Synopses & Reviews
This exciting book takes you through all aspects of what it takes to be a professional writer in the publishing and media industries today. Like all jobs, the role of the writer has evolved over recent years. Technology has made things quicker and easier, royalty payments have changed (mostly downwards) and the potential markets in which writers in every genre can sell their work have exploded exponentially in number. Now is a good time to be a writer and the professionals who are already out there are reaping the benefits of the new opportunities. It's a highly competitive industry to break into, but that's no reason not to give it a try. There will always be a hunger for new literary voices, new ideas and new talents. The author founded a publishing company in 1990 and has since published hundreds of books. He has also written dozens of books and written for other media including television, radio, stage and film. It's given him a broad experience as a writer in the various aspects of the writing business. In particular, he has been able to see submissions from over 10,000 writers (that's about 3 per working day on average) that he chose not to publish. That's right: he's rejected 10,000 manuscripts. Sometimes reluctantly, sometimes with relief, or shock, or despair or frustration. But always for a reason. He doesn't like to reject a manuscript. No publisher does. It gives them no pleasure - indeed, it's finding that rare diamond of a book in the slush pile that they get excited about (among other things, of course). That's why he wrote How to be a Writer: to explain the essential difference between the authors who get rejected, time after time, and those who end up on a short listfor further consideration and ultimately get accepted. In fact the difference isn't a vast, uncrossable gulf between amateurs and professionals. It's something that any moderately competent writer can fix with the simple ten stage plan outlined in this book. Together with industry secrets and insider tips designed to give any writer a leg-up the ladder of success, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to see their name in print, on TV or the big screen, or mentioned on the radio. There are some harsh truths exposed in this book and many myths will be shattered. The reality of writing is not what many people believe it to be. Some of these chapters may surprise or disappoint you. The aim in revealing the secrets of the writing game is not to destroy your ambitions and dreams, but to empower you to be able to achieve them. Use this book as a reality check before embarking on a career as a writer. Use it to inspire you to achieve high standards, greatness and professionalism. Without those you have nothing. With them you can conquer the literary world.
Synopsis
This exciting book takes you through all aspects of what it takes to be a professional writer in the publishing and media industries today. Like all jobs, the role of the writer has evolved over recent years. Technology has made things quicker and easier, royalty payments have changed (mostly downwards) and the potential markets in which writers in every genre can sell their work have exploded exponentially in number. Now is a good time to be a writer and the professionals who are already out there are reaping the benefits of the new opportunities. It's a highly competitive industry to break into, but that's no reason not to give it a try. There will always be a hunger for new literary voices, new ideas and new talents. The author founded a publishing company in 1990 and has since published hundreds of books. He has also written dozens of books and written for other media including television, radio, stage and film. It's given him a broad experience as a writer in the various aspects of the writing business. In particular, he has been able to see submissions from over 10,000 writers (that's about 3 per working day on average) that he chose not to publish. That's right: he's rejected 10,000 manuscripts. Sometimes reluctantly, sometimes with relief, or shock, or despair or frustration. But always for a reason. He doesn't like to reject a manuscript. No publisher does. It gives them no pleasure - indeed, it's finding that rare diamond of a book in the slush pile that they get excited about (among other things, of course). That's why he wrote How to be a Writer: to explain the essential difference between the authors who get rejected, time after time, and those who end up on a short list for further consideration and ultimately get accepted. In fact the difference isn't a vast, uncrossable gulf between amateurs and professionals. It's something that any moderately competent writer can fix with the simple ten stage plan outlined in this book. Together with industry s
Synopsis
A writer is someone who writes. It sounds obvious, but many people who call themselves writers don't produce enough words in a year to fill a postcard. Other writers churn out thousands of words but never sell their work. This book tackles both problems: it gets you writing, easily and painlessly guiding you through the dreaded "writer's block," and it divulges industry secrets that will help you to raise the quality of your work to a professional level. Writing is a business like any other. Successful writers know the rules and conventions that make their work stand out from the rest of the "slush pile"—rules Stewart Ferris now reveals in How to be a Writer that will help launch your writing career.
Synopsis
In this updated and expanded edition, Stewart Ferris uses his industry know-how to give you all the tips, tricks, and inside knowledge one needs to become a successful writer, covering all types of writing from books to scripts and beyond This accessible and informative guide is packed with advice to equip writers with the skills they need to launch a writing career including using their "voice" as their USP, learning to love criticism, surprising solutions to writer's block, avoiding submission blunders, and using e-publishing to sell work. This book tackles both problems: it gets one writing, easily and painlessly guiding them through the process and divulges industry secrets that will help raise the quality of one's work to a professional level.
About the Author
Stewart Ferris is the author of a number of comedy books, including Don't Lean Out the Window, The Little Book of Chat-up Lines, and Tish and Pish.