The Publish It Yourself Handbook: Literary Tradition and How-To (Fourth Revised Edition) [Deluxe Edition] [Paperback]

Bill Henderson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1888889039 | ISBN-13: 978-1888889031 | Publication Date: November 17, 1998 | Edition: Fourth Revised Edition

Revised and updated, here is the fourth edition of the original guide that inspired thousands of writers to publish without commercial publishers and sparked the small-press revolution.

Issued in 1973 the first title from Pushcart Press—this handbook, through testimonies, suggestions, and the lessons of literary history, instructs authors on do-it-yourself publication without the assistance of commercial or vanity publishers. It has been in print for almost twenty-five years, and is constantly consulted by writers. For the first edition, Publishers Weekly commented: "Henderson has ranged the field of do-it-yourself publishing in creating an authentic anthology of articles describing the nuts and bolts processes, the hazards and personal woes and rewards of the game. Included are the revelations by the famous: Anaïs Nin handprinting her first two books; Leonard and Virginia Woolf on the Hogarth Press; the late Alan Swallow's beginnings; Stewart Brand on the Whole Earth Catalog and more than a score of lesser-known people who've published their own (and others') poems, novels, craftbooks, cookbooks, and even prison anthologies. Enlightening, varied, candid, and zippily illustrated, including an excellent chapter of how-to tips. Illustrated

Editorial Reviews

Review

"My advice--after some near-20 years as editor of newspaper and television book review columns--to and author who has been turned down by several reputable publishers with some indications that he or she has talent but no "marketability"--is to read this handbook. -- Boston Herald Traveler, Albert Duhamel

By now a classic, this collection of spirited essays by self-publishers and their supporters should serve to embolden would-be self-publishers and to entertain them and inform readers of all sorts. The brief how-to section is superb, and rich in specifics. -- from "How to Get Happily Published" by Judith Appelbaum and Nancy Evans

Strongly recommended. -- New York Times Book Review

This book is a joy. -- Freelancer Newsletter

About the Author

Bill Henderson is the founder and editor of the Pushcart Prize. He received the 2006 National Book Critic Circle’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Poets & Writers / Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award. He is also the author of several memoirs, including All My Dogs: A Life. The founder of the Lead Pencil Club, Henderson lives in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 346 pages
• Publisher: Pushcart Press; Fourth Revised Edition edition (November 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888889039
• ISBN-13: 978-1888889031
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,910,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is no "how-to" book, August 24, 1999

By 

Caren Goodrich "caren" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Publish It Yourself Handbook: Literary Tradition and How-To (Fourth Revised Edition) (Paperback)

I was fooled by the title of this book. I thought it would have some useful information on how to self publish, but this is no "handbook". Instead, it is a book of anecdotes (circa 1970s) of other people's "personal woes" and what led them to become self publishers. If a person is full of self doubt and in need of being "emboldened", they might be better served to read one of Anthony Robbins' self-help books to muster up some courage. If you really want to self-publish, skip this book and read Dan Poynter's informative self publishing book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars EXPERIENCES IN SELF-PUBLISHING, July 9, 2001

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Publish It Yourself Handbook: Literary Tradition and How-To (Fourth Revised Edition) (Paperback)

What makes an author want to self-publish his/her own book rather than following the conventional methods for publication? The answer to that question is found in this splendid book where authors share their experiences in the self-publishing arena. This 25th anniversary edition of the classic never loses the flavor of the original as it explores the motivations of those writers who said the hell with commercial publishers.

Contained in the book is an interesting history of self-publishing in the United States from Thomas Paine through Ernest Callenbach (author of Ecotopia). After the introduction, the authors tell their stories about their foray into the arena. Their reasons are diverse as the works that they have written. Some stuck with self-publishing throughout their careers while others entered it briefly only to go back to commercial publishers. See the reasons why they felt the need to self-publish as well as why some of them returned to the commercial arena.

I enjoyed reading about their experiences and would encourage anyone seeking to self-publish to get their source of inspiration from this book. I must caution you that this is NOT a how to book. The title is misleading and the so called updated how-to tips are a joke. I was disappointed in finding out that this wasn't a how-to book but it was an enjoyable read.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Can't Judge This Book By It's Cover, July 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Publish It Yourself Handbook: Literary Tradition and How-To (Fourth Revised Edition) (Paperback)

This book has a misleading title. It is not really a handbook,except in that it may be held with your hands. The image it sends isthat it is a self publishing manual, like Dan Poynter and others have written. It's not, so don't be fooled.

This book is a collection of stories about self publishers and self published works. At that, I found it to be interesting, and a worthwhile read. But if you are expecting it to be something else you may well be disappointed.

Imagine buying a Repair Your Own Car Handbook, and finding it to only contain stories of others who have repaired their cars. The misleading title scenario here is essentially the same.