933509044, $13.95 www.bylinescalendar.com I first became aware of Sylvia Forbes desk calendars for writers last year when I reviewed the 2007 edition of "Bylines". Now aspiring and practicing writers and authors have available to them the new "Bylines: 2008 Writer's Desk Calendar" as an indispensable and invaluable word-a-day reference that will provide useful daily structure for achieving their writing goals and ambitions. Enhanced with the inclusion of literary holidays to celebrate, goal planning suggestions, monthly task lists, pages for conference notes, listings of author birthdays, and extra pages for note taking such as marketing tips and email addresses, this new 2008 edition has been expanded to include a reproducible submission tracker form specifically designed for novice authors and professional freelancers seeking to keep track of manuscript and book proposal submissions to publishers; pages for phone numbers and for tracking writing expenses, plus fifty-three new inspirational and thoughtful essays by successful writers. Simply stated, the "Bylines: 2008 Writer's Desk Calendar" is enthusiastically recommended as the single most practical, utilitarian, and motivational resource any aspiring or practicing writer could have. Carmack's Guide To Copyright & Contracts Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, CG Genealogical Publishing Company 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211 9780806317588, $15.95 www.genealogical.com 1-800-296-6687 A Certified Genealogist, Sharon DeBartolo Carmack is also an editor and one of the field's most prolific writers with sixteen books and hundreds of published articles to her credit. Therefore she brings a very special expertise to "Carmack's Guide To Copyright & Contracts: A Primer For Genealogists, Writers & Researchers". With a thoroughly 'reader friendly' conversational style of writing, Carmack clearly and accurately explains the basics of copyright, other rights, contracts, and how these all apply to the work of genealogists, writers, and researchers in genealogy or any other form of information gathering. "Carmack's Guide To Copyright & Contracts" addresses such questions as to whether or not permission is required to use something found on the Internet; can newspaper obituaries be reproduced without permission; how to determine when something is in the public domain; who owns the copyright to the client report; if an ancestor's diary can be published without permission; and whether lectures or lessons can be copyrighted. Of special note is what Carmack has to say about who owns the copyright to something written for a genealogical society by a volunteer. "Carmack's Guide To Copyright & Contracts" should be considered to be a highly recommended and indispensable reference for the professional and amateur genealogists, genealogical society volunteers and staff, instructors, writers, librarians, speakers, and anyone else wanting to clarify the copyright status of any material be it their own or another's. Cite It Right Tom Fox, et al. SourceAid 1284 'A' Main Street, Osterville, MA 02655 Independent Publishers Group (distributor) 814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610 www.ipgbook.com 1-800-888-4741 9780977195701, $26.99 www.sourceaid.com Now in an expanded and updated third edition, "Cite It Right: The SourceAid Guide To Citation, Research, And Avoiding Plagiarism" is the team effort of research experts Tom Fox, Julia Mary Johnson, and Sara Jane Keller. The publisher, SourceAid LLC is a provider of citation management software and reference materials. "Cite It Right" provides practical advice and clear explanations of every stage in the research process; current citation guidelines of the four major writing styles (Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association, Chicago Manual of Style, and Council of Science Editors); citation formats (including citing from online sources); and cogent information about plagiarism and recent news stories highlighting the disastrous consequences of improper citation and outright plagiarism. An in-depth and thoroughly 'user friendly' citation guide for writing, researching, and citing sources involving all manner of disciplines, "Cite It Right" is informed, informative, and an absolutely essential addition to an author or publisher reference collection for any kind of material from simple articles and essays, to journal pieces and published books. Comma Sense Richard Lederer & John Shore St. Martin's Press 175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010 0312342543 $22.95 www.stmartins.com Not just another book on punctuation! What can Comma Sense: A Fundamental Guide To Punctuation hold over its many competitors? 'Fun' is the operative word here, as Richard Lederer and John Shore poke fun at the misuse of punctuation and how choices in punctuation can have very different results. Plenty of examples come couched in this humor, which makes Comma Sense quite easy to learn. Just consider that here the exclamation point is the 'titan of tingle, the prince of palpitation' and you have some idea of the allure of Comma Sense - and its potential of educating those who traditionally wouldn't touch grammar books with a ten-foot pole. Comma Sutra Laurie Rozakis, Ph.D. Adams Media 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 www.adamsmedia.com 1593372795 $14.95 1-800-872-5627 Sentence building, modifiers, and common grammar are usually covered in grammar school and long forgotten in adulthood, so it's refreshing to find a fun review by grammarian Dr. Laurie Rozakis who links sexual innuendoes with basic grammar for maximum effect. Modern examples and fun social and historical references add spice to the topic, with plenty of examples and exercises throughout encouraging all ages to identify and repair common grammatical errors. A lively, whimsical yet solid references, highly recommended for audiences from young adults through adults. Common Errors In English Usage Paul Brians William, James & Co. 8536 SW St. Helens Drive, Suite D, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070 1887902899 $13.00 1-800-322-2665 www.wmjasco.com Common Errors In English Usage puts the wisdom of author and English professor Paul Brians' web site, "Common Errors in English," into print. Offering essential information concerning commonly misused words and phrases, from a scholar whose web site has been endorsed by BBC Online, Life magazine, USA Today, Yahoo! Internet (among others), Common Errors In English Usage is a practical, sensible, and very highly recommended "reader friendly" educational resource and reference for anyone seeking to improve their personal command of the fine nuances of the English language. The Complete Book of Scriptwriting The Complete Book of Scriptwriting is an indispensable guide to budding writers is a complete and all-in-one guide to writing and selling screenplays, teleplays, theatrical scripts, radio scripts, and animation scripts. It includes how to approach an agent; techniques for tracking down a producer; script format and presentation; the physical packaging and marketing process; direction on plotting, characterization, pacing, camera angles, blocking and dialogue; a glossary of film and television terminology; a history of each medium with an analysis of the respective markets and their current trends, and much more. The Complete Book of Scriptwriting includes the complete script of "The Coming of Shadows" from the television series Babylon 5 that can well serve as a template example of the concepts discussed. Highly recommended. The Complete Guide To Book MarkingDavid Cole Allworth Press 10 East 23rd Street, Suite 210, New York, NY 10010 1581150288 $19.95 1-800-491-2808 In his The Complete Guide To Book Marking, marketing consultant and author David Cole offers a well organized and presented compendium of "how to" instruction in every aspect of publicity, promotion, and marketing of books designed specifically for the self-published author, small press publisher, regional and speciality house marketing staff. All facets of presenting books to the marketplace are covered including trade distribution, the libraries, direct-mail and direct sales marketing, selling books on the Internet, through non-book retailers, premium sales, and more. Of special value is the chapter devoted to subsidiary rights (serial, paperback, foreign, book clubs, audio, film, electronic formats). Cole does an especially fine survey of book publicity basics and creating an effective sales campaign, including guidelines and examples of effective PR and media kit copy. The Complete Guide To Book Marketing lives up to its title and is very highly recommended, invaluable reading for anyone seeking a commercial success in today's highly complex and competitive marketplace for book sales. The Complete Guide To Writing Science Fiction Dave A. Law & Darin Park, editors Dragon Moon Press c/o Hades Publications Inc. PO Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 2L7 www.completeguidetowriting.com 9781896944395, $24.95 www.dragonmoonpress.com A comprehensive, deftly edited, 311-page 'how to' instruction guide for writing in the science fiction genre and any of its many subgenres, "The Complete Guide To Writing Science Fiction: Volume One" is a collection of superbly presented essays and articles by knowledgeable and successful writers ranging from Piers Anthony, to Orson Scott Card, to Tina Morgan. Beginning with Darin Park's 'Timeline: A History of Science Fiction', there are specific chapters dealing with the science and technology in science fiction, world building, the creating of aliens, the use of humor and drama, writing graphic novels in the genre, and even what to do with your science fiction short story or novel once it is written. Whether an aspiring writer yearning to break into science fiction, or even an experienced author with some publication credits in the genre, "The Complete Guide To Writing Science Fiction" will prove to be invaluable reading and instructive reference. The Complete Human Resources Writing Guide The Complete Human Resources Writing Guide is the first writing manual designed especially for human resources professionals. It's both a guidebook of powerful writing techniques and a sourcebook of more than 100 sample documents, from simple memos and formal letters to policy manuals and employee orientation booklets. The Complete Human Resources Writing Guide is highly recommended for anyone charged with the responsibility for creating job postings, employment ads, application forms, newsletters, announcements, performance appraisals, employee warnings and commendations, orientation materials, policy manuals, employee handbooks, and more. Complete Idiot's Guide to Copywriter's Words & PhrasesKathy Kleidermacher Alpha/Penguin 375 Hudson, New York NY 10014 1592574254 $16.95 www.idiotsguides.com How can writers and copywriters find new words and phrases to break out of old ways of describing? COPYWRITER'S WORDS AND PHRASES is the answer: it's a reference offerings thousands of words and phrases arranged under over 200 keywords, and coverings synonyms, phrases, expressions, metaphors and more. Related words and phrases, connections and expressions and more provide an easy method of picking up new words to apply to common endeavors. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing Erotic Romance Alison Kent Alpha Books c/o New American Library 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 1592575463 $16.95 1-800-847-5515 www.penguin.com Alison Kent (the pseudonym of an experience author in the genre of erotic romance) draws upon her considerable expertise in "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing Erotic Romance" to help aspiring authors master the specialized genre of the erotic romance. All too often writers veer into crude pornography while trying to avoid prudish conventions in storytelling. "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing Erotic Romance" will take the novice writer through a series of practical and effective techniques for creating compelling characters, interesting plots, and engaging dialogue laced with sexually provocative eroticism. Enhanced with advice and examples drawn from successful romance writers and editors, "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing Erotic Romance" will also prove an invaluable resource that includes lists of available publishers in this select genre. If you want your writing to be hallmarked with chemistry, spice, plot twists, complete characters, and "page turning romance", then add "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing Erotic Romance" to your instructional reference bookshelf. Compositions: Notes on the Written Word Naomi Beth Wakan Wolsak and Wynn Publishers 69 Hughson Street North, Ste. 102, Hamilton, ON Canada L8R 1G5 9781894987257, $19.00, www.wolsakandwynn.ca Writing can be an adventure within itself. "Compositions: Notes on the Written Word" collects author and poet Naomi Beth Wakan's journeys through the struggles and agony that is the writing process. Offering advice as well as reflections, her stories all have something within that any writers can relate to. An in-depth look into the mind of a poet, "Compositions: Notes on the Written Word" is highly recommended for community library writing and publishing collections. The Concise Guide To Copy Editing Paul LaRocque Marion Street Press PO Box 2249, Oak Park, IL 60304 www.marionstreetpress.com 0972993711 $12.95 1-866-443-7987 Expertly written by experienced journalist and journalism educator Paul LaRocque, The Concise Guide To Copy Editing: Preparing Written Work For Readers is a straightforward and comprehensive introduction to the skill of editing text with the needs of the reader foremost in mind. Principles and examples concerning general order of ideas, compressing and strengthening prose, common grammar errors, and the overall self-improvement of personal editing skills, The Concise Guide To Copy Editing is a "must-read" introduction for anyone seriously interested in copy editing as a career -- as well as an invaluable instructional for aspiring authors or novice publishers wanting to know what the proper duties and responsibilities of a copy editor are within the framework contemporary publishing. Copyright The fundamental elements of copyright protection are explained in a simple, effective volume important to any writer. The basics of copyright law is explained through numerous clear examples and discussions of the foundations of protection; from applications to music and electronics to fair use policies. Copyright Guide, The A copyright is a set of rights granted by the federal government to the creators of literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audio-visual works and sound recordings. Copyright law rewards creators by grating them the exclusive right to exploit and control their creations. Creators reap the profits from their works for the duration of copyright protection by limiting access to creative works to those who pay for the privilege of using them. The Copyright Guide: A Friendly Handbook for Protecting and Profiting from Copyrights is written for everyone who creates, acquires, or exploits copyrights. The Copyright Guide is an easy-to-understand handbook that provides a complete and up-to-date explanation of the law for anyone who wants to understand and benefit from copyrights. The Copyright Guide offers a definitive and informative source of answers to the most commonly asked questions by business and individuals, including information about what can and cannot be protected, the duration and scope of protection, notice and registration, how to avoid and evaluate infringement, obtaining permissions, how copyrights are used and exploited in the marketplace, and current copyright issues on the World Wide Web. An extensive appendix contains sample forms and agreements with detailed instructions of how they are used, and a glossary clearly explains the most frequently used terms in copyright law. The Copyright Guide is an invaluable resource for protecting revenues and learning how to avoid costly mistakes. The Copyright HandbookStephen Fishman Nolo Press 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 9781413305333, $39.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775 Simply stated, "The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs To Know" by copyright attorney Stephen Fishman is the definitive reference on the subject of copyright law. This thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual shows aspiring authors how to register their work; how to maximize copyright protection for their work; how to use a copyright notice; how to transfer ownership of a copyright; how to avoid copyright infringements and effectively deal with those who infringe on their copyrighted material; the legal definition of the 'fair use' rule; how to obtain permission to use copyrighted work; how to profit from a copyright. All this and a great deal more (such as copyrighting Internet works such as blogs) are covered in this newly updated and expanded ninth edition of "The Copyright Handbook" which is accompanied by a CD-ROM providing more than 30 legal and copyright forms. "The Copyright Handbook" is very strongly recommended as essential reading and an invaluable reference to authors seeking a professional career and publishers wishing to avoid becoming entangled in copyright issues. Crafting Fiction, Poetry, & Memoir Matthew Leone, editor Colgate University Press c/o Syracuse University Press 1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210 www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu 0912568194, $19.95, 1-800-365-8929 The writer conferences, seminars, and workshops are all useful forums for aspiring writers and practicing authors to hone their technical skills, acquire insights into their craft, and take away inspiration to pursue with renewed vigor their chosen profession. Compiled and edited by Matthew Leone (Director of the Annual Colgate Writer's Conference at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York), "Crafting Fiction, Poetry, & Memoir: Talks From The Colgate Writers' Conference" is a collection of fifteen informed and informative presentations on various aspects of creative writing ranging from creative nonfiction, to the rhythms of poetic expression, to issues of author-narrator-character dynamics, to getting published. The next best thing to having actually been in attendance and sitting on the front row, "Crafting Fiction, Poetry, & Memoir" is highly recommended reading for anyone who aspires to excel in the writing of successful novels and short stories, memorable and well-crafted poetry, as well as engaging works of nonfiction including biographies, memoirs, and more. Crafting The Travel Guidebook Barbara Hudgins The Woodmont Press PO Box 16, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938 9780960776207, $17.95 www.woodmontpress.com Travel writing in general, and the writing of travel guides in particular, is a very specialized genre for aspiring authors and is perhaps one of the most complicated areas in which to seek publication. Therefore it is especially satisfying to read travel writing expert Barbara Hudgins' practical, real-world, comprehensive compendium of sound advice and information on writing guidebooks, directories, travelogues, travel memoirs, in "Crafting The Travel Guidebook: How To Write, Publishing & Sell Your Travel Book". In addition to providing a wealth of useable information on traditional publishing, self-publishing, POD publishing, and subsidy publishing as it applies to travel oriented books, there are invaluable travel writing tips, advice on writing the book proposal, key information concerning publicity and promotion, and a list of publishers who specialize in producing travel books. More specifically to the advantage of the novice author seeking to write a travel guide or a travelogue is what "Crafting The Travel Guidebook" has to offer about finding a category to write about, creating a format, constructing the framework of the guidebook, finding an audience, and finding a 'voice' that will stand out from all the other travel books in competition for the traveler's attention. Simply indispensable reading for any beginning travel author, whether they are writing annotated directories, road guides, memoirs, outdoor recreation guides, destination and regional guidebooks, restaurant and winter guides, specialized audience guides, luxury or budget travel guides, guidebooks for the business traveler, or for the vacationer, "Crafting The Travel Guidebook" is also very highly recommended to seasoned travel journalists seeking to compile their magazine or newspaper travel columns into a travel book. Crafty TV Writing Alex Epstein Henry Holt & Company 175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725 0805080287 $15.00 www.henryholt.com 1-888-330-8477 Experienced professional television screenwriter and story editor Alex Epstein presents Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box, a solid writer's manual that covers all the bases. From the hidden structure of TV series, to turning great story ideas into workable scripts, the many tips, tricks, and techniques of a writer's toolkit, the realities of working in TV land (including how to break into the business, get hired, and get promoted!) and much more. Appendices, resources, and spot-on advice from direct personal experience distinguish this absolute "must-have" for aspiring and practicing television writers alike. Creative Writing Colin Bulman Polity c/o Blackwell Publishing 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148 0745686886, $26.95 www.blackwellpublishing.com 1-800-216-2522 In "Creative Writing: A Guide And Glossary To Fiction Writing", academician and author Colin Bulman draws upon his more than twenty years of experience and expertise teaching creative writing to university students for more than twenty years. Having published a number of both fiction and non-fiction books in the course of his career, Bulman writes with a special authority about the lesser known aspects of creative writing, as well as fictional techniques their proper application in stories and novels. "Creative Writing" defines more than 200 specialized terms and techniques associated with fiction writing (including 'intertextuality', 'anachrony', and 'fabula'); demonstrates how to achieve fictional effects; provides literary example of the described techniques; addresses the characteristics of genre as well as literary fiction; presents basic (but essential) techniques for creative writing that include writing dialogue and using figures of speech; and, unique to an instructional manual for aspiring authors, provides definitions for the major terms used in publishing. Superbly written and organized, "Creative Writing" is as thoroughly engaging and 'reader friendly' as it is informed and informative, making it a very highly recommended addition to any aspiring novelist's technical reference collection. The Creative Writing MFA Handbook Tom Kealey Continuum 15 East 26th St, New York, NY 10010 0826418171 $14.95 continuum-books.com The Creative Writing MFA Handbook by Tom Kealey (currently a teacher of fiction writing at Stanford University nd winner of the Joseph Henry Jackson Award for his own short story collection "Coyotes") is provides and expert and knowledgeable introduction to creative writing. With an outstanding grasp on the mechanics of creative writing and the competition for publication, Kealey informs the reader of profiles of fifty creative writing programs, offers sage advice for future students for making the most of their graduate program, an presents a genuine insider's look at accessible residency programs. Enhanced with interviews with program directors, college professors, and creative writing students, advice, as well as an invaluable checklist for the application process, advice sections about workshops, teaching assistants, and publishing in literary magazines, a comprehensive list of all graduate writing programs within and outside of the U.S., and hallmarks for excellence in a graduate writing program, The Creative Writing MFA Handbook is confidently recommended to all writers be they aspiring novelists, novice journalists, essayists, or considering entering a graduate writing program to hone their craft. Creativity Rules! John Vorhaus Silman-James Press 3624 Shannon Rd., L.A., CA 90027 1-879505-50-9 $15.95 1-323-661-9922 In Creativity Rules!: A Writer's Workbook, television writer, teacher and consultant John Vorhaus draws upon his years of experience and expertise to create a complete approach to literary creativity and the creative process including making creative choices with confidence, improving access to our ideas, effectively resolving writer's block, inventing plots and characters, quickly generating stories and themes, and developing a daily discipline and practice of writing. Articulate, comprehensive, insightful, effective, practical, Creativity Rules! is "must" reading for anyone seeking to become professional and successful in their writing career regardless of the genre or media they choose to work in. The Crime Writer's Reference Guide Martin Roth Michael Wiese Productions 11288 Ventura Blvd., Suite 621, Studio City, CA 91604 0941188493 $17.95 www.mwp.com The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips For Writing The Perfect Murder by Martin Roth is a detailed resource especially intended for aspiring authors of mysteries, suspense thrillers, action/adventure crime novels, true crime stories, and police procedurals novels. Individual chapters cover what a writer most needs to know in order to avoid common errors and misconceptions when writing about crime, criminals, police, courts, and prisons. A highly recommended basic primer, this edition of The Crime Writer's Reference Guide is enhanced with a new Foreword and updated information supplied by Rey Verdugo, a former police officer, a top criminal investigator, and a technical consultant for film and television projects. The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier Bonnie Trenga Writer's Digest Books c/o F&W Publications 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236 9781582975610, $9.99, www.writersdigest.com One can have the best grammar in the world, but if the writing is still horrible, it's going to be very technically sound horrible writing. "The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier: How to Solve the Mysteries of Weak Writing" looks at all the causes of bad writing and how to repair them and revise them. Touching on passive voice, abuse of the suffix -ing, run on sentences, and many other common accidents of writers, "The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier: How to Solve the Mysteries of Weak Writing" is an essential guide for novice writers with its unique and entertaining approach to improve themselves. Damn! That's Funny! Gene Perret Quill Driver Books 1254 Commerce Ave., Sanger, CA 93657 www.quilldriverbooks.com 1884956550 $14.95 1-800-497-4909 Whether you're a satirical writer or produce outright comedy, there's a market for funny writing, from humorous articles to sketches. Article writers will relish Gedne Perrett, himself one of the top comedy writers going, in Damn! That's Funny! which tells not just how to 'write funny', but how to market one's humor to the right audience. Understand what you want to say, how to best say it, and how to sell it effectively in this guide to producing and publishing outstanding humor. Damn! Why Didn't I Write That? Marc McCutheon Quill Driver Books 1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 9357 188495556 $14.95 quilldriverbooks.com The newly updated edition of a classic we recommended in its first publication, Damn! Why Didn't I Write That? is here to show how ordinary folk can write profitable nonfiction books. Housewives, blue collar workers and more are producing many of today's bestsellers and the message here is: you can, too. Chapters revise and revamp recommendations on where to locate profitable venues and how to fill niches repeatedly. The Devil's Details Chuck Zerby Invisible Cities Press 50 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 1931229058 $24.00 1-802-234-6585 The Devil's Details: A History Of Footnotes is a carefully researched and superbly presented study of the footnote -- an editorial convention most often seen in academic texts yet fast becoming more widespread than ever, particularly in the world of the Internet where a "footnote" can in fact be a hyperlinked note. Fascinating and informative with its close attention to minute matters, The Devil's Details is an enjoyable and even slightly whimsical study of an oft-overlooked aspect of writing and recommended reading for anyone wanting to improve the professionalism of their writings in print or on the Internet. Dictionary Of Poetic Terms Jack Myers & Don C. Wukasch University of North Texas Press PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336 1574411667 $22.95 unt.edu/untpress Now in a newly updated edition containing more than 1,600 entries on the devices, techniques, history, theory, and terminology of poetry from the Classical period to the present day, Dictionary Of Poetic Terms by Jack Myers (Director of the Creative Writing Program, Southern Methodist University) and published poet Don C. Wukasch, is an excellent literary resource offering aspiring poets, students, and scholars of literature extensive definitions for literary terms, ranging from threnody, to epyllion, to western ending vs. eastern ending, and a great deal more. A first-rate resource for critics, connoisseurs, students, and writers of poetry and prose alike, the Dictionary Of Poetic Terms is a welcome and scholarly contribution to Literary Studies academic reference collections. The Dimwit's Dictionary Robert Hartwell Fiske Marion Street Press, Inc. PO Box 2249, Oak Park, IL 60304 www.marionstreetpress.com 0966517679 $19.95 1-708-445-8330 The Dimwit's Dictionary by Robert Hartwell Fiske (Editor of the online journal about the English language: "Vocabula Review") is filled cover to cover with alternatives to over 5,000 tiresome cliche phrases. The entries are of two types. One type offers synonyms for cliche words and phrases, from "Achilles' heel" (foible, deficiency, etc.) to "you name it" (and so forth, and the like). The other type of entry identifies flawed and horribly overused verbal expressions, and categorizes them by type: "zillions" is an infantile phrase; "advice is cheap" is a quack equation; and "nipping at your heels" is a moribund metaphor. The value of this second type of entry is straightforward - if one is using any such phrase in their writing, then reaching for synonyms simply isn't enough; it's time to completely rework the expressed thought. Both types of entries are presented alongside one another in this alphabetized volume. Overall, The Dimwit's Dictionary is easy to use, and should be cover-to-cover reading (not simply used sporadically as a reference, but a page-by-page reading and explicit indoctrination in what phrases to avoid) for every neophyte writer who aspires to effective and memorable writing. The Dog Walked Down The Street Sal Glynn Cypress House 155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 1879384663, $13.95 www.cypresshouse.com 1-800-773-7782 "The Dog Walked Down The Street: An Outspoken Guide For Writers Who Want To Publish" by Sal Glynn is 96-pages of solid, practical, experienced, 'user friendly' instructional advice for authors in answering a series of fundamental questions about their work such as: When you finish the first draft how do you decide whether its really good or simply too flawed to submit for publication? How do you go about finding a good agent? Sal Glynn draws upon his years of personal and professional experience working as a managing editor for book publishers to demystify the common problems encountered by novice authors and experience writers alike; presents a clear, accessible approach to writing for publication; offers practical 'first aid' for writers, details just how to stay sane and healthy while writing, and provides aspiring writers yearning to break into print with a strong and effective foundation for their present and future work. "The Dog Walked Down The Street" is a welcome, thoroughly useful, and critically essential addition to any dedicated author's reference shelf. Don't Murder Your Mystery Chris Roerden Bella Rosa Books P.O. Box 4251 CRS, Rock Hill, SC 29732 1933523131 $17.95 www.bellarosabooks.com Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction-Writing Techniques To Save Your Manuscript From Turning Up D.O.A. by Chris Roerden (40 years experience as an editor in niche publishing) is a no-nonsense guide to improving one's professional writing skills, making one's manuscript more publishable and not subject to common rejection flaws, and learn from the experience of over 140 published writers. While Don't Murder Your Mystery is written especially for mystery, suspense, and crime fiction writers, the tips, tricks and techniques from bewaring cliches or avoiding clumsy and confusing body language descriptions to making one's dialogue snappy, sharpening self-editing skills and much more will prove invaluable to fiction writers of all genres. An enthusiastically recommended, energetic, easy-to-follow guide. Don't Sabotage Your Submission Chris Roerden BellaRosa Books PO Box 4251, 1060 Ragin Lane, Rock Hill, SC 29732 9781933523316, $17.95, www.bellarosabooks.com There are a number of factors that can doom the commercial success of a book, regardless of the quality of the writing. "Don't Sabotage Your Submission: Save Your Manuscript From Turning Up D.O.A." is an invaluable and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide for aspiring writers trying to get their work published. With sage and sound advice from someone who has been on the other side of the editorial table for years, Chris Roerden draws from his experience and expertise to point out what writers have to avoid when sending out their manuscripts to publishers. His purpose is to give novice authors the best chance possible, by relying on the skill instead of random technicalities to turn their manuscripts and proposals into published works available to a reading public. The tips are practical, plentiful, and 'real-world' based, which makes "Don't Sabotage Your Submission" a must for anyone who seeks to become a published author. Easy Access Michael L. Keene & Katherine H. Adams Mayfield Publishing Company 1280 Villa St., Mountain View, CA 94041 1559344318 $24.95 1-800-433-1279 Now in an updated, expanded second edition, Easy Access: The Reference Handbook For Writers answers all of the common questions confronting all aspects of academic writing including how to start a research paper, where to locate source materials for research, how to get started writing a paper, improving a paragraph, revising a paper, the use of interviews and surveys, coming up with good ideas, drafting a paper, choosing a good thesis, writing essay exams, proofreading effectively, common grammatical writing problems, even how to go about improving one's spelling. Easy Access is, itself, easily accessible with tabbed categories for quick information retrieval. Now student or faculty can afford to be without Easy Access close to hand. The Easy Essay Handbook Jane Lee & Lindy Ferguson University of Michigan Press 839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 0472089897 $21.95 press.umich.edu Modern students who struggle with essay writing tasks now have a resource to introduce them to each level of the composition process, breaking down a seemingly difficult task into a series of manageable, easy steps. From an overview of seven common rhetorical modes with examples from real student essays - both rough drafts and final forms - to essay plans and different style choices, The Easy Essay Handbook: A Writing Guide For Today's Students provides a very logical structure to what seems a complex topic. Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing Jan Yager Hannacroix Creek Books 1127 High Ridge Road, PMB 110, Stamford, CT 06905-1203 1889262269 $20.95 1-800-431-1579 Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Jan Yager's Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a seminal reference and instruction book for anyone seeking to master the techniques of writing in general, and creating effective business letters, memos, emails, proposals, reports, articles, as well as books of all categories, subjects and genres. Aspiring writers will be afforded a self-evaluation to access their current writing skills; the four basic steps to effective business or nonfiction writing; how to overcome writer's block; crafting a style that's right for them and their particular readership; how to get an article or manuscript published; time tips for managing their writing; exercises to hone writing skills; and a great deal more. Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a key and valued contribution to any personal or professional writing skills reference collection. Every Page Perfect Editors can (and often will) reject a submitted manuscript unread because it's on the wrong paper, or the margin is too skinny, or because the pages are sequenced incorrectly, or because it isn't typed, or even because it was typed -- but in the wrong font or the wrong font size. Readers of Every Page Perfect will lean all the insider secrets to professionally submitting your article, short story, fillers, poetry, verse, fiction and non-fiction book, proposals, and series ideas. They will learn the page layouts preferred by editors and publishers. Full-sized models of perfect manuscript pages are furnished thus providing a clear and easy guide. There are enclosed sample letters word for word to be utilized as authoritative guides so that an effective business letter can accompany each submission. Mary Lynn's Every Page Perfect: A Full-size Writer's Manual For Manuscript Format And Submission Protocol does for manuscript submissions what Miss Manners did for daily etiquette -- reveal to everyone what is expected and how to behave in order to achieve what you desire -- get published! Every Writer's Guide to Copyright & Publishing Law What are the latest copyright laws? When do copyrights need to be renewed? How are illustrations copyrighted? The latest facts and information are presented in a newly revised edition which should be a library standard. Writers receive the latest advice and facts on a myriad of copyright laws and protection issues. The Everything Get Published BookPeter Rubie Adams Media Corporation 260 Center St., Holbrook, MA 02343 1580623158 $12.95 adamsmedia.com The Everything Get Published Book is a definitive, step-by-step, "how to" instructional guide for turning book ideas into published works. Peter Rubie's easy-to-follow instructions on how to write proposals, get an agent, attract the attention of editors and publishers are solid, sound, and essential. Peter Rubie draws upon his expertise and experience as a veteran of the publishing industry, having been an editor, authors, and presently, a literary agent with his own firm of Perkins, Rubie and Associates in explaining how the publishing industry really works and how to adapt to the system and get published. The Everything Get Published Book is enhanced for the aspiring author with hundreds of names of book publishers, executives, and literary agents. Also covered is the new phenomena of electronic publishing, writing seminars, author networking, and a great deal more! |
