Writing References

Writer's Handbook 2002 edited by Elfrieda Abbe (Writer's Handbook: Writer’s Press) The annual Writer's Handbook competes neck-and-neck with the better-known Writer's Market. The 2002 Handbook lists 3,300 markets and resources; the 2002 Market "about 4,000." Though the Handbook blurbs are not as detailed as the Market's, they are a whole lot easier on the eyes. What differentiates the Handbook from the competition is about three times as many articles about the writing life. The book's 61 such pieces, most reprinted from The Writer magazine, are by the likes of Sue Grafton, John Ciardi, and Maeve Binchy. In a piece titled "Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully--in Ten Minutes," Stephen King recommends that you "be talented," "remove every extraneous word," and "never look at a reference book while doing a first draft." This is the first Writer's Handbook in many years not to have been edited by Sylvia Burack; the transition to a new editor, Elfrieda Abbe, appears seamless.

It's a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World: A Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Today's Competitive Children's Book Market by Olga Litowinsky (Walker) Using rabbit metaphors, the longtime children's book editor begins with a brief history of children's book publishing in the U.S. ("The Bunny Also Rises") and covers brass tacks, including finding the right publisher ("Hop to It!"); points to helpful organizations; and addresses such issues as rights ("Splitting Hares").

The business of publishing for children has changed monumentally over the last decade. Large companies have merged and grown, while well-established imprints have vanished one after another. In this tough climate, it's becoming harder and harder to break into the industry. Olga Litowinsky has interviewed top children's book editors, agents, and experts in the field and shares their up‑to‑the‑minute advice about what editors are looking for today. Armed with this insider information, aspiring writers will be able to distinguish themselves and succeed in today's highly competitive marketplace.

The Complete Guide to Book Publicity by Jodee Blanco(Allworth Press) The nuts and bolts of book promotion are covered for fiction, nonfiction, hardcover trade, mass market, and trade paperbacks. Readers are told how to tailor campaigns to reach differing consumer, trade, and special-interest audiences; how to pitch the media and arrange author tours with print, television, and radio interviews; and how to produce headline-grabbing promotional events. Never one to peddle theory, Blanco offers the benefit of her own hard-earned lessons.

Set against the backdrop of her experiences and adventures in the business, ranging from deflating disappointments and surprising challenges, to unexpected battles, and rewarding victories, she chronicles step-by-step exactly how to create, develop, and implement an innovative, newsworthy and effective publicity campaign. She provides an informative and authentic window into the world of publishing from the publicist's perspective, sharing deeply personal and empowering insights on how to maximize opportunities and transcend obstacles, including:

* The reason some initial print runs are low and why and how publicity can be a solution
* How to weave the publicizability factor into a manuscript as its being written in order to maximize media opportunities when the book is published
* Helpful tips on maintaining healthy relationships between authors and publishers
* How to turn budget restrictions into creative opportunities
* The most common mistakes authors and publicists make during the publicity process and how to avoid them.
* The biggest myth about book publicity held by many publishing professionals. Blanco also provides a comprehensive blueprint of the media, illuminating:
* The secret to forging lifelong, mutually fruitful alliances with influential members of the press
* The different types of media and their policies and procedures
* The media's criteria for deciding whether or not a story is news
* How the media functions from the inside
* The most common mistakes publicists and authors make and why it drives the media crazy
* How to intuit the truth behind the headlines and utilize it to your own publicity advantage.

Full of entertaining celebrity anecdotes, revealing greenroom stories, tales of life on the road with famous authors, and dramatic corporate turning points, The Complete Guide to Book Publicity is an unprecedented portrait of publishing's publicity machine. Some of the other topics Blanco covers include:

* The difference between publicity, public relations, promotions and advertising as they relate to books
* How the genre and format of a book affect the publicity strategy
* The role of the book publicist
* The publicity process from start to finish
* Different types of campaigns and how to choose the right one
* How to write the perfect press kit
* The art of media research
* The ins and outs of pitching media
* How to be an exciting media interview
* How to implement an author tour
* How to formulate a publicity budget
* Crisis management techniques
* When, why and how to hire an outside publicist or PR firm

 It's often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Nowhere is that more accurate than in the genesis for The Complete Guide to Book Publicity. Blanco, who teaches a course on the subject at New York University's Center for Publishing was told by the Dean that she had to provide a list of required reading for her students. She scoured the stores and Internet, but there was simply nothing published on book publicity itself. Hence, this book came into being.

 How to Publish Your Nonfiction Book by Rudy Shur (Square One Writer's Guide: SquareOne Publishers) So you have a great idea for a nonfiction book, but you don't know a thing about getting it published.

Where do you start? What should you send? Are some book publishers better than others? So many questions but where do you find the answers? The fact is that most budding writers are in the dark when it comes to the publishing world‑as are many published authors. How to Publish Your Nonfiction Book was written to provide you with an insiders knowledge of how publishing companies operate. It shows you where to find the publishers best suited to handle your book and, even better, it provides a proven step-by-step system designed to make those editors sit up and take notice of you and your project.

How to Publish Your Nonfiction Book starts off by helping you define your book's category, audience, and marketplace so that you know exactly where your book "fits in." Following this, you are guided in choosing the best publishing companies for your book, and writing a winning submission package. Then the Square One System tells you exactly how to submit your package so that you optimize`success, while minimizing your time, cost, and effort. Also included is a special section on contracts that will turn legalese into plain English, allowing you to be a savvy player in the contract game. Most important, this book will help you avoid the most common errors that so often prevent writers from reaching their goal.

Dreaming of seeing your book in print is easy. Getting it published can take some work. With How to Publish Your Nonfiction Book in hand, you have a proven system of getting your book from the desk drawer to the bookstore.

 Rudy Shur began his publishing career working for Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company and later William C. Brown Publishing Company. In 1976, he co-founded Avery Publishing Group, where he was responsible for the acquisition of over 1,000 nonfiction titles, many of which became bestsellers. Mr. Shur has lectured extensively on the topic of nonficfion publishing at numerous universities and colleges throughout the country. Currently, Mr. Shur heads the editorial program of Square One Publishers in Garden City Park, New York.

 Perhaps your poetry writing began as a means of private expression. Or maybe your verse was meant to share your feelings with that special someone. Now, however, your goals have changed, and you would like to get your poetry into print.

How to Publish Your Poetry: A Complete Guide to Finding the Right Publishers for Your Work by Helene Ciaravino (Square One Writer's Guide: SquareOne Publishers) Written for the poet who wishes to enjoy greater success in the world of publishing, How to Publish Your Poetry is a complete guide to breaking into the world of print poetry. The book begins by providing a window to the publishing world so that you can see the kinds of publications you should target. You will learn about great market resources for locating appropriate publishers, and you will learn the importance of defining your audience. Following this, the author helps you write a persuasive submission package, and presents a proven step‑by‑step system for sending your package out‑a system designed to maximize results. When the acceptance letters start rolling in, the author helps you select the publications that will help you meet your personal goals. You will even learn of the resources that can help you further develop your special gift.

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