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- Book Review - ON WRITING by Stephen King
- A Way With Words
- Book review of "On Writing"
- From writer to writer
- A Great Read
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On Writing
Stephen King
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ASIN: 0743455967 |
Amazon.com
Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists. The memoir is terrific stuff, a vivid description of how a writer grew out of a misbehaving kid. You're right there with the young author as he's tormented by poison ivy, gas-passing babysitters, uptight schoolmarms, and a laundry job nastier than Jack London's. It's a ripping yarn that casts a sharp light on his fiction. This was a child who dug Yvette Vickers from Attack of the Giant Leeches, not Sandra Dee. "I wanted monsters that ate whole cities, radioactive corpses that came out of the ocean and ate surfers, and girls in black bras who looked like trailer trash." But massive reading on all literary levels was a craving just as crucial, and soon King was the published author of "I Was a Teen-Age Graverobber." As a young adult raising a family in a trailer, King started a story inspired by his stint as a janitor cleaning a high-school girls locker room. He crumpled it up, but his writer wife retrieved it from the trash, and using her advice about the girl milieu and his own memories of two reviled teenage classmates who died young, he came up with Carrie. King gives us lots of revelations about his life and work. The kidnapper character in Misery, the mind-possessing monsters in The Tommyknockers, and the haunting of the blocked writer in The Shining symbolized his cocaine and booze addiction (overcome thanks to his wife's intervention, which he describes). "There's one novel, Cujo, that I barely remember writing."
King also evokes his college days and his recovery from the van crash that nearly killed him, but the focus is always on what it all means to the craft. He gives you a whole writer's "tool kit": a reading list, writing assignments, a corrected story, and nuts-and-bolts advice on dollars and cents, plot and character, the basic building block of the paragraph, and literary models. He shows what you can learn from H.P. Lovecraft's arcane vocabulary, Hemingway's leanness, Grisham's authenticity, Richard Dooling's artful obscenity, Jonathan Kellerman's sentence fragments. He explains why Hart's War is a great story marred by a tin ear for dialogue, and how Elmore Leonard's Be Cool could be the antidote.
King isn't just a writer, he's a true teacher. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
"Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported near-fatal accident in 1999 -- and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it -- fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.
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For years I dreamed of having the sort of massive oak slab that would dominate a room.... In 1981 I got the one I wanted and placed it in the middle of a spacious, skylighted study in the rear of the house. For six years I sat behind that desk either drunk or wrecked out of my mind.... A year or two after I sobered up, I got rid of that monstrosity and put in a living-room suite where it had been....In the early nineties, before they moved on to their own lives, my kids sometimes came up in the evening to watch a basketball game or a movie and eat pizza....I got another desk -- it's handmade, beautiful, and half the size of the T. rex desk. I put it at the far west end of the office, in a corner under the eave....I'm sitting under it now, a fifty-three-year-old man with bad eyes, a gimp leg, and no hangover. I'm doing what I know how to do, and as well as I know how to do it. I came through all the stuff I told you about ... and now I'm going to tell you as much as I can about the job.... It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support-system for art. It's the other way around. --
Customer Reviews:
Book Review - ON WRITING by Stephen King .......2007-09-26
I picked up On Writing because you can't do it much bigger than Stephen King has. Most books on writing are by grammarmongers or literary types, and I was interested to get the perspective of a writer of popular fiction. Previously, I'd only skimmed through Terry Brooks's Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life, but I don't think Terry Brooks is a very good writer, so that was the end of that.
Half the book is King's autobiography, and he focuses on the points in his life that he feels helped shape him as a writer. I felt like I didn't need most of this, although it was nice to know even Stephen King worked at some terrible jobs before he made it big. Those reading this book just for the writing lesson, and who care not for Stephen King, can skip this whole section, although there are some interesting tidbits on the publishing process.
King's points are several. The two keys to good writing, he says, are mastery of the fundamentals and hard work. A good writer should write all the time and read all the time. I agree with this.
King's strategy for writing is this: to come up with a foundational situation, not worry about the plot, and make it up as you go. There certainly is something to be said for this kind of writing, and it has a very romantic ideal, but I think this also explains why quite a few of King's otherwise-amazing novels have lame, deus ex machina endings.
On Writing is written in King's distinctive, conversational, foul-mouthed style, which is just as engaging in non-fiction, although he runs a bit long-winded at times. The book is pretty short, though, and it's a fairly quick read.
I can't say I learned anything new about writing, but I did have some concepts reinforced (like don't use dialogue attributions), and it was nice to hear it from the most popular novelist of our time.
King says you can't make a good writer great, and you can't make a terrible writer competent, but you can make a competent writer good. If that's you, then to you this book might just be
RECOMMENDED
A Way With Words.......2007-09-17
Stephen King has the gift. The gift is a way with words that makes readers of his novels (and his non-fiction) FEEL what he is trying to convey.
It's no different in this wonderful writing guide. One of the most important points he makes to aspiring writers is that "most writing books are full of bs."
(Listen to that one, and learn, constant reader, especially if you want to be a writer!)
Part autobiography, and part instruction manual, this oh-so-fine guide to the writing craft will give astute readers the confidence and tools they need to become the writer THEY were meant to be.
Highly recommended!
Book review of "On Writing".......2007-09-16
Review of "On Writing"
Stephen King's book, "On Writing", is a fascinating and informative read. The beginning of the book is a short memoir of his life and soon evolves into some helpful rules of advice for writers.
In the beginning of his book, he tells the brief story of his childhood leading up to his first novel. We are introduced to his mother, a single parent of two young sons and their life moving from one place to another. Then his wife Tabitha, who is truly the love of his life and best friend. I found parts of his memoirs to be humorous, sad and full of determination. One realizes that King's desire to write began at a young age and his determination to continue what he enjoys was never halted. His creativity is fantastic and extremely suspenseful. His passion for writing fiction is truly unmistakable. The second part of the book, King shares techniques on how to become a good writer. This
interested me because I enjoy writing fictional stories. I was able to relate to a few of the techniques and welcomed every piece of information he had to offer. Although, some people may not look at him as a true writer, I am inspired by his works and amazed with his talent.
I would highly recommend this book. This is a great book for fiction writers just starting out. Stephen King's memoir's were inspiring, and his lessons on writing were vastly informative.
From writer to writer.......2007-09-14
As the title suggests, Stephen King's novel "On Writing" is a descriptive look into the writing process from one writer to another. Part auto-biography, part composition course, King skillfully weaves together his experiences in becoming a writer with advice for the reader on the do's and don'ts of good writing practices. Reminiscing about his childhood and adolescence in the first part of the book, King takes the reader back to a few experiences with a horrific babysitter, excruciating ear infections, critical old-maid teachers, and his growing fascination with the weird and fantastic through sci-fi books and movies. Through his various encounters with writing for home, school, and town newspapers, King develops his early literary framework that eventually becomes the basis for his famous fiction. He elaborates upon his college days, his family, and the publication of his first books, Carrie, and The Shining, as well as exposing the sensitive issue of his drug use and alcoholism while still early into his career as a writer. In the second part of the book, King gives the reader the necessary 'tools' of the craft including vocabulary, grammar, structure and style. He then goes even further with the lesson by inserting various pieces of writing which have been reviewed and edited and he also gives the reader exercises to practice with. The last part of the book is a detailed account of King's terrible accident in 1999 followed by a long recovery and rediscovering the strength to keep writing because "sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it." "On Writing" is a valuable piece of work for all writers of all stages to have in their collection. King's dark humor and sarcasm flow nicely with his practical, to-the-point approach. He does not intend to hurt the reader's feelings but he speaks the truth when pointing out not all writers are good writers; but with the correct tools, a little revision, and self-determination, a decent writer can look forward to becoming a good writer.
A Great Read.......2007-09-11
Part memoir, part guide to writing, Stephen King's On Writing is an enjoyable, fast paced, and easy read. King tells his life story in a frank and funny manner which is almost certain to coax laughter from readers. Near the end of the book, when King recounts his near-death experience, the tale is almost heartbreaking, but it is a tale of survival, love, and determination. Even readers who have never read any of Stephen King's work before can appreciate this book. I had never read any of Stephen King's work before, other than a wonderful short story entitled "The Reach," but I found On Writing to be interesting and informative. King's life story is fascinating, and his instruction on the art of writing is invaluable.
This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a writer or who is currently an aspiring writer. On Writing has great tips about the writing, editing, and publishing process. King gives readers a rare look at his creative process, discussing changes he has made in his work and his struggles to complete some of his stories. His advice about the art of writing is simple. If you want to write, you have to be committed to writing. Becoming an author does not happen overnight, and it does not happen without a great deal of effort. Do what you love, and if that happens to be writing, then read and write to your heart's content. Writing should be for enjoyment. If writing reaps greater benefits that the sheer joy of writing, then so be it, and welcome.
Amazon.com
John Kremer's home might be nestled in Iowa cornfields, but his advice on book marketing comes straight from publishing's epicenter. 1001 Ways to Market Your Books is a tome of biblical proportion, a 700-page "organized potpourri" of useful ideas, examples, tips, and suggestions. You name it, Kremer covers it: publication scheduling, series and directory writing, attaining bestsellerdom, direct mail, cover design, offbeat advertising, online sales, alternative markets, and much (really!) more. He includes addresses and phone numbers, Web site addresses, and hundreds of marketing stories from authors and publishers. It is these stories that inspire one to think outside the box. One Canadian author changed his last name from Zimmerman to Cimmerman purely for bookstore-placement purposes. And Greg Godek, author of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic, performs a reverse shoplift. He sneaks copies of his books onto stores' shelves, figuring that if a copy sells, the store will order more. --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Today's most complete handbook on book marketing.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read for Authors.......2007-09-30
John Kremer's 1001 Ways to Market Your Books is definitely a must read for every author that want to successfully sell books.
Robert Moment, Author of Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service.
[...]
A Wealth of Information.......2007-09-22
This is a book every author and publisher should have in their collection. You get tons of useful information. I can't recommend this book enough.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books, Sixth Edition (1001 Ways to Market Your Books: For Authors and Publishers) .......2007-09-19
Great, Informative, Educational. This book will take me months to read again. Thank you 1001 Times.
The Greatest Practical Book Marketing Resource of All Time.......2007-09-18
This review is for the fifth edition of this book, though I suspect that the fifth and sixth editions are virtually the same save for a bit of info here or there.
Writing a book is easy. Getting it out there is hard. It's a challenge for both the big, small and self-publisher alike. 10% of your time and energy goes into creating your masterpiece, 90% goes into bringing it to the masses.
In 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, author and publisher John Kremer walks you through step-by-step 1001 effective methods to market your book.
This doesn't read like a manual or some textbook. Kremer's professional yet personable writing style keeps you interested and forces you to pay attention to everything he has to say.
This book is so dense that you can't just read it once then call it good. It's a resource, which means it's meant to be visited each time you publish a book so you can pull out some of the 1001 marketing methods offered.
Don't try doing all 1001 things suggested in this book all for one title. It won't work. Kremer even says so in the opening pages. The idea is to cater to your particular book's needs and find the marketing methods that work for that specific title.
Kremer backs up his info with industry stats, gives examples of what's worked for some publishers and what's failed for others.
Take notes while you read it. Even jot down in separate columns on a loose sheet of paper what ideas would work for the titles in your company's catalogue and mark down the page number in Kremer's book for each.
This is a book every serious publisher needs to have on their shelf. More importantly, it's a book they need to use.
1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer.......2007-09-14
While Kremer's book is heavily weighted toward publishers, it is an indispensable reference for anyone who wants a crash course in book marketing. Authors can learn plenty from his lucid style and categorical treatment. I also recommend Leon Mentzer's Amen! A Simple Guide to Self-Marketing Your Christian Book, which is entirely directed at authors. Mentzer's focus is on Christian writers because he is one, but his ideas and advice about what writers can do to market their own books is universal and aimed specifically at just-published, first-time authors.
Amazon.com
"Perfect margins and ideal spacing won't prevail over dull, poorly written work," counsel the authors of this book. Still, why would you let sloppy formatting obscure an editor's first encounter with your brilliant words? Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript will help you, yes, format and submit articles, nonfiction books, short stories, novels, scripts, poetry, even greeting cards. There's no reason, the authors say, to "mangle or otherwise abuse" your work in order to get it to fit a format, but whenever possible, you might as well give the editors what they want. It's all here: queries (electronic, faxed, and otherwise), sidebars, market analyses, manuscripts, treatments, etc. Each element is handled through the use of examples, submission tips, formatting specs, and "other dos and don'ts." Strewn throughout are words of wisdom from those on the submission-receiving end, among them Robin Dolch, a senior editor at ICON Thoughtstyle. "We can always tell when people are going to be very hard to work with," Dolch says. "It's when they're willing to do very little work up front before getting a contract." --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Send your letters and proposals like a pro and increase your chances of getting published. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript makes it easy by featuring full-size examples of how to present virtually any type of manuscript.
Covering every part of the manuscript submission package, this guide shows you the dos and dont's for creating persuasive but professional correspondence and submission materials, including: query letters, title pages, cover letters, tables of contents, outlines, author biographies, cover pages, endorsements pages, synopses and reply postcards.
There are also examples you can follow for submitting by fax or online, in addition to tips from respected agents and editors who help you avoid the mistakes that shout "amateur!" Spend more time writing and less time worrying about your manuscript presentations. With this guide, you'll gain the confidence you need to format and submit your manuscript quickly and effectively.
Customer Reviews:
Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript.......2007-05-20
Great resource for this aspiring writer. I am just approaching attempts at publication, and am grateful for this guidance on my way.
The end-all be-all of formatting guides........2003-05-22
This is probably the best guide to document formatting I've seen yet. Of course, half the staff at Writers Digest magazine wrote it! Most of them are writers or editors as well, so it only makes sense that it would be good.
I looked at several different formatting books in my search for the best. Many of them got great reviews when they were released. The problem is, most of them are more than 5 years old. With the publishing business changing as rapidly as anything else these days, you need an updated resource to follow, especially if you are new to the business of writing - and yes, it is a business. In business, things are expected to be done a certain way, and this book shows you that way.
This book is chock full of full page examples of everything from proposals, cover letters, tables of contents, etc. It's broken down into sections like most of the other books, each one covering a topic such as articles, novels, and screenplays.
If you want a book that is easy to follow when formatting your manuscript and writing the associated correspondence to an editor/publisher/agent, this is the book for you. The example documents even show you how many spaces to leave between lines etc. I don't think they could have made it any easier if they had sent someone to my house and had them walk me through the formatting!
One thing I thought disappointing was mentioned by another reviewer. Personal essays is mentioned on the cover, but after a quick search, I wasn't able to find that topic covered at all in the book, even in the index. My guess is that it's assumed that these documents would be handled according to guidelines from a different section, although which section eludes me.
Overall, this is the best book out there. It's new, and covers the currently accepted formats for a plethora of documentation. If you're searching for a book like this, spend the money, it's well worth it.
Easy, Simple, Great Guideline!.......2003-02-22
This book is a great guide for those at the submission process! I would never have known that there were general guidelines to follow when submitting your fiction, etc and probably earned myself rejection letters because of it. But with this guide, I know that at least I used industry standards upon submissions.
This book also has great examples of query and cover letters. I recommend this to anyone new to the submission process of publishing!
Read this before you submit your work.......2003-01-20
It may save you some rejections. The instructions are very clear, concise, and cover all ranges of manuscripts. Since I am working on submitting novels, this was the section I read the most thoroughly. There are two sample query letters to study, part of a synopsis, a cover letter, and lots on formatting the manuscript itself. I highly recommend this. You'll learn how to make your work look more professional and more appealing.
So-so.......2002-03-09
This book is all right as a basic guide on how a manuscript should more or less look, but the author fails to say, "By the way these aren't set in stone." For example, if you send in a screenplay I doubt it'll get turned away just based on how far down you spaced to start your first line (unless you did something silly like start at the bottom!). Good for an idea but don't let yourself take it as gospel.
Book Description
It begins with the sudden revelation of astonishing secrets—secrets that have shaped the personalities and fates of three siblings, and now threaten to tear them apart. In renowned author Elizabeth Berg’s moving new novel, unearthed truths force one seemingly ordinary family to reexamine their disparate lives and to ask themselves: Is it too late to mend the hurts of the past?
Laura Bartone anticipates her annual family reunion in Minnesota with a mixture of excitement and wariness. Yet this year’s gathering will prove to be much more trying than either she or her siblings imagined. As soon as she arrives, Laura realizes that something is not right with her sister. Forever wrapped up in events of long ago, Caroline is the family’s restless black sheep. When Caroline confronts Laura and their brother, Steve, with devastating allegations about their mother, the three have a difficult time reconciling their varying experiences in the same house. But a sudden misfortune will lead them all to face the past, their own culpability, and their common need for love and forgiveness.
Readers have come to love Elizabeth Berg for the “lucent beauty of [her] prose, the verity of her insights, and the tenderness of her regard for her fellow human” (Booklist). In
The Art of Mending, her most profound and emotionally satisfying novel to date, she confronts some of the deepest mysteries of life, as she explores how even the largest sins can be forgiven by the smallest gestures, and how grace can come to many through the trials of one.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Better Berg?.......2007-07-29
I'd read Berg's writing book and decided to check out one of her novels. I believe, at least according to other reviewers, this isn't the best one. The story was okay, but the writing and characterization were fair. I was very disappointed after reading her book on writing (Escaping into the Open)--which was delightful.
The Art of Mending left out the "art" part of it. It was difficult to finish because it seemed to be a rough draft--where the characters were just beginning to be fleshed out, but not quite there yet. There was no real climax. It read more like a boring memoir. And it didn't ring true in many places. The mother never seemed like a real person, just a pawn to move the story forward.
I'm sure Berg is capable of better, so I'll read a couple of her other books. But this one fell flat.
Forgiveness.......2007-07-15
Elizabeth Berg has touched many with this book, teaching many of us the art of love and forgiveness.
Great, typical Berg writing..........2007-05-10
I am a HUGE fan of Elizabeth Berg. Her writing is addictive--poignant and inspirational. This was a fabulous page-turner, as I've found is typical with all of her other books.
A Lukewarm Reading Experience.......2007-05-03
This is "light reading" to the point that it may insult your intelligence. The book has a very casual, superficial, and lighthearted approach to some very heavy issues. The book involved a lot of detachment. The characters are completely detached from one another and from reality. The author also seems detached from her characters, from reality, and from her readers themselves. All of this ambivalence might leave readers feeling detached from the whole story as well. Towards the end, I really felt as though Elizabeth Berg just wrote this novel to collect another paycheck from her publisher. (In an interview with the author at the end of the book, she does actually seem to imply that writing this book was more of a duty than a pleasure since she was under contract). Unfortunately, her approach to this book as a job rather than an artistic endeavor really comes across in her writing.
The characters are ridiculously one-dimensional and the plot is predictable in a very disappointing way. The main character Caroline is extremely frustrating in her selfishness, self-absorption, and dangerously extreme simplemindedness. Perhaps she was intentionally portrayed in this manner, but her behavior made for a difficult read. The underlying themes of abuse, familial neglect, grief, and mourning aren't given the amount of emotion, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness they deserve.
There were a few bright spots sprinkled here and there. Some of Berg's imagery is absolutely beautiful and many of her metaphors are sheer poetry. But overall, the book is very formulaic, and most of it reads like the script for one of those infamously awful made-for-tv movies on Lifetime.
Thought-provoking.......2007-01-23
This book has flaws and I would really like to give it three and a half stars because of those flaws, but it was such a good read, I don't want to discourage anyone from selecting it. The character of Pete didn't ring true to me--he's too perfect. He always understands, always says the right thing,is always there to engage,etc. I also thought the character of Maggie was a bit unreal. I loved the character of Steve. He was just right as the brother who wants to understand, but more than anything, really just doesn't want to be bothered. He has his memories neatly tied up and he doesn't want his life upset by something that happened years ago. Laura doesn't want that for her own life either, especially with her father just dying. But when the unraveling starts, she realizes that she must know and understand. The absolute best thing about this book is the portrayal of the mother, warts and all, and Caroline, who isn't a very likeable character yet draws you into her quest for validation. I honestly didn't know until the end what the truth was. And I found myself being sympathetic to all those involved--even the guilty.
Amazon.com
The Herculean effort required to write a book can seem almost negligible when compared with the energy it takes to line up a hardworking agent, a caring editor, and an acceptable contract. Agents, Editors, and You, edited by Michelle Howry, is a substantial primer for the uninitiated. The book is divided into four sections: Preparing and Submitting Your Manuscript, Selling Your Manuscript, Publishing 101, and Trends in Publishing Today. Howry and the publishing professionals included here emphasize that just as a writer's work is scrutinized, so should the writer examine the work of the agent and the editor, the value of the contract, and the promotion plan. Issues of contemporary concern--e-queries, e-publishing, self-publishing, and even an odd riff on anthrax in the mail--are given their due. The many interviews with and essays by well-regarded agents and editors put a human face on what can often seem from the outside like a corporate monolith. And it is particularly nice to know that, at least according to Jonathan Galassi, editor in chief of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, "there's plenty of room for idealism in publishing today." --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
Every writer wishes that they had a mentor in the business-someone who could share up-to-the-minute insider advice for getting their work published. That wish comes true with Agents, Editors, and You!
Dozens of industry professionals provide fiction and nonfiction writers with essential information about a variety of important topics-everything from preparing a manuscript and getting it into the hands of an editor to the finer points of e-publishing.
Readers will also learn what happens to a manuscript once it's accepted, how to market their books and gain publicity, plus what they should know about sub rights.
Customer Reviews:
Straight Talk To Writers.......2006-06-09
Every publishing experience is different. Each agent and each publisher operates in a different way--but the overall process has many of the same principles. These principles are captured and explained in this excellent compilation of articles from various F & W Publications.
In one concise volume, you will learn about preparing and submitting your manuscript. How to determine if you need an agent, then how to find the right one and what does an agent do anyway? The answers are in this volume.
After you locate an agent or determine if you need one, what are nonfiction editor looking for? What are fiction editors searching for? Or what are children's editors searching for? These questions are answered in these pages.
Finally what is that process after your book is contracted? How do you work with your editor? What expectations should I have after my book is published?
Publishing is constantly changing and there are no permanent answers but I found the wisdom in these pages worthwhile and something I recommend to writers who are looking for solid answers to their questions.
As editor Michelle Howry writes in her introduction, "Getting a book published is an arduous task. It often seems as if the publishing industry itself was structured to make it as difficult as possible for a first-time author to figure it all out. It's challenging, but there is hope. As you'll see throughout this book, agent and editors really are still searching for talented new writers. Use this book like a road map, inside you'll find the information you need to navigate the unfamiliar publishing landscape and find publishing success. Rely on the advice of these "publishing mentors"--along with your amazingly well-written book--to target an agent, wood an editor, and earn a book contract."
Sound words are in these pages. I recommend it.
Minimal Help.......2006-05-01
If you've read many writing guides, this one will be of minimal help. It's a collection of old articles and interviews, most preceeding the 2002 publication date by 1-3 years. There's nothing here you can't find on-line or in a book with more specific help.
Review by Irene Watson, author of "The Sitting Swing.".......2005-11-12
One of the better "investments" I made when buying a self-help book.
Agents, editors and you.......2005-10-15
If you have not read Writer's Market, this book will be of help.
I find only two dog eared pages after reading the book. I had either read the information in it years ago in other books, or it did nothing for my main desire when I bought the book. Which was a list of reputable agents.
I dog eared "zero in on potential agents", and that Literary agents are the exact same as an editor of days gone by, with the same heavy work load. That electronic submission was not an in thing.
I live in Germany and do not have a used book store to get rid of it in. Any good book I have is full of dog ears no matter what it is. If it has no dog ears it is not a good book. I do not recomemend it.
Agents, Editors, and You-Great Resource.......2002-10-07
Writer's Digest Books Agents, Editors, and You (edited by Howry) is a full of important information for writers about the publishing business.
This book is crucial to those who want to follow good submission procedures, avoiding preventable mistakes that could cost a sale.
There are many ideas related to contacting agents and editors. It is the "Miss Manners" of proper protocol... I'm glad I have this book.
Book Description
In professional and student theater alike, a good monlogue can often mean the difference between a "Thank you . . . Next!" and a call-back. But sometimes it's hard for an aspiring actor to find the absolutely right audition piece that suits his or her personal style, type or age group.
Monologues For Young Actors is a unique and invaluable collection of dramatic speeches from some of the world's greatest plays -- chosen specifically for actors in their teens and early twenties.
Whether you're looking for something comedic or tragic, contemporary or classic, unorthodox or naturalistic, this superb compilation has the monologue you need -- an indispensible tool to help you hone you craft . . . and land that role.
Customer Reviews:
It is ok.......2004-01-13
I borrowed this book from a friend it was OK but it didn't have a lot of monologues that a 15-year old could use.
a good book for young actors.......2003-10-13
I first picked up this book at camp. I was looking for something to preform in the talent show that could doble as an audition peice. As young looking 15 yearold I offten find it very hard to find monolouges that fit my age group. After years of looking I found it. My dream monolouge. It was in this book. While yes, this book does have some monolouges for older children it also has some mature youger ones aswell. (Nothing below the age of a mature 12 year old) However, most of the monolouges have a seious side to them. They are not to be taken as funny monolouges that will amuse people but a serious peices taken from serious plays. If you are looking for a monolouge that will chalenge you this book is for you. if not then look elsewhare.
an ok source for monologes.......2001-07-19
I feel that this book is and inadequate source for monologes because it doesnt have enough monologes. I feel that it could have been better if it was more pages. I also feel that the authors could have expanded their types of monologes better.
Um... i think i'll return this one.......2001-01-29
i bought this book with little experience with monolouges but after buying a few other books this one doesnt even help me. the monologues cant be acted truly because you really dont know what they mean. they're not significant and i wouldn't use any of them for an audition.
Not that bad!.......2000-12-24
Although this book may have rebelious, underminiing and dis-respectful monolouges, what you have to relize is that it's theatre, and theatre means acting. The monolouge She Hit Me First shows a truth about siblings, and I honestly think that as young actors, kids should be exposed to this kind of theatre. My High School theatre teacher owns this book, and I bought it to help me, and it has. I now do a great deal of theatre outside of school, and I use this book for audition material.
Book Description
Great Scenes and Monologues for Actors, spanning nearly 500 years of drama, from Shakespearean England to Contemporary Broadway, is a useful tool for every student or actor wanting to improve their acting skills. Included are 80 scenes and monologues from playwrights ranging from William Shakespeare to Anton Chekhov to Wendy Wasserstein. This small and affordable book can help improve memory, concentration, and confidence.
Customer Reviews:
Probably not for "Student Actors".......2005-08-30
Some of the monologues are a bit more adult. If you are buying this for student actors, pick and choose wisely.
I liked the Wide Selection!.......2000-05-10
This book has a great many scenes and monologues, and nearly anyone can find one that works for them. While some of the plays that are excerpted are a bit obscure, I found this to be only a minor setback, thanks to the magic of online book purchasing.
Excellent addition to your bookshelf..........2000-03-16
The first 15 pages are devoted to creating the character and I found them very insightful. A nice, wide variety of monologues & scenes and I really liked the addition of several Shakespearean monologues at the end of each section. It's a plus that there Shakespeare monologues that are not often used. Some of the monologues/scenes in the book are from: An Ideal Husband, The Three Sisters, Master Class, I Hate Hamlet, Conversations with my Father, The Miss Firecracker Contest, Steambath, and much more...I highly recommend this book.
A wide range of material for all capabilities.......1999-09-12
I found that this book was really useful because there is such a wide range of material, however, I did find that when I found a good monalogue and wanted to read the whole play it was not available anywhere on the net that I looked. This was bit annoying because it is impossible to successfully create a character from just a monalogue and is even difficult with the whole play. As I mentioned before there is a very wide range of plays, from Shakespeare to the author himself.
Average customer rating:
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The Author, Art, and the Market
Martha Woodmansee
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Construction of Authorship: Textual Appropriation in Law and Literature (Post-Contemporary Interventions)
ASIN: 0231106017 |
Product Description
This book will guide you through the publishing process step-by-step. You will also find tips and ideas in this book on what to publish to make money. After you have published your book, you will have to learn how to market it. Without a good marketing strategy you are basically throwing your book into a warehouse with ten million other titles and no one may never stumble across your book. This book will explain to you how to use DATABASE LOGIC to market your book on the Internet to get it noticed by more potential customers.
Customer Reviews:
Author uses some of own advice.......2007-01-10
The author of this book has over 20 Listmania lists, so this book title kept popping up and I purchased it. Unfortunately, the book needs edited badly, basics like "periods" were missing, making it difficult to follow. It does have good basic advice if you want to publish your own book and do everything he did to do it, as he specifically touts some PODs and other resources. If technical books on book promotion overwhelm you, and you can see past the editing errors, this may be a decent book to read. After reading many books on book promotion, this book left me with marking one page as actual useful information for my own needs.
The marketing strategies alone makes this a winner!.......2006-04-27
I got a lot more than I expected to get from this book.
I thought I would take a chance, what the heck I need help.
Not only does the author show you how to get published and
it's for real, no bull and no fluff. He teaches you how to think
current so you can design your title and description to take
advantage of today's technologies.
This is a must read book before you publish your book and
it's a must read book afterwards, so you can market your
book without it costing you an arm and leg.
The marketing strategies are unique and straightforward, not
hard to implement at all. As long as your book is interesting
or useful the strategies in this book can help get your book
noticed.
There isn't many how to books that comes close to delivering
on their promises. I have to say this book delivers 100% and
then some.
I only see one problem, the more this book is read and authors
start figuring out how to utilize this free advertising space, at
some point it will become difficult to fight the sharks for the
prime spots.
Good Information But ..........2006-03-16
There is plenty of valuable information in this book, but it is not well written. I found it interesting that the author listed proofreaders, yet he has numerous spelling errors throughout.
Having said all that, I did get the information that I desired, so it was worth the money.
Helpful, yet painful.......2006-01-15
The author has a positive attitude and has accomplished what he claims: self-published and sold his book on Amazon.com. He offers helpful ideas about how others can get their self-published books noticed and sold online. These ideas earn two stars; however...
...their presentation does not. The writing is often painful to read. I found myself urgently wishing the author had taken his own advice and hired a real editor. (I also wish he had brought in a real designer before offering design advice, and a real proofreader before offering proofreading advice.)
This must be a joke!.......2005-10-17
Whether you are a self publisher or wanting to be one, you must buy this book! It is such a good laugh!
The author-publisher has done just about everything wrong that you possibly could in a self published book -- and now he's charging money for it!
Did he do it on purpose as a joke or a farce? Or did he really not know any better? I can't tell!
Consider this:
The cover looks like he did the printer's copy on a desktop inkjet printer on cheap paper.
He puts the copyright notice and LCCN on the title page.
The copyright notice is then repeated at the bottom of both pages of the Introduction.
In the table of contents -- which appears where the copyright page should be -- each chapter shows the range of pages, not just the first page.
His headers are larger than the body text.
Most of the book looks like it's double-spaced.
The spacing between words is uneven, as if the text was justified in a word processor or electronic typewriter from the 1980s.
He sometimes uses underlines in place of italics, and sometimes he uses both together.
He inserts long articles by other people with no indication that he has permission.
Much of the book is simply free info taken off the Web -- especially from Lulu, which seems to be the only publishing service that the author is familiar with!
Getting the picture? But now we come to the index, which is alone worth the price of the book. He actually indexes people by their first names! Oh joy!
Here are some of the priceless entries in this index: $4.53, 10th, $34.95, Caterpillar, calendar, calendars -- yes, two entries with identical pages -- County, experiences, fat, Have one to sell, I Universe (sic), key words, keyword, Satan, sub categories (sic), white.
This doesn't even mention the poor grammar, poor spelling, incorrect punctuation,innumerable typos, and general bad writing.
In short, this is a classic. It will be studied for years as the consummate example of everything than can be wrong with self publishing! Buy it today!
Book Description
A step-by-step guide for writing a mystery novel from idea to final rewrite and marketing the manuscript. Choosing a title, characterization, dialogue, viewpoint, setting/description, opening hooks, plot, revising and marketing the manuscript are covered in separate chapters. Appendices include a sample of proper manuscript form, a sample query letter, a master fiction plot outline, and listings of mystery award winners. There is an extensive bibliography and index.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing new, but worth reviewing.......2000-05-22
If you've read more than a couple books on the subject of novel writing, you probably won't find anything new in this little book. It's really more a summary of the subject than a complete treatment. As such, it's OK, but don't expect much beyond that. As I read it, I was reminded of the Dan Poynter school of writing wherein the author is urged to review all the existing material on a subject and then rewrite it, hopefully with a new slant. This book might have been written in exactly that way, although I'm not sure that there is a new slant anywhere. As a brief refresher on the subject, and maybe a guide for occasional quick reference, this book can be helpful. But I really think that most readers will want to go a little deeper into the subject.
Pithy advice from a pro.......1998-07-19
Before my first book (Death in Little Tokyo)came out, Jean Hager not only gave me sage advice about the writing life, she also provided a wonderful example of how a published writer should treat an unpublished writer. Therefore, it was with some anticipation that I received her "How to Write & Market Your Mystery Novel." I wasn't disappointed.
This slim volume is packed with Jean's pithy but professional advice. It covers the gamut from defining mystery sub-genres to marketing your manuscript. Jean has published over 50 novels, and has three successful mystery series published, so she speaks from a wealth of experience.
If you're interested in writing mysteries, Jean's book will be a valuable addition to your library. For writing, I personally value Lawrence Block's "Spider, spin me a web," his "Telling Lies for Fun and Profit" and Margaret Chittenden's "How to Write Your Novel." Jean's work will now join this group of b! ooks I recommend to aspiring writers.
Best,
Dale Furutani
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