How I Got Published: Famous Authors Tell You in Their Own Words [Paperback]

Ray White (Author), Duane Lindsay (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2007

What does it take to go from unknown hopeful to published author?

Writing is a lonely occupation where rejection is the norm, and learning about the early hardships of today's best-selling authors can provide vital reassurance (and comic relief) to aspiring authors. These compelling stories of perseverance and publication will nurture your dreams until you succeed. Inside you'll find:

• How more than eighty authors launched a successful career–in their own words. Many of these stories appear in this book for the very first time, while others are famous and have been passed down as literary legend.
  
  
• Ten "absolute" rules to follow for publishing success, gleaned from an analysis of more than fifty "how to get published" books.
  
  
• Inspiration and instruction that will help you realize your publishing dreams.

How I Got Published focuses on the scary and exciting time when writers are poised to jump before they discover if they can fly–the days when a writer has nothing but a manuscript or an idea or a story, and a desire to get it published.

Everybody loves a success story, and this book will leave you feeling energized and upbeat about finding your way. For resources, updates, and news visit: www.HowIGotPublished.com.

Contributors include:


Clive Cussler, Gayle Lynds, David Brin, J.A. Jance, F. Paul Wilson, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Christopher Moore, Gillian Roberts, Greg Bear, John Lescroart, Marian Keyes, David Morrell, M.J. Rose, Stephen White, Karen Rose Smith, Stephen Coonts, and dozens of others.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Duane Lindsay is a published songwriter, a singer and cracker-jack guitar player who has performed professionally—the last effort being the Miami Book Fair with the Rock Bottom Remainders. It's this last connection that sets the stage for How I Got Published. Duane has the ability to reach an immense group of well-known authors.

Ray White is a Louis L'Amour type storyteller and an avid and eclectic reader. He's an entertaining public speaker who has taught classes and seminars on everything from writing to solar system design to tracking wounded bears through willow thickets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books (September 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582975108
• ISBN-13: 978-1582975108
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,302,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars solid message, repetitive stories, February 5, 2008

By 

a reader (out West) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Got Published: Famous Authors Tell You in Their Own Words (Paperback)

My main problem with this book is its lack of diversity. Nearly every author is a mystery or thriller writer, most of whom got their first book published in the last couple years. Not only would I have liked to see some non-fiction writers tell their story (surely non-fiction writers struggle with finding a publisher), but I would've liked to have seen authors from other English-speaking countries (is the process the same as in the US?) and from other fields of fiction; as well as stories from authors who have been published for more than a year or two. But since I'm not a heavy fiction reader, maybe the field of fiction is dominated by mystery/thriller newcomers and I'm just not aware of it.

Because of the sameness of the stories, finishing the book was a real struggle for me. I really could've done without the last 200 pages. It was just more of the same with different names attached.

On the plus side, the message of "don't give up" is very clear and I enjoyed the 10-point submission discussion provided by the two editors, sprinkled throughout the book and summarized. It wasn't really new information, but concise and worth recommending to aspiring writers.

I LOVED Clive Cussler's story. It was the only stand-out in the whole book. I was hoping for more interesting stories like his, but it was not to be.

The disdain these authors have for self-publishing is laughable (except for MJ Rose, of course). The humiliating lengths some of these people went through just to able to say "A publishing house paid for my work" would be reason enough for any sane person to self-publish. Their unexamined prejudices are probably due in part to the explosion of POD subsidy companies. But, everyone has to look down on someone.

One author questions anyone who wants a "too-controversial" book published. I would've liked to have read the story of someone who DID publish a controversial work. There was such a boring uniformity to the stories in this book.

Overall, it was not as inspiring as I hoped it would be. Not that I was hoping for stories of luck, but I was craving a variety of experiences.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both an inspirational text and a handy guidebook, November 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Got Published: Famous Authors Tell You in Their Own Words (Paperback)

How I Got Published: Famous Authors Tell You in Their Own Words is an anthology of true anecdotes from a wide variety of successful authors telling how they managed to break into the business and launch a successful writing career, all in their own words. Editors Ray White and Duane Lindsay have also peppered How I Got Published with general tips, tricks, and techniques for would-be authors, including ten "absolute" rules to follow for publishing success. From the importance of sheer bloody-minded stubbornness, to making connections with literary agents and editors, to the value of joining a critique group, how to not take rejections personally, and much more, How I Got Published is both an inspirational text and a handy guidebook to how breaking into the publishing world really works.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Encouragement for Fiction Writers, November 7, 2010

By 

Rebecca (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Got Published: Famous Authors Tell You in Their Own Words (Paperback)

I bought this book awhile back, and just a few weeks ago bought another copy as a gift for a friend who's been writing her book while raising two kids under five and needed a little encouragement. This collection of essays filled with stories of how writers saw their work published is a fun and inspirational read - you can pick it up and put it down as needed. I enjoyed it.

My favorite contributor? Clive Cussler.

I didn't give it five stars for two reasons. First, it does ignore nonfiction work -- in fact, this is truly a collection of tales on how mystery and thriller writers were published. If you're a whistleblower writing an expose, then you might be disappointed. Another thing: the discussion revolves around traditional print publishing, making the book seem somewhat dated since we're seeing successful authors making significant profits with electronic publishing (James Patterson and Steig Lawson each breaking $1 million in ebooks sales thus far in 2010).

- Reba Kennedy