Customer Reviews

The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels

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One glance at a bookstore will confirm there's a plethora of how-to books relating to every aspect of writing, but there's only a handful of authoritative books which address the critical issues of writing as a business.

The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels is one of them. Produced by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the book features 26 chapters from 26 ASJA members ~ all seasoned, working writers and experts in their fields.
 
The guide presents a great variety of opinions on a wide range of topics of value to freelance writers, including establishing a freelance business, self promotion, research tools, writing for the Web, contracts, taxes and deductions, and working with editors and agents.

Each chapter contains the latest information, relevant anecdotes from the contributor's life and straight-forward advice on how to succeed in business as a writer. The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing comprises the following chapters:

* Freelance Writing Today ~ and Tomorrow by Jim Morrison
* Planning a Writing Business by Erik Sherman
* The Writer's Office and Tools by Samuel Greengard
* The Mystery of Ideas by Jack El-Hai
* Seven Secrets of a Successful Magazine Query by Lisa Collier Cool
* How to Sell a Book by Sherry Suib Cohen
* Writing for the Web by Lisa Iannucci
* Why Literary Agents Need You More Than Ever ~ And How to Get the Agent You Need by Michael Larsen, AAR
* Research: Finding the Right Stuff by Minda Zetlin and Steve Weinberg
* How to Find Experts by Estelle Sobell
* Writer-Editor Relations by Megan McMorris
* Collaborations: The Pleasures and Perils of Shared Bylines by Sarah Wernick
* The Serendipity of Specialization by Claire Walter
* Self Publishing: Alternatives for Getting Books into Print by Marilyn and Tom Ross
* Networking by Sandra E. Lamb
* This Pen for Hire: Leveraging Your Skills by Anita Bartholomew
* Op-Eds and Essays: Leveraging Your Knowledge by Larry Atkins
* Reprints, Re-Slants, and Other Ways to Resell Your Work by Kelly James-Enger
* Making Pictures by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
* Employing a Writing Assistant by Lester A. Picker
* Contracts: Protecting Your Writers' Rights by Richard A. Marini
* Creating Brand You : Promoting Yourself and Your Work by Jennifer Pirtle
* Writers and the Law by Sallie Randolph and Timothy Perrin
* Taxes and Deductions by Julian Block
* Forays and Fiction by Kathryn Lance
* Moving to Full-Time Freelancing: It's Not a Leap by Robert Bittner
* Appendix: Tips from the Pros
 
As you can see, this anthology turned reference book covers a lot of territory and addresses all of the major business issues facing professional writers today. Most notable are chapters, 'Research: Finding the Right Stuff' and 'How to Find Experts' which offer helpful hints and online links for researching and tracking down experts. I also particularly enjoyed the chapters on contracts, working with agents and self-promotion as a 'brand'.

That's the wonderful thing about The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing ~ it addresses such a wide range of specialist areas that there's something in it for every writer working in any genre. And one of the surprise sections is the Appendix which features a variety of quick but insightful comments from other professional writers. They share their trade secrets, everything from techniques for improving their craft to increasing productivity and profitability.

While the bulk of the material is aimed at journalists and non-fiction writers (since these writers make up the bulk of ASJA's membership), much of the information and advice can be applied by all writers to improve their skills and their business. If you're serious about writing, read this book and have a pen handy.
 
-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

If you do freelance writing, you'll like this book... The ASJA Guide To Freelance Writing, edited by Timothy Harper. This book is a compilation of subject chapters written by a number of successful freelancers. Each chapter is around seven to twelve pages, and condenses down a wealth of information into a quick reference for amateurs and professionals alike. The chapters include the following (not a complete list): Planning A Writing Business; The Writer's Office And Tools; Seven Secrets Of A Successful Magazine Query; Research: Finding The Right Stuff; Writer-Editor Relations; This Pen For Hire: Leveraging Your Skills; and Writers And The Law.

This is one of those unusual books where the subject matter has to be practiced during the writing of the book. Each of these chapters could easily be viewed as a freelance writing assignment for each author. Because of the experts that have been chosen for each chapter, you get top-level advice that is an example of how freelance writing should be done. I highly recommend this book...

Compiled from members of the prestigious American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), the table of contents from this guide reads like a who's who in the freelance world.

From Lisa Collier Cool, author of How to Write Irresistible Query Letters, you'll learn the seven secrets of a successful magazine query. Ready, Aim, Specialize! author, Kelly James-Enger, explains reprints, reslants and reselling. The self-publishing gurus, Tom and Marilyn Ross, explain the ins and outs of independent publishing.

Even tax-guru, Julian Block, wrote a chapter on taxes and deductions.

The Guide is written by writers who make their living at writing. You are brought into their personal world. Much like sitting down with them over a cup of coffee, you get a first-hand account of their secrets to success.

Some of my favorite parts of this book include: the appendix with short tips from the pros, the bios of the different contributors with links to their web sites, and the unique topics like networking and how to hire an assistant.

Perfect for new freelance writers, The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing gives the ins and out of successful freelance writing.

I purchased two books, one of them was full of generic non-specific advice, the other thorough and informative, crammed with detailed pointers covering every aspect of a freelance career: The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing.

26 Chapters written by 26 top freelancers - the value of their personal insight and knowledge cannot be downplayed. I read this book front to back in days, and refer back to it constantly. Unlike other gimmicky efforts, this book is truly an invaluable resource for beginners and professionals alike.

Twenty-six individual essays -- from the tools and comforts you need in your writing office to marketing yourself to editors and clients -- are woven together to provide newbie writers and experienced journalists with ideas, tools and thoughts about the business of writing. The Appendix was my favorite chapter with plenty of tips and tricks from ASJA members and their personal anecdotes. It's one of those books you'll pull down from the shelf to re-read every couple of years. Enjoyed it immensely!

This book has exceeded my expectations. Usually when purchasing an anthology you get crumbs of information, but rarely enough to actually develop and execute a plan. I'm grateful for this guide! Not only does it break down 26 crucial areas of a freelance business in only 360 pages, it is written by those who've tasted many years of success. The experts don't sugarcoat, or offer false hope ... they are very realistic in their approach. The book also provides countless resources to help one research articles, locate experts and writing markets, make contacts, contracts, submit photos and so much more. After reading this book, I am well on my way to building an at-home business that works!

Instead of just setting down a list of dos and don'ts, the ASJA guide presents a series of how-to essays by published authors that include how to work through the different aspects and challenges of freelance writing. This format allows for experience to provide guidance. I like to read about success stories and examples of what worked and what didn't work. I have used it many times to figure out different aspects of our freelance writing business.

If you take the information in this book and study each chapter, it's like going to a high quality professional writers conference. You can learn about a variety of areas of nonfiction writing from veteran much-published writers.

If you can only get one how-to book on nonfiction writing, get this one.

The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing edited by Timothy Harper, is an amazing collection of priceless tips from many of the most successful freelancers in the United States. American Society of Journalists and Authors is a highly esteemed association of published writers, many of whom derive their total income from their "pens." Instead of carefully guarding the practices and methods that have made them successful, twenty-eight of these writers have written a chapter of the book, each with a different focus for writing success: from office tools to methods of writing, gathering ideas, selling to each type of media, researching, finding help, law, taxes, and so much more. The Appendix is also a wealth of important nuggets of wisdom and tips from many more ASJA members. As a long-time member myself and a journalist with over 30 years' experience, I thought I might not need the book, but I have found prized helps and new ideas on every page of this wonderful book. It is now my office reference, like friends and teachers gathered around me all wishing me success in my writing endeavors. This is the tool you need if you ever want to be a published writer, and even if you have been a published author for years.

My biggest concern about this terrific overview is that it is now terribly outdated in places. Sections having to do with electronic publishing, electronic research, PC hardware/software, electronic self publishing, POD, etc. are 10 years old and of questionable value now.