Customer Reviews

The 30-Minute Writer

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I'm a freelance journalist who's been writing for 10 years. I borrowed this book from the library when I'd hit a bit of a slump. I ended up reading the book cover to cover, but in multiple short sittings (it's hard to stay still and read when you suddenly have all these ideas for articles!). I re-borrowed the book several times over the next six months (just to see if I'd get bored with it as I often do with how-to books).
I finally bought a copy. I flip through it in the mornings with my coffee to get the juices flowing. Emerson's tone is conversational and loaded with practical advice. She doesn't fill her copy with grand promises and dollar signs. What you sell depends on what you write. But if you enjoy writing, even as a recreational exercise (scrapbooks, websites), this book will help you push limits you didn't realise you'd set yourself.
Business is up like you wouldn't believe.
'Nuff said.

I was hoping that this writer had produced an updated version of her original 1993 book. No such luck.
The book does some have interesting ideas for article writers, but beware. She advises that you have plenty of stamps and envelopes (!), do research in the library, and produce neat copies of all your submissions.
If you can mentally update for yourself, this dinosaur might spark a few good writing ideas. But the world that existed when Emerson's advice was first written is long, long gone!