From Booklist
Here's a welcome flip side to those how-to-be-a-writer books that either ignore or barely mention the dark side of writing for hire. The authors--respectively, the founder of absolutewrite.com and a lawyer specializing in publishing-related matters--give readers the skinny on such matters as agents (how can you tell the good from the bad?); writing contests (how to spot the scams); vanity presses and other pay-for-publish schemes (not all of them are rip-offs); and other potentially shady elements of the business of writing. The book offers a number of revelations--you don't need an agent to get published, despite what nearly everybody seems to tell you--and it contains such a large amount of essential information that it should be required reading for anyone with a story to sell. It's also worth noting that, overall, the authors take an optimistic stance: the business of writing, they say, is full of honorable people genuinely interested in seeing writers succeed. But there are also charlatans, too, and this guide tells you where to look for them. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“A great book for writers looking for no-nonsense, easy-to-understand information." —Writer’s Digest
“Both new and experienced writers will benefit from this book.” —Kelly James-Enger, author, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money
“While the pen is mightier than the sword, many writers lack a shield. The Street Smart Writer is that shield.” —Dave Kuzminski, editor, Preditors & Editors™
“The Street Smart Writer is a very smart book indeed.” —Jim Macdonald, author, The Apocalypse Door, Sysop of SFF.net
"Should be required reading for every professional writer.” —Gregory A. Kompes, editor, The Fabulist Flash
"These authors get an A+ in the educational value they offer their readers." —SPAWN.org (Small Publishers, Authors, and Writers Network)
"Written with wit and a keen sense of what writers want to know." —Off The Shelf
Book Description
Aspiring writers learn how to avoid frauds and unsavory deals in this handbook for getting published. The editor of AbsoluteWrite.com and a seasoned publishing attorney share their expertise to help writers spot an honest agent or manager, determine the value of vanity publishing, and avoid getting conned out of hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars when signing a contract. Sections on writing contests teach writers how to determine which contests are useless; other sections offer tips on avoiding costly conferences and shady seminars. A special focus on copyright ensures that writers protect their work from schemers who want to use creativity without paying for it. Appendices include sample publishing, agent, and manager contracts.
About the Author
Jenna Glatzer is the editor of AbsoluteWrite.com and the author of 14 books, including Fear Is No Longer My Reality with Jamie Blyth of The Bachelorette, Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, and Outwitting Writer's Block and Other Problems of the Pen. She is a contributing editor at Writer's Digest and has written for such publications as MSN, Salon.com, Woman's World, and Women's Health & Fitness. She lives on Long Island in New York. Daniel Steven is a publishing, media, and entertainment lawyer and the author of Clinical Trials and Final Remedy. He is the chairman of the Contracts and Grievances Committee of the Mystery Writers of America, Inc. He lives in Rockville, Maryland.
