Mastering the Business of Writing: A Leading Literary Agent Reveals the Secrets of Success [Paperback]

Richard Curtis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

Mastering the Business of Writing is an unusual opportunity for aspiring and established professionals to benefit from an insider's straightforward take on the business of being a writer. A leading literary agent covers approaching the various markets, negotiating successful contracts, benefitting from agents, handling legalities, and strategies and skills that will benefit writers in today's publishing market.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Curtis does a commendable job here, delving into the many facets of what agents do, and what the author needs to know about the entire business -- The National Writers Association

Even established writers will learn a few things about the book business -- Freelance Writer's Report

Insightful and entertaining. . . . Mastering the Business of Writing is an unusual and candid insider's perceptive insights on the business of being a writer -- The Midwest Book Review

Provides a practical business approach to handling the financial details of writing. Everything from approaching bookstore chain buyers to copyright issues is covered in this practical guide. A must for any seeking a professional writing career -- Reviewer's Bookwatch

About the Author

Richard Curtis has been a successful literary agent for more than thirty years and is former President of the Association of Author's Representatives. Currently the President of the Richard Curtis Literary Agency in New York, he is the author of How to Be Your Own Literary Agent and This Business of Publishing (Allworth Press), and a frequent writer about publishing whose articles have appeared in Publishers Weekly and other major magazines. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880559552
• ISBN-13: 978-1880559550
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,205,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly edited version of Curtis' 1989 Beyond the Bestselle, October 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Mastering the Business of Writing: A Leading Literary Agent Reveals the Secrets of Success (Paperback)

I found Curtis' 1989 'Beyond the Bestseller - A Literary Agent Takes You Inside the Book Business' interesting and instructive. 'Mastering the Business of Writing - A Leading Literary Agent Reveals the Secrets of Success' has a new name. There is not much else new about it, an index, several chapters deleted, that's about it. Look in the index for 'Oprah.' You won't find it. If you are an aspiring writer and you haven't read the earlier book, buy this one. If you have read the earlier book, save your money.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not a how-to-write book, September 29, 2004

By 

lady_of_mercia "lady_of_mercia" (Fairfax, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering the Business of Writing: A Leading Literary Agent Reveals the Secrets of Success (Paperback)

This is not a how-to-write book. It covers many facets of the business of publishing: how publishers operate and how a book gets published and into bookstores. It shows you the various people involved in the process, and a careful reader will come away with an understanding of the backstage activities of publishing. Unless you have worked in publishing you will probably not get such a perspective any other way. There is much here that writers should know.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What Curtis says is relevant, September 20, 2001

By 

mary wright (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering the Business of Writing: A Leading Literary Agent Reveals the Secrets of Success (Paperback)

Yet he does not say enough. He speaks well, on how to handle sympathy, dialogue, action, detail, and characterization. All in chapter 39. The only chapter I really learned from. Key word, learned. Can't give a bad review, if you learn something! Still, for the money, there are better books on writing.