Customer Reviews

Sally Stuart's Guide to Getting Published (Reference/Literary)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reluctantly, I bought Sally Stuart's Guide to Getting Published. I've read so many bad books about writing that I didn't want to feel I had wasted my money. Cautiously, I began to read it-prepared for a lot of words and little substance. Amazingly, I kept reading. This book exceeded my expectations. It's practical, well written, substantive, and Sally Stuart knows what she's writing about. This book could easily be used as an inexpensive self-study course on getting published. I hope this book sells a million copies.

This book is packed full of helpful information for aspiring writers from all venues. Ms. Stuart covers everything, from good writing habits to organizing submissions. The information is concise and easily referenced. It's practical advice is not only helpful, but encouraging as well.

As an acquisitions editor for a book publisher and a former magazine editor, I know the challenges for writers to get published. It involves hard work for anyone. I find way too many people are shooting out their work without seasoned advice on how to get published. Sally Stuart has cut through the haze with this well-crafted book.

If you are wondering anything from how to get ideas to how to determine if you are a writer, the topic is covered in the Getting Started section. In the basics section, you will examine format, editor-author relationships and rejection. Also this book covers copyrights, practical matters like how to set up your office (paper and electronic) plus answers the question when to go full-time or part-time. Also self-discipline and management issues are addressed. Finally specific sections emphasize marketing, writing for periodicals or books.

Every section of this book is packed with experienced wisdom such as, "What's the secret to my persistence? Early on I learned that rejection happens...And rejection should not stop you from submitting manuscripts." Or regarding the question of part-time or full-time, "Work hard, but be patient. The average business takes from 5 to 8 years to get off the ground and only achieves real financial success at about ten years. There's no reason to expect a writing career to blossom much faster."

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned writer, you can profit from this book.

One of the library books I've had around for awhile is Sally Stuart's Guide To Getting Published by, who else, Sally Stuart. I finished reading it over the last couple of days, and it's a so-so book. If you're just getting into the writing field, this would be a decent concise guide to many of the things you need to know for your writing career... getting started, the basics, the business of writing, and so on. If you've been writing (and getting published) for awhile or if you've read a number of other books on the same subject, you probably won't find any new ground covered here.

Also, Stuart is the author of the Christian Writers' Market Guide, and this book is meant to be somewhat of a companion piece to the Market Guide. As a result, you'll see more references to the religious writing market than you would normally see in a book on writing. It's not intrusive and the core information is still valid, but just be aware it's there if that's something that offends you.

Overall, not a bad book for those starting to explore the field, but not much to offer those who have "been there, done that".