The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Book [Paperback]

Mary Embree (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2000

From the germ of an idea through publication, everything aspiring authors need to know to produce a book manuscript of professional quality and see it through to the bookstore shelves is presented in this practical toolkit. A longtime literary consultant guides writers step-by-step through finding a hook that sells, basic writing and editing principles, properly formatting a manuscript, finding and communicating with the right agent, navigating copyright forms, writing book proposals and query letters, and deciphering a publishing contract. Tips on self-publishing and a resource list of professional publications and organizations is provided.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although a "book doctor" by trade and also the founder and president of Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN)Da nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities, resources, and networking support for people in the book industryDEmbree prefers to call herself simply a teacher. She has coached hundreds of writers successfully through the writing process, from idea to publication. "Toolkit" is actually an apt name for this little handbook, which covers each step of the writing process in short chapters: beginning ideas, planning and research, writing and editing fundamentals, manuscript submission, copyright, literary agents, contracts, and publishing in an electronic environment. SPAWN also maintains an award-winning web site that offers similar information. A useful gift for novice writers; libraries supporting writing groups and workshops may want multiple copies.DDenise S. Sticha, Seton Hill Coll., Greensburg, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

The approach I use in this book is unconventional. Maybe it's because my writing experience has ranged from educational materials to scripts for TV shows. While I give you the basic facts, I also stress the importance of making everything you write interesting, exciting, or compelling. In other words, it has to have a hook that pulls the reader into your book. I have kept this book small for a reason. We're all on information overload. I have attempted to boil down the information you need to its most important essence, giving you examples along the way, and making this a user-friendly guide.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Seaview Publishing (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970068204
• ISBN-13: 978-0970068200
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,625,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Embree, Biographical Information

Mary Embree is an author, editor, literary consultant, and public speaker. She teaches writing workshops and edits books and doctoral dissertations. Assisting authors with their book manuscripts from first to final draft, she often helps them self-publish. If they are seeking a publisher, she shows them how to write a query letter and prepare a book proposal.
Mary has written several books including "The Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book" and "The Birds and Bees of Words: A Guide to the Most Common Errors in Usage, Spelling, and Grammar." Both were published by Allworth Press and became Writer's Digest Book Club selections. The Third Edition of "Author's Toolkit" will be available in November 2010.
During the 1970s and 1980s she was a staff researcher and writer on the TV series "This is Your Life" and served as Assistant to the Producers on the hit TV sitcoms "Good Times," "One Day at a Time," and "Three's Company." She also wrote and produced a video documentary on a parolee musical band for the California Youth Authority.
Mary is the founder and President of the Board of Directors of the California Literary Arts Society (CLAS) a nonprofit organization that produces the annual Ventura Book Festival, conducts writing seminars, and publishes books by young people. Recently CLAS published a book by teenagers in Juvenile Hall who wrote about their lives before and during their incarceration. Their book is available on the CLAS website www.literaryarts-ca.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another indispensable book for writers., February 19, 2001

By 

Marvin H. Berenson (Beverly Hills, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Book (Paperback)

Having recently written and self-published a book I had become familiar with a number of excellent books on the subject of creating, writing and publishing books. Most writers who are interested in self-publishing would immediately buy and utilize Dan Poynter's indispensable book "The Self-Publishing Manual" for help and guidance. Now there is another book, which I would add to that small list of indispensable books on writing and publishing, Mary Embree's "The Author's Toolkit." In a brief 130 pages Mary Embree has put together more information and time saving advice then any other book I have read on the subject. Her editing ideas alone are sufficient reason to buy this book. I thought I fully understood the rules of writing but not until I read her ideas on this subject did I realize that my thoughts were at best fuzzy and at the worst incomplete. Also her ability to give you in a few short pages the needed information for copyrighting a book, making certain you understand how to negotiate with publishers, how to interpret contracts, and developing a proposal and query letter is nothing short of showing writing at its best. In her background, according to the biographical information on the back cover she has been a literary consultant and book doctor. I must emphasize that her book certainly indicates an exceptional skill at editing and writing in a clear, concise and effective manner. I can heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in writing or publishing. Marvin H.Berenson, M.D.,Author, "Think Yourself Smokeless."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review in 'Library Journal,' August 2000, February 16, 2001

By 

"seaviewbooks" (Seton Hill Coll., Greensburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Book (Paperback)

Although a 'book doctor' by trade ... Embree prefers to call herself simply a teacher. She has coached hundreds of writers successfully through the writing process, from idea to publication. "Toolkit" is actually an apt name for this little handbook, which covers each step of the writing process in short chapters: beginning ideas, planning and research, writing and editing fundamentals, manuscript submission, copyright, literary agents, contracts, and publishing in an electronic environment. A usefull gift for novice writers; libraries supporting writing groups and workshops may want multiple copies. --Denise S. Sticha

4.0 out of 5 stars Delivers what it promises: practical help(not a fancy index), February 27, 2002

By 

Kimn Gollnick "writermom" (Formerly of Seattle, now in Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Book (Paperback)

I found THE AUTHOR'S TOOLKIT in my public library, and when I caught myself jotting down two pages of notes from Mary Embree's advice, I realized this book is worth purchasing for my reference shelf. One such practical hint which I teach my writing students (while reminding myself of the same) is this: "Don't worry if you can't figure out what that first page, first sentence should be. You don't have to know that now. You might find after you have written 15 chapters that your book really starts at Chapter 5 and you can throw away Chapters One, Two, Three, and Four or plug them in somewhere else." (p.8) Who cares whether this book includes an index or not? It's full of practical, encouraging, direct advice.

"You may write for the joy of it. But the act of writing is not complete in itself. It has its end in its audience."
--Flannery O'Connor