|
Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers | |
| Home / Writing & Publishing / The Writer's Bookshelf F-H | ||
|
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design |
The Writer's Bookshelf F-H
Fairy Tales For Writers Lawrence Schimel A Midsummer Night's Press 16th West 36th Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10018 0979420806 $6.50 www.amidsummernightspress.com "Fairy Tales For Writers" is a virtually unique entry into the Midwest Book Review's monthly book review column 'The Writing/Publishing Shelf' which is usually devoted to 'how to' books and manuals for aspiring writers and novice publishers. This small, slender, imaginative, hilarious, and all-to-true 30-page collection of poetry by Lawrence Schimel wonderfully and artfully reflects the almost archetypal hopes, ambitions, frustrations, passions, and processes of writing for publication. Here in a kind of poetic folklore format are 'the new writer who encounters a wolf along the path to publication'; the writing workshop member who must always be 'the fairest of them all'; the writer who for the sake of love gives up her own special voice; the shy, anonymous author who slips away before the end of the reading only to be remorselessly tracked down by the editor wanting to publisher her work. Everyone who has ever put pen to paper, and the tried to submit that paper to a publisher, will recognize the poetically expressed truths in Lawrence Schimel's superb little book, "Fairy Tales For Writers". As the last line on the last page of this marvelous little gem has it: "Sometimes there is a happy ending, even in publishing." Families Writing Peter R. Stillman Calendar Islands Publishers, LLC 477 Congress Street, Suite 404-406, Portland, ME 04101 0966323300 $18.50 1-207-828-0251 Now in a newly expanded second edition, Peter Stillman's Families Writing provide sixty-five activities that make "family writing time" something the whole family can enjoy and that will result in some of the family's most treasured heirlooms. Families Writing explores many different types of writing, including journals, letters, writing as gifts, family stories, poetry, and more. The light-hearted, motivating tone of Families Writing pulls in the reader and he or she will receive powerful incentives to begin collecting the experiences that make his or her family richly different from all the rest -- and well worth preserving for future generations. Writing captures the hearts, thoughts, voices, and life experiences that make a family what it is, and Families Writing will provide guidance and expertise to what is written and how to write it. Highly recommended. Fear Of Writing Milli Thornton Hot Off The Press/Xlibris 32 Alondra Road , Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 0738811971 $18.00 1-888-795-4274 Fear Of Writing was specifically designed for those authors and writers who are confronted with the literary equivalent of stage fright when sitting down to the task of creative writing. Author Milli Thornton offers immensely useful, very practical, and uniquely effective techniques for stimulated a free flow of writing, unblocking the paralysis of fear, demystifying the process of writing, as well as overcoming the past and linger effects of writer's block and paralyzing anxiety. Fear Of Writing is enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of the reader with humorous short stories followed by "exercises" designed to help build their writing "muscle". If you are a writer who experiences feelings of dread, writer's block, or worse, when you mus sit down and write an article, story, screenplay, or anything else, then the Fear Of Writing is a "must read" for you! Feature Animation Writing Marilyn Webber Garth Gardner Company 2545 Sandbourne Lane, Herndon, VA 20171 1589650026 $29.95 www.amazon.com Because animation writing is so closely tied to the creation of animation itself, Gardner's Guide To Feature Animation Writing: The Writer's Road Map is reviewed here rather than in our art resource section. Chapters cover the basics of how to link animation to story lines, discussing differences between different animation genres and how scripting differs between animation and live action scenes. Especially invaluable are the tips on honing a uniform technique and presentation to appeal to buyers and enhance sales of animation scripts. Feminine Wiles Donna Elizabeth Boetig Quill Driver Books 8386 N. Madsen Ave., Clovis, CA 93611 1884956025 $14.95 1-800-497-4909 Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques For Writing Women's Feature Stories That Sell is the first "how-to" book to specifically address writing feature articles for women. Feminine Wiles will appeal to both aspiring writers and journalists, and has much of value to offer even the experienced feature writers. Feminine Wiles teaches the beginner how to draft, write and rewrite true life dramas, how-to articles, self-help pieces, feature roundups that combine three or more mini-stories all melding to make a point. Feminine Wiles is a much appreciated contribution to the practical resource shelf for all aspiring feature writers hoping to sell to a women's issues oriented publication. Fiction Michael Seidman Pomegranate Press, Ltd PO Box 17217, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 0938817469 $14.95 1-800-788-3123 Fiction: The Art And Craft Of Writing And Getting Published is a complete manual on writing publishable fiction in all genres and formats. A successful and published author, Michael Seidman takes the aspiring writer through each phase of the process from story idea to manuscript to publisher submission. Fiction is laid out as a step-by-step guide to the editing and publishing process (including negotiating a contract with or without an agent). There is also an informative section on writer's conferences and workshops. Of special value is a section on "networking" as part of the process for writing and getting published. Fiction is an invaluable, "reader friendly" instructional guide for the aspiring writer seeking to be published regardless in today's highly competitive marketplace. The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist Thomas McCormack Paul Dry Books, Inc 117 South 17th Street, Suite 1102, Philadelphia, PE 19103 1589880307 $14.95 www.pauldrybooks.com Now in a revised second edition that incorporates author's additional years of experience in the publishing industry since the publication of the first edition, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist: A Book for Writers, Teachers, Publishers, and Anyone Else Devoted to Fiction is a no-nonsense guide to planning, writing, and revising a novel. Written by award-winning publisher Thomas McCormack, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist offers constructive advice for each step of the creative process, from how to structure a novel, choose characters, and drive the story, to identifying common flaws in narratives, and apply appropriate remedies. Written in an amiable tone, often using examples, hypothetical writing scenarios, or dialogue-style discourse between industry professionals to clarify its points, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist is a superb handbook for fiction writers but especially recommended for prospective and professional fiction editors. Fiction Writer's Guidebook, The Edwin Silberstang Cardoza Publishing 132 Hastings St., Brooklyn, NY 11235 094068571X $12.95 Use this to learn how to write: it covers the art and practical craft of producing fiction, providing aspiring fiction writers with a wealth of insights on how to produce pieces which work. There are other writer's guides on the market, but this is more complete and user-friendly than much of the competition. Fluent Writing Denise Leograndis Heinemann Publishing Box 6826, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926 www.heinemann.com 0325008264 $22.00 1-800-225-5800 Fluent Writing: How To Teach The Art Of Pacing is a guide especially for elementary and grade school teachers about how to teach the skill and art of smoothly pacing one's writing. Chapters cover basic mechanical tool such as the using patterns of threes and how to use "ands and buts" without overdoing it; basic pacing lessons such as learning how to cut irrelevant material; advanced lessons such as how to properly structure paragraphs; and much more. Lessons are supplemented with examples, recommended reading, tips for evaluating student writing, and a wealth of insights. Fluent Writing is very enthusiastically recommended for writing teachers of both public and private schools, and for aspiring writers seeking to hone their craft. For Those About To Write Dave Bidini Tundra Books 75 Sherbourne Street, 5th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5A 2P9 9780887767692, $9.95 www.tundrabooks.com 1-800-788-1074 Very strongly recommended for both school and community library collections, "For Those About To Write: How I Learned to Love Books And Why I Had To Write Them" is the personal story of rock musician and sports enthusiast Dave Bidini's efforts as a writer whose first book, 'On a Cold Road' was published in 1998 and was about what it was like to tour Canada as part of a popular rock 'n' roll band called the 'Rheostatics'. Dave went on to write more books including 'Trop of Hockey' (2001) and 'Baseballissimo' (2004). Dave's anecdotal history of himself as a reader and a writer will admirably serve to introduce children ages 10 and older to what it is like to be a writer, how they can become writers themselves, and the values writing has both as a pastime and as a profession. Although specifically written to interest young readers in the world of writing and publishing, "For Those About To Write" will also prove to be a quick, interesting, and relevant read for adults of all ages who are themselves considering the writing of a book. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript Cynthia Laufenberg Writer's Digest Books/F&W Pub. 4700 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 www.writersdigest.com 1582972907 $19.99 1-800-289-0963 Create appropriate, notable submissions for publication, from proposals and cover letters to complete manuscripts, using Cynthia Laufenberg's Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, an invaluable informational guide for prospective authors seeking publication. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript is a 'must' for any writer aspiring to publication. Especially valuable are the tips on common mistakes made in the usual submission, whether it be the initial query letter or the completed work. Forms Folds Sizes Poppy Evans Rockport Publishers 33 Commercial St., Gloucaster MA 01930 1592530540 $30.00 www.rockport.com Any graphic designer working with forms and folds or the written word will find Poppy Evans' Forms Fold Sizes a 'must' for properly designing everything from brochures and envelopes to laying out the written word. Here are informed and informative discussions of type measures, postal standards, typography - virtually everything needed to graphically translate the written word properly, whether it be to page, envelope, or folder. Forms Folds Sizes is an essential guide and strongly recommended for professional and academic Graphic Arts collections, as well as the publisher reference resource shelf. Free Fire Zone Theresa Rebeck Smith & Kraus Publishers 76 Aver Road, North Stratford, NH 03590 1575252406, $17.95 1-800-895-4331 Playwright Theresa Rebeck presents Free Fire Zone: A Playwright's Adventures on the Creative Battlefields of Film, TV and Theater, a tell-it-like-it-is guide for aspiring professional writers to the career politics inherent in writing for movies, television, and theater. Free Fire Zone also covers how to write a script with honesty, originality, and vision, but its unique strength lies in its insights for navigating Machiavellian power struggles, and the lies in all shapes and sizes that have practically become calling cards for the industry. "When a theater tells you that you have a home there, what they really mean is they want the right of first refusal on all your plays, and they don't want to have to pay you for it." "When it comes to talking to actors, let them figure out as much as they can on their own. It is always better to have an actor figure out what feels right for his character himself; it is never as good to tell him what he's playing." Free Fire Zone is highly recommended as a one-of-a-kind guide that anyone attempting to break into multimedia writing must read. The Freelance Writer's Bible David Trottier Silman-James Press 1181 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Ca 90210 1879505851, $19.95 www.amazon..com David Trottier is a successful freelance writer and writing teacher who since 1998 has had hundreds of his articles published in magazines ranging from 'Writer's Digest' to 'Road and Track'. he has also authored several successful books (including "The Screenwriter's Bible"), written and sold several featured film scripts, worked as a business writer, copywriter, and newsletter editor. In "The Freelance Writer's Bible", David draws upon his considerable experience and expertise to create an invaluable compendium of information, advice, instruction, tips, techniques, illustrations, anecdotes, and more about just what aspiring writers seeking freelance careers must know and be able to do if they are to be successful in their chosen field. from discovering and developing a creative vision, to achieving higher and higher levels of creativity and improved writing excellent, to selling in seventeen key writing markets, to creating a strategic marketing plan, "The Freelance Writer's Bible" will prove to be a reliable instructional guide and 'user friendly' manual. Readers will learn how to set up a writing business, make that business profitable, deal with writing bocks, write effective query and proposal letters, enhance their writing income, and so much more. With a great deal of 'fill in the blank' forms, this must be considered something of a 'consumable' title and therefore not a good selection for a public library collection. But if you aspire to becoming a professional freelance writer, regardless of the genres or media you intend to work in, then you need to give a careful and personal reading to your very own copy of "The Freelance Writer's Bible" by David Trottier. Freelance Writing For Hollywood Scott Essman Michael Wiese Productions 11288 Ventura Blvd., PMB 821, Studio City, CA 91604 0941188272 $19.95 www.mwp.com Scott Essman draws upon his many years as a successful freelance screenwriter and independent film producer to show aspiring screen writers how to write, pitch their work to producers and studio production heads in Freelance Writing For Hollywood. This practical, informative, detailed "how to" guide covers all aspects of promoting a screenplay concept or script with a wealth of invaluable tips, ideas, advice, and techniques. Especially recommended reading for the novice and aspiring writer seeking to break into this highly competitive and demanding field, Freelance Writing For Hollywood will prove a seminal and core reference for anyone seeking to be successful writing for movie studios, independent producers, television, or adaptations from the stage. From Book Signing To Best Seller Jo Condrill & John B. Slack GoalMinds 139 S. Beverly Drive, #222, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 0966141431 $14.95 Make sure your book is seen and sold by conducting book signings and tours through the aid of Jo Condrill and John Slack's From Book Signing To Best Seller, a effective, "user friendly" title which focuses on low-cost promotion options. From Book Signing To Best Seller is important for any author who wants high sales and good promotion: it covers everything from organizing a first-time event to using seminars to follow up, and is packed with practical insider advice. Highly recommended. From Brainstorm to Bestseller Marsha Haigh Arend Rollaway Bay Publications, Inc. 6334 South Racine Circle, Centennial, Colorado 80111-6404 9780974317625, $9.95 www.rollawaybay.com Writing is a literary skill. Publishing is an entrepreneurial task. Aspiring authors wanting their books read by as wide an audience as possible, must acquire an expertise in both areas. Written by entrepreneur, consultant, and public speaker Marsha Haigh Arend, From Brainstorm to Bestseller: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your First Book is a solidly practical guide to putting together a fiction or nonfiction book, polishing it, and getting one's feet wet in the complex world of publishing. Chapters discuss how to revise and edit like a professional, conventional publishing wisdom, the importance of learning good speaking skills (did you think you wouldn't have to speak in public if you were a writer? Think again!) and much more. Though From Brainstorm to Bestseller endorses the publish-on-demand option, it does not disparage other options and offers guidelines in selecting the right publisher for one's needs. An excellent primer for aspiring book writers. From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors Marilyn Peake, editor Double Dragon Publishing PO Box 54016, 1-5762 Highway 7 East, Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3P 7Y4 155404426X, $15.99 www.double-dragon-publishing.com Compiled, organized and edited by author and columnist Marilyn Peake, "From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors: Words of Wisdom For Starving Artists " features commentaries and information contributed by a variety of authors to the free monthly online newsletter edited by Marilyn Peake -- 'The Golden Goblet' -- during its first year of publication, with some of the articles being especially written for this informed and informative little compendium of advice for writers. The contributors range from Natalie and Lincoln Bandlow on 'Literary Legalities: Copyright And Other Protections For Aspiring Writers'; to Michael J. Wallach's 'Oh, Those Managers And Agents...Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them...'; to Patricia Harrington's 'Grants And Opportunities For Writers: Thinking Outside The Box', to succinct advisories from ten other savvy, experienced, articulate, knowledgeable writers. Each contributor is given a brief biographical introduction followed by their contribution. Useful, practical, and an easy read, "From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors" is strongly recommended for anyone aspiring to a career as a professional writer regardless of genre or media. Gardner's Guide to Screenwriting Marilyn Webber GGC, Inc., Publishing 4602 John Hancock Court, #302, Annandale, VA 22003 0966107578 $24.95 GoGardner.com Gardner's Guide To Screenwriting: The Writer's Road Map is designed specifically for those who have great script ideas for Hollywood films or television producers, but don't know how to set them down in appropriate formats. Marilyn Webber is an award winning author who writes professionally for both film and television. She shows how to develop marketable stories, create interesting characters, construct strong script structure, pen sharp dialogue, weave interesting themes, and write original scenarios. Gardner's Guide To Screenwriting: The Writer's Road Map is ideal for the novice and aspiring scriptwriter and holds much of value as a refresher for even the more experienced writer. Gardner's Guide To TV Sitcom Writing Marilyn Webber GGC Publishing 5107 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 1589650166 $26.95 GoGardner.com What elements differentiate the successful sitcom writer from the mundane? They know and practice the "Road Map" principles outlined in this book, on every script they produce. Beginners and some seasoned writers will find these "Writer's Road Map" guidelines essential for transforming a mundane idea to a great one. The basics of what makes an idea salable are covered through different styles of comedy, sitcom character types, and more. Gardner's Guide To Tv Sitcom Writing: The Writer's Road Map is an essential, core reference for any aspiring television sitcom writer. Get Paid To Write Thomas A. Williams Sentient Publications 1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302 www.sentienpublications.com 1591810124 $18.95 1-303-443-2188 Thomas A. Williams' Get Paid To Write: The No-Nonsense Guide To Freelance Writing is part of the rather consistently impressive Sentient Publications "The Culture Tools Series". An extremely practical self-starter career guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for selling articles to magazines, newspapers, and websites, or even writing a book, Get Paid To Write covers everything from the basic facts of freelance to learning what magazine editors want just from reading a copy, using the query system to one's advantage, success secrets, getting an agent if needed, dealing with the possibility of idea theft, writing especially for business, building one's professional reputation, and much more. A highly recommended "must-have" for anyone contemplating a writing career. Get Published! Get Produced! Peter Miller Lone Eagle Publishing Company 2337 Roscomare Road, Suite Nine, Los Angeles, CA 90077-1851 0943728738 $27.95 1-210-471-8066 Get Published! Get Produced! tells the reader precisely how to avoid being viewed as a neophyte in a business that is notorious for taking advantage of writers. Drawing on over 15 years experience as a literary agent, Peter Miller offers sound, practical, comprehensive advice on how to sell your unpublished fiction, how to structure a non-fiction book proposal, how to package your book so that it will become a feature film or a television production, how to market a screenplay, how to get an agent, tips on contract negotiation and more! Get Published! Get Produced! is a "reader friendly" compendium of the tips, tricks and techniques for what to do after your manuscript is done. Get Your First Book Published Jason Shinder Career Press Inc. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 156414450X $15.99 1-800-227-3371 With the assistance of Amy Holman and Jeff Herman, Jason Shinder has created a superbly presented single-volume compendium of information and advice for writers seeking to break into print with Get Your First Book Published And Make It A Success. This collection of innovative tools, advice, resources, and real-life examples focuses on the needs of the first-time, hitherto unpublished authors and lists hundreds of awards and publishers targeted specifically to these aspiring writers. Each award listing includes deadlines, names of previous award winners, advice from directors, and more. Publisher listings include both small and large presses with a specific interest in publishing first time authors. There are also chapters devoted to making a first book a commercial success and resources, services and supports (including a listing for the Midwest Book Review) available to first-time authors in making their mark within the highly competitive world of publishing. If you are an aspiring writer seeking practical and effective information on becoming published, begin with a careful reading of Jason Shinder's Get Your First Book Published! Getting Started As A Freelance Writer Robert W. Bly Sentient Publications 1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302 www.sentientpublications.com 159181037X $18.95 1-303-443-2188 In Getting Started As A Freelance Writer, professional writer Robert W. Bly draws upon more than twenty-five years of experience and expertise (he became a self-made millionaire while still in his thirties and is the author of more than one hundred articles and sixty books) offers aspiring writers and authors a comprehensive understanding of the highly competitive process of becoming a published freelance writer. Introducing readers to a complete knowledge of where the work for writers is to be found, how to get paid assignments, the fine art of negotiating fees and contracts, how to turn out acceptable manuscripts, and how to insure getting paid, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer provides a concise exploration and complete knowledge of what freelance writing is all about. An informed and informative resource for a sustainable progression into the world of profitable writing and freelance authorship, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer is very strongly recommended as a key "how to" reference for anyone at the beginning of their professional writing career. Ghost-Writing For Fun & Profit Eva Shaw, Ph.D. Writeriffic Publishing Group PO Box 524, Carlsbad, CA 92018 097057584X $12.95 www.writeriffic.com Now in an expanded and updated second edition, Ghost-Writing For Fun & Profit by professional ghost writer Eva Shaw is a straightforward instructional guide to pursuing a financially rewarding career in ghostwriting (writing books for, and in collaboration with, someone else -- and not have your own name and contribution credited). Ghost-Writing For Fun & Profit covers how to attract clients, capture their styles of narration, negotiate legal matters, multi-task projects, creating and selling ghosted proposals and synopses, and a great deal more. An excellent guide filled with tips for success, Ghost-Writing For Fun & Profit is an essential reference for anyone wanting to engage in this specialized area of writing and publishing. The Glimmer Train Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda B. Swanson-Davies, editors Writer's Digest Press c/o F&W Publications, Inc. 700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990 9781582974477, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966 Adroitly co-edited by Susan Burmeister-Brown and Linda B. Swanson-Davies, "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline" is a compact, 444-page compendium of contributions by professional authors and writers on the subject of their personal and philosophical approaches to writing for a living. The second volume of the acclaimed 'Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction' series from Writer's Digest Press, "Inspiration And Discipline" focuses upon the more private aspects of a writer's life including family, friends, the incorporation of autobiographical material into their literary work, the responsibilities associated with writing professionally, the artistic nature of a writer's vocation, and so much more. From dealing with writer's block, to writing as therapy, to how reading shapes writing,, "Inspiration And Discipline" is engaging and informative, as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Anyone aspiring to write professionally should take the time to read (and re-read) "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline". Good Writing for Journalists Angela Phillips Sage Publications 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218 9781412919173, $39.95 www.sagepub.com 1-800-818-7243 Written by journalist and college teacher Angela Phillips, Good Writing for Journalists is a no-nonsense guide to improving the quality of one's nonfiction writing. Chapters cover genres ranging from profile writing and interviews to direct reporting, news analysis, investigation, sports writing, personal and opinion columns, "lifestyle" writing, and more. A large portion of Good Writing for Journalists is devoted to sample journalistic pieces that exemplify positive and memorable qualities, all the better to see Phillips' teachings in use. Enthusiastically recommended especially for journalism students and majors. Goodbye Gutenberg Valerie Kirschenbaum The Global Renaissance Society, LLC 111 Woodale Ave., Peekskill, NY 10566 www.goodbyegutenberg.com 0974575038 $47.95 1-800-266-5564 Goodbye Gutenberg: How A Bronx Teacher Defied 500 Years Of Tradition And Launched An Astonishing Renaissance is written and designed by a remarkable author who created her own font and enhanced her text and page layouts with 860 full color images (many never previously published in the United States). Funded in part by the International Reading Association and the Children for Children Fund, Goodbye Gutenberg presents a wealth of innovative new solutions designed to "get American reading against" -- especially young readers. Seven major sections comprising this remarkable and unique volume include Hello to a New Generation of Writers; Hello to a New Generation of Readers; Hello to a New Generation of Women; Beauty and the Book; Hello to a New Generation of Teachers; Hello to the Critics and Skeptics; and Goodbye Gutenberg (A Revaluation of Visual Values; Dawn of Designer Prose; The Visual Vernacular; The Old Way of Reading and the New; Terror in the Arts; And So Begin the Beautiful Books). Enhanced with footnotes, a bibliography, and a user friendly index, Goodbye Gutenburg is especially enthusiastically recommended reading for writers, publishers, educators, librarians, bibliophiles, and book reviewers! The Grammar Bible Michael Strumpf & Auriel Douglas Knowledgeopolis 1902 Westwood Blvd., Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 900254614 1891968009 $24.95 www.amazon.com Collaboratively written by Michael Strumpf (Professor of English, Moorpark College and founder of "The National Grammar Hot Line" and West Coast editor and writer Auriel Douglas, The Grammar Bible: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Grammar But Didn't Know Who (Whom) To Ask is a thoroughly comprehensive, superbly presented reference and guide to the use of English grammar, designed and written to be accessible and "user friendly" for readers of all educational backgrounds and skill levels. From an in-depth tutorial to parts of speech to deconstructing sentences to rules of punctuation, The Grammar Bible is an exhaustive and authoritative linguistic rule book, written in a lively, appealing, easy-to-read style and is an especially recommended reference for writers. Grammar Sucks Joanne Kimes 7 Gary Robert Muschla Adams Media Corporation 57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322 9781593376260, $12.95 www.adamsmedia.com 1-800-872-5627 One of the things that will pretty much guarantee a book's rejection by a reviewer is that it is poorly written. Flawed writing comes in the form of typos and errors of grammar. Written with both wit and wisdom, "Grammar Sucks: What To Do To Make Your Writing Much More Better" is the collaborative work of Joanne Kimes (writer for a number of children's and comedy television shows, as well as coauthor of "Pregnancy Sucks" and "Pregnancy Sucks For Men") and Gary Robert Muschla (an expert and published author of several titles on writing, grammar, and reading instruction). This thoroughly 'reader friendly' compendium of instruction, advice, tips, and basic information, will prove to be invaluable for any writer who pretty much ignored all of those highschool English classes, and now wishes they'd paid attention to all that stuff about dangling modifiers, proper sentence structure, and run-on paragraphs. A truly enjoyable and practical read, "Grammar Sucks" is especially recommended for the novice writer and self-published author who keep wondering why their manuscripts are rejected and/or their books are refused a positive review -- or any review at all. Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up Martha Engber Central Avenue Press 2132-A Central SE #144, Albuquerque, NM 87106 9780971534483, $13.95, www.centralavepress.com A good story without good characters is an impossibility. Characters are the people that the audience relates to, that the audience connects with to get themselves involved in the story. "Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction" is a guide for writers to develop these characters to be the best they can be, by evaluating the character piece by piece. To make them truly great, author and freelance writer says, a character needs to be consistent, believable, and admirable. "Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction" is highly recommended for any aspiring writer to be and for community library writing/publishing shelves. Guide To Argumentative Writing, A Byron L. Stay Greenhaven Press PO Box 289009, San Diego, CA 92198 1565102940 $21.19 In A Guide To Argumentative Writing, Byron Stay (President of the National Writing Centers Association, associate professor and chair of the Rhetoric and Writing Department of Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and member of the editorial board on a number of professional writing journals draws upon his many years of experience to emphasize the role critical thinking and reading skills pay in the development and execution of persuasive writing. Professor Stay also introduces several effective methods to teach argument as a way of giving students and writers the freedom to find the system that works best for them, and to find ways of incorporating these systems into their writing and thinking. A Guide To Argumentative Writing is informative, illuminative, effective, "user friendly", and highly recommended reading for any writer seeking to successfully persuade or challenge his or her readership regardless of the subject, topic, or issue they are writing about. The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing Sharon M. Lippincott Lighthouse Point Press 100 First Avenue, Suite 525, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 9780979299803, $16.95 www.lighthousepointpress.com "The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing: How To Transform Memories Into Meaningful Stories" by Sharon M. Lippincott is an expertly written, 'reader friendly', specialized instruction guide that is especially recommended reading for anyone aspiring to write their memoirs and autobiographies. It is also an excellent 'how to' reference for authors who are writing biographies based upon the reminiscences and anecdotal stories of their subjects and others such as family members, friends and associates. All the proper writing tools are covered, as well as such vitally important issues as clearly identifying the overall purpose of the life-story, a personal plan of action adapted to the writer's workstyle preference and personality, stimulating the recall of memories, editing, and preparing the final manuscript for publication. A superbly written, organized, and presented instructional manual, "The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing" especially commended to the attention of anyone who would like to record their own life story for the benefit of their posterity, as well as the general reading public. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown Chris Roberts Gotham Books/Penguin 375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014 1592401309 $20.00 www.penguin.com Was Jack Horner a squatter? Why was Mary so contrary? And what made Gorgy Porgy run? The history beyond common nursery rhymes is covered in a lively survey of rhyme meaning and origins in Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind The Rhyme. Here are quirky tales and realities: once you read Heavy Words, you'll never look at Mother Goose quite the same way! Hooking The Reader Sharon Rendell-Smock Morris Publishing 3212 East Hwy. 30, Kearney, NE 68847 http://www.rendell-smock.com/ 0965498123 $11.95 1-321-777-2559 Hooking The Reader: Opening Lines That SELL by award winning author Sharon Rendell-Smock is a no nonsense compilation of literary tips, tricks, and techniques for hooking readers' attention, as provided and described by more than one hundred notable and successful authors ranging from Anne McCaffrey, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, and Larry Niven, to Poul Anderson, Gene Wolfe, and Greg Bear. From first-rate opening lines to ways to best sustain the reader's interest, Hooking The Reader is a veritable showcase of useful insights, information, tidbits, and examples -- and has the absolute highest recommendation for aspiring authors everywhere, regardless of their chosen genre or subject matter. How To Become A Fulltime Freelance Writer Michael A. Banks The Writer Books/Kalmbach Pub., dist. PO Box 1612 , Waukesha, WI 53187 0871161974 $16.95 1-800-533-6644 How To Become A Fulltime Freelance Writer: A Practical Guide To Setting Up A Writing Business At Home by professional author Michael A. Banks is a straightforward and practical guide to earning a living by writing full-time. Individual chapters address the skills and character traits necessary to supporting oneself through writing, financial planning for writers, relationships with agents and editors, sources of extra income, and much, much more in this well-thought-out compendium that should be required reading for all aspiring writers who hope to establish themselves professionally. How To Do Local History Gavin McLean University of Otago Press International Specialized Book Services (ISBS) 920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213 9781877372414, $24.95 www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190 Written by Gavin McLean (senior historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage) and illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, How To Do Local History is a step-by-step guide for would-be local history writers. From how to handle "difficult" or touchy issues in local history, to formulating the right questions to ask while doing research, to investigating both online and offline historical resources, and considerations to keep in mind when publishing - whether just publishing on a website or printing up a book - How To Do Local History is a seminal primer ideal for genealogists, church and institutional historians, thesis writers, and the people who commission them. "Develop an economical writing style in which you 1) tell the main story and ignore most of the historical sidetracks; and 2) cut the waffle. Compression requires self-discipline and hard work, but the results are worth it. Use your computer's word-counting tool... Rewriting is the key to successful writing. And the key to rewriting is reduction." Though written especially with a New Zealand audience in mind, How To Do Local History is packed cover-to-cover with practical tips, tricks, and techniques sure to prove useful regardless of the reader's background. How To Enter Screenplay Contests & Win! Erik Joseph Lone Eagle Publishing Company 2337 Roscomare Road, Suite 9, Los Angeles, CA 90077 http://www.loneeagle.com 0943728886 $16.95 1-310-471-8066 Erik Joseph coordinates one of the longest running screenplay competitions in the country and is the Assistant Director of the Nevada State Film Commission. He also teaches entertainment industry classes at various colleges and university and has had numerous screenplays optioned. Joseph is perfectly positioned to provide an insider's guide to selling screenplays to Hollywood. How To Enter Screenplay Contests And Win is essential reading for all aspiring screenwriters with its practical, comprehensive, easy-to-follow tips, tricks and techniques for winning a screenplay contest -- the most affordable way to get a screenplay noticed, optioned, sold, and produced! How To Get Happily Published Judith Appelbaum HarperPrennial 0062735098 $14.95 In the twenty years since it first appeared, hundreds of thousands of writers (professionals as well as beginners) have read, followed, and benefited from Judith Appelbaum's How To Get Happily Published. This new edition adds material on making deals with publishers (and what's important), working with small publishers (and when that's preferable), capitalizing on contacts (and where to make them), deciding whether to self-publish (and how much that costs), using new electronic media (to publish; to get information, publicity, promotion and sales; and to connect with enthusiastic readers), and making your work sell better (whoever the publisher is). This classic, bestselling guide to getting published has been expanded to include hundreds of new resources: books, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, groups, experts, and Internet sites (including the Midwest Book Review, page 208) covering every step of the publishing process. How To Get Happily Published is highly recommended for all aspiring writers wanting to break into print, all veteran authors wanting to enhance their continued success in the literary marketplace, and all publishers seeking to establish themselves in the literary community as a preferred resource for good authors and an enthusiastic, supportive reading public. How To Make Money Scriptwriting Julian Friedmann Intellect Books/ISBS, dist. 5804 NE Hassalo St., Portland, OR 97213 184150002X $24.95 1-503-287-3093 Now in an updated and revised second edition, Julian Friedmann's How To Make Money Scriptwriting offers the aspiring scriptwriter with a "user friendly" guide to identifying what audiences want and understanding their emotional needs; developing ideas for film and television drama; writing successful treatments and step outlines; pitching ideas and scripts; handling development meetings; negotiating contracts; protecting ideas, treatments and scripts; and establishing copyright. A highly recommended and comprehensive introduction, How To Make Money Scriptwriting is a kind of "how to" course in every aspect of the script writing process under one cover. How To Market Your Business With Little Or No Money! T. Stephen Anderson Business Success Publishing 226 Sutters Mill Rd., St. Peters MO 63376 0970232608 $24.95 Profit-Doctor.com How To Market Your Business With Little Or No Money! is a little 63 page compendium packed solid with "tips, tricks and techniques" for conducting a profitable small business. From cover to cover, this little book (along with it's accompanying CD) is a superb "how to" guide to setting up a commercial website (for free); no-cost marketing products and services; acquiring the best software at the lowest prices, and no-cost marketing books and information. Invaluable for any small business entrepreneur or start-up dot.com manager, How To Market Your Business With Little Or No Money! is especially recommended to the small press publishing community and cash-strapped self-published author. How To Plot Your Novel Jean Saunders Allison & Busby/International Publishers Marketing, dist. PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605 0749003081 $14.95 1-703-661-1586 1-703-661-1501 (fax) A well-plotted novel keeps the reader hooked from first page to last. In How To Plot Your Novel, Jean Saunders takes the aspiring novelist from the initial idea, developing it into a workable plot aimed at producing a page-turner book that the reader cannot resist. Saunders discusses every aspect of plotting a novel, from a sharp beginning right through to a satisfying ending. Characterization, background settings, pace, suspense, methodical construction, making use of library resources and other means of research are all dealt with in a clear, easy to understand manner. Saunders also shares the secrets to her own best-selling success (over 80 novels published to date) and explains the plotting tricks that will hook a publisher as well! How To Price Graphic Design And DTP Services Robert Brenner Brenner Information Group PO Box 721000, San Diego, CA 92172 1930199041 $34.95 1-800-811-4337 Now in a fully updated and expanded fifth edition, Robert Brenner's How To Price Graphic Design And DTP Services continues to be an invaluable guide for pricing desktop publishing and graphic design services. Brenner's 359-page compendium of strategies and tactics for maximizing profit in desktop publishing shows how to price a given publishing or design project by setting prices using sound business principles; allocating costs to the task level; developing baseline prices for any service activity; find break-even levels on each service provided; bid a flat rate on any project; determine the profit on any job; raise prices without losing customers; how to know when the price is right; how to use coupons, rebates, and discounts, how to counter cutthroat competitors; how to deal with bottom fishing price requests; tips and tricks to win and keep customers; estimating, bidding, and negotiating techniques; and when a job should be turned down. How To Price Graphic Design And DTP Services is enhanced with examples and sample forms making it an invaluable, "user friendly", money saving, and money making instruction guide for small businesses, graphic designers, and desktop publishers. How To Publish Your Own Weekly Newspapers, Niche-Market Tabloids & Free Circulation Shoppers Thomas A. Williams Venture Press 12445 NW 10th Court , Coral Springs FL 33071 1878853317 $29.95 publish@gate.net How To Publish Your Own Weekly Newspapers, Niche-Market Tabloids & Free Circulation Shoppers truly lives up to its name as Thomas Williams takes the aspiring publisher through a detailed instructional manual on every aspect of the publishing process from beginning to end. The hallmark of this superbly written and presented "how to" guide is the clarity of Williams' presentation for launching, maintaining, and prospering as a home-based, niche-oriented publisher from the creation of a business plan to the promotion and distribution of the publication. Anyone considering publishing any kind of newspaper, tabloid, or shopper should first begin by giving How To Publish Your Own Weekly Newspapers, Niche-Market Tabloids & Free Circulation Shoppers a very careful reading -- it can save enormous amounts of money, energy, and anxiety, as well as assuring success in a very competitive marketplace! How To Sell Your Screenplay Lydia Wilen & Joan Wilen Square One Publishers 115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040 0757000029, $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com 1-877-900-2665 Writing a screenplay for the movies or for television is only the beginning of the process. Once the script is written it must be pitched (sold) to a studio executive or a production company producer. Expertly co-authored by veteran script writers Lydia and Joan Wilen, "How To Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide To Getting A Television Or Film Deal" provides an informed and informative introduction to how the script writing business works, what the components of a professional-looking screenplay are, and how to format a script to make the best impression. "How To Sell Your Screenplay" then goes on to explain the role and importance of agent and managers, producers, lawyers, directors, and actors. Enhanced with the example of an effective query letter, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" also features the 'Square One System' for submitting scripts with a minimum of time, cost and effort, while achieving a maximum of success. Of special value is the up-to-date listing of resources, the advice for improving pitching skills, and avoiding common mistakes in pitching a script. Simply stated, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" should be considered 'must reading' for all aspiring script writers seeking to establish themselves professionally. How To Start A Home-Based Writing Business Lucy V. Parker Globe Pequot Press PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437 0762706600 $18.95 1-800-962-0973 Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded third edition, Lucy Parker's How To Start A Home-Based Writing Business continues to offer a superbly presented, complete-in-one-volume manual on creating a professional writing career using the home as the basis of operation. IN addition to all the necessary tools and strategies for successfully launching and developing a home-based business, Parker provides tips on honing writing skills, buying the right computer equipment, getting clients and referrals, bidding competitively, establishing a daily schedule, getting paid, determining start-up costs, marketing services, charging for servings, writing a business plan, publicizing the business, and more. An invaluable, user-friendly, highly recommended "how to" guide designed specifically for freelance writers, How To Start A Home-Based Writing Business is enhanced with business-success worksheets, prospect-information forms, estimating forms, and software selection guidelines. How To Start And Run A Writers' Critique Group Carol J. Amato Stargazer Publishing Company P.O Box 77002, Corona, CA 92877-0100 orders@stargazerpub.com 0971375682 $14.95 1-800-606-7895 How To Start And Run A Writers' Critique Group by Carol J. Amato offers accessible and practical answers to the questions and problems that beset beginning, intermediate, and experienced writers who could benefit from the critiques, observations and advice of their peers in a small group setting, but don't have ready access to one. It gives helpful organizational suggestions and information to anyone hoping to start a writers' critique group. In so doing, such groups offers the chance for writers from novice beginners to seasoned professionals to improve their skills and writing through a voluntary professional association with others engaged in writing for fun or profit. The benefits of carefully planning such a group are multiple and easily accessible to the aspiring writers, including particular attention to the issues of critiquing manuscripts, dealing with difficult members, formal organization steps, sponsoring related events, and getting publicity. There is a very handy appendix with sample forms, including suggested critique group rules (small or large groups), a critique group checklist, and corporation bylaws. In sum, How To Start And Run A Writers' Critique Group is an invaluable, 119-page tool to those writers (regardless of their preferred genre) who are in search of peer feedback and self-improvement in the execution of their chosen craft. How To Write A Book Proposal Michael Larsen Writer's Digest Books/F&W, dist. 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 www.writersdigest.com 1582972516 $15.99 1-800-289-0963 Now in its third edition, How To Write A Book Proposal by Michael Larsen is a practical, step-by-step, 280-page "how to" guide to creating a successful book proposal. Ranging from test-marketing the potential of a book idea; to choosing the best agents and editors; to creating a professional quality proposal package; to negotiating the best possible offer from publishers, and so much more, How To Write A Book Proposal is a superbly organized, highly accessible, "must-read" reference for aspiring writers and authors seeking to become financially successful professionals. How To Write A Children's Picture Book Eve Heidi Bine-Stock E & E Publishing 1001 Bridgeway, No. 227, Sausalito, CA 94965 3 Volumes, www.EandEGroup.com/Publishing "How To Write A Children's Picture Book" is an impressive trilogy of instructional books by children's author and illustrator Eve Heidi Bine-Stock that provides other aspiring children's authors with sound, practical, time-tested advice on constructing a picturebook story for children that will hold their interest from beginning to end. Volume 1 is devoted to the structure of writing and draws examples from a series of popular and successful children's books that include 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Sylvester and the Magic Pebble', and several other children's stories. Applicable to both concept books and picture storybooks, "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Structure" demonstrates and documents that being able to properly structure a story is the key to writing a picture book that will appeal to children preschool through first grade. Volume 2 focuses upon the use of words, sentences, scenes, and the story when developing a successful picturebook for children. Examples and illustrations are drawn from such picturebook favorites as 'Harry the Dirty Dog', Harold and the Purple Crayon', 'Frog and Toad Are Friends', and several other well known picturebooks, in order to help aspiring picturebook authors understand the critical role of word choice and storytelling strategies for a picturebook's appeal to its intended and age appropriate readership. Volume 3 explores the importance and usage of figures of speech when writing the text for a child's picturebook. Illustrative examples are taken from a series of successful picturebooks that include 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Caps for Sale', and 'Fish is Fish'. The deft and careful inclusion of figures of speech are more that just the occasional use of similes, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole and personification. They are clever, subtle, sophisticated expressions that can make characters and stories truly memorable and raise the level of a good picturebook to the status of a great one – a picturebook that will endure in popularity through many generations of young readers. To each volume of this truly outstanding and unique series of 'how to' books specializing in the techniques of crafting picturebook stories, Eve Heidi Bine-Stock brings her own particular expertise in communicating her instructions, advice, recommendations, and observations, making "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Structure" (0971989885, !8.95); "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Word, Sentence, Scene, Story" (0974893323, $18.95; and "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Figures of Speech" (097489334X, $14.95) an indispensable, unique, and enthusiastically recommended instructional reference set specifically intended for dedicated authors wanting to hone their craft in the deceptively demanding field of picturebooks for children. How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal Stephen Blake Mettee Quill Driver Books 8386 North Madsen Avenue, Clovis, CA 93611 188495622X $12.95 1-800-497-4909 It matters not if an author has a great book idea: if he can't write a proposal to market the idea to a publisher, the idea may never see print. The book proposal is actually a sales piece - and in How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal, authors receive a concrete course on how to produce one through this guide, written by a seasoned editor. How To Write A Romance For The New Markets...And Get Published!Kathryn Falk Genesis Press 315 Third Avenue North, Columbus, MO 39701 1885478461 $18.95 genesis-press.com In How To Write A Romance For The New Markets...And Get Published!, Kathryn Falk draws upon her many years of experience and the expertise of hundreds of romance authors to provide aspiring writers with information, advice, and examples of how to get their romance writings polished and published. All the elements of writing romances are covered, along with a survey of the new markets in the romance genre including: African American; Time Travel; Christian; Multi-Cultural; Asian; Unusual heroines; humor; Hispanic/Latino; romantic suspense; magic; science fiction; fantasy; and erotic. The informative and comprehensive text is enhanced with a number of invaluable appendices including the Etiquette for Manuscript Submission; Romance Publishing Houses; Agents and Agencies; Romantic Times Magazine; Romantic Times Conventions and Lady Barrow Tours; and "Recommended Books". If you are an author seeking to succeed in the field of romance stories and novels, then begin with a thorough reading of Kathryn Falk's How To Write A Romance For The New Markets...And Get Published! How To Write A ScreenplayMark Evan Schwartz The Continuum International Publishing Group 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038 9780826428172, $15.95 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704 Now in a newly revised and significantly expanded edition, "How To Write A Screenplay" by Mark Evan Schwartz is an instructional manual specifically designed to teach aspiring screenwriters how to write a screenplay by reading one. This unique 'how to' guide is literally written and presented in the form of a screenplay. As well as the screenplay itself, Schwartz includes an instructive foreword explaining how to get the most out of the screenplay, the log line, the synopsis, character bios, the treatment, and 'The Pitch". As entertaining and engaging as it is informed and informative, "How To Write A Screenplay" is an impressive, 'reader friendly', professional, practical, instructive, superbly organized and presented 'how to' manual that is very strongly recommended reading for any and all aspiring playwrights and novice screenwriters. How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks Marilyn Horowitz Atlas Books 30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805 9780979908910, $49.95, www.atlasbooks.com Speed is a rare quality in artists of any sort, especially writers - "How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks: A Fast & Easy Toolbox for All Writers" is a guide to improving ones writing – and being much faster as they do it. A through and complete guide to writing a first draft in less than three months, complete with a formatting manual and a writing log, "How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks: A Fast & Easy Toolbox for All Writers" is a must for any writer who really wants to kick it into high gear in getting their ideas down onto paper, and highly recommended to community library writing and publishing collections. How To Write and Sell Historical Fiction Persia Woolley Writer's Digest Books/F&W Publ. 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207 1582970025 $12.99 1-800-289-0963 Accomplished author Persia Woolley covers every aspect of successfully writing an historical novel in her writing "how to" reference and instruction guide How To Write And Sell Historical Fiction. The aspiring author will learn how to choose a time period and a story that will interest publishers and captivate readers; give their fiction historical accuracy by drawing upon the resources of libraries, museums, historical societies, and on-site visits; create a compelling storytelling arc that crosses generations and multiple exotic locations; weave real historical events into a fictional story; develop characters who thoughts and actions are memorable and plausible within the context of history and the human experience; revise, polish and prepare a manuscript for publisher acceptance. Anyone aspiring to write a successful historical novel should first begin by a careful reading of Persia Woolley's How To Write And Sell Historical Fiction! How To Write and Sell Your Articles How To Write And Sell Your Articles is an indispensable guidebook offering fifteen chapters by experienced and successful writers who will help the reader hone his or her craft and increase his or her article sales, whether new writer aspiring to break into print, or a seasoned professional. The subjects surveyed include Writing the Feature Article; The Writer's Craft; Give Readers What They Want and Need; How To Write a Winning Query Letter; Writing About Science; Writing True Crime Articles; Writing and Selling Travel Articles; Letter to a Young Article Writer; The Q's and A's Of Interviewing; Writing the Pro/Con Article; How To Write The How-to That Sells; Turning Personal Experiences into Salable Articles; Recycle Your Research - Rewrite, Revise, Reslant; How To Write a Better Op-Ed; and How To Write a Profile. How To Write And Sell Your Articles is a small compendium of some of the most useful, basic, applicable "how-to" advice available. How To Write Books That Sell Now in an updated second edition, How To Write Books That Sell is a writer's reference that provides important inspiration to aspiring authors, with chapters covering not only the basics of building a strong fiction or nonfiction presentation, but achieving the ultimate goal of publication. From handling a publishing deal to producing innovative marketing strategies, this is a practical writer's guide. How To Write Fiction Like A ProRobert Newron Peck Maupin Press PO Box 90148, Gainsville FL, 32607 0929895851 $15.95 maupinhouse.com A very highly recommended introduction to writing at a professional level, How To Write Fiction Like A Pro: A Simple-To-Savvy Toolkit For Aspiring Authors by Robert Newton Peck (the author of over sixty published books) is an quite innovative and thoroughly "user friendly" instructive guide for all novice writers seeking to properly and effectively write a successful work of commercially viable fiction. Introducing conceptual and creative tactics which Peck has previously employed with considerable success, How To Write Fiction Like A Pro has a light format which is easy-to-follow for even the most inexperienced novelist. How To Write Fiction Like A Pro is an excellent addition to the reference collections of all aspiring or working authors of fiction stories for its informed and informative content and intriguing comprehensive ideals. If you dream of one day writing the "great American novel", then begin with a quick and careful reading of Robert Peck's How To Write Fiction Like A Pro! How To Write For A General Audience Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 9780979212536, $19.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777 Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist who has authored more than 130 articles or chapters. She has also authored or edited 15 books and serves on the editorial boards of 'Child Abuse & Neglect; 'the 'Journal of Child Sexual Abuse'; and the 'Journal of Human Lactation'. She draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "How To Write For A General Audience: A Guide For Academics Who Want to Share Their Knowledge With The World And Have Fun Doing It". This superbly written instructional guide and reference is embedded with Kathleen's keen sense of humor and illustrative personal anecdotes, along with practical information on how academics in any of the sciences or disciplines can communicate their own expertise in articles or books with effective, jargon-free prose. "How To Write For A General Audience" covers such practical considerations as obtaining a publisher, pitching ideas, negotiation writing contracts, dealing with editors, and post-publication promotion. An ideal and thoroughly user friendly 'how to' instructional guide for academics and scientists aspiring to write and publish both within their fields and for the general public, "How To Write For A General Audience" is confidently recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Writing & Publishing reference collections. How To Write Kids' Mysteries Jeanne Lazo Stargazer Publishing Company PO Box 77002, Corona, CA 92877-0100 1933277009 $24.95 stargazerpub.com How To Write Kids' Mysteries: A Guide For Teen And Adult Writers by author Jeanne Lazo is a practical how-to guide for writers specializing in the genre. Chapters address story preparation, secrets specific to mystery writing, a practical toolkit for writers (such as alternatives to the word "said"), further resources, sample exercises, excerpts from the author's book "If Looks Could Kill" to illustrate sample points, and more. Easy-to-grasp, How To Write Kids' Mysteries is especially intended for those who need to learn the mystery writing craft effectively in a minimum amount of time. How To Write Killer Fiction Carolyn Wheat Perseverance/John Daniel Box 21922, Santa Barbara, CA 93121 1880284626 $13.95 1-800-662-8351 Writing is about creating a memorable experience for the reader: it's a shame most writers haven't learned this art, but Wheat's intention is to identify the emotions a writer can foster in pursuit of this experience. Whether it's a mystery, novel, or a thriller, How To Write Killer Fiction tells how to create emotional excitement and how to craft a work of fiction to make it unforgettable. An essential guide. How To Write Your Own Life Story This fourth edition provides plenty of tips on writing an autobiography; from jogging memory and capturing stories on paper to enjoying other biographies and writings. Nonprofessional writers in particular will appreciate this classic guide to developing talent. How Writing WorksGloria Houston Pearson/Allyn & Bacon 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 www.ablongman.com/edresources 0205366767 $28.00 1-617-848-7320 How Writing Works: Imposing Organizational Structure Within The Writing Process by Gloria Houston is an excellent reference manual and self-teaching tool for developing concrete writing skills directly applicable to real-life needs and careers. From a straightforward discussion of narrative and descriptive structures; to cosmetic touches that optimize readability; to assessing one's own skill, and so much more, How Writing Works is thoroughly recommended for all aspiring or practicing writers striving to improve their craft. |
