Review: Helpful look at the art and business of writing
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2013
As a writer, I really liked this book. Rather than just addressing the mechanics of writing, it included plenty of advice on honing your craft... and more importantly, on the psychology of writing -- including how to deal with self-doubt and naysayers. For anyone who's ever tried writing for profit, you know these negative influence can seep in. So offering some pretty cool advice on overcoming the negative influences was definitely welcome.The quotes were fun, like, "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." (Samuel Johnson)The author addressed things like "pricing theory," which I think many authors don't fully understand. This is an issue of positioning your books against other books available, and how you want yourself to be considered (Wal-Mart vs Target vs Nordstrom). This dovetails nicely with the discussion about your own self image, and how your own fear may be preventing you from pricing and positioning your book properly.The book lists and explains some of the best moneymaking niches for both non-fiction and fiction writers, and ends with details on how to build your business plan for the success of your book... which is especially useful if you're trying to build a career and business in writing.I wish more resources were included for where to earn money as a writer. But otherwise, if you want to achieve success with both the art and business of writing, this book can definitely be helpful.