One glance at a bookstore will confirm there's a plethora of how-to books relating to every aspect of writing, but there's only a handful of authoritative books which address the critical issues of writing as a business.
The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels is one of them. Produced by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the book features 26 chapters from 26 ASJA members ~ all seasoned, working writers and experts in their fields.
The guide presents a great variety of opinions on a wide range of topics of value to freelance writers, including establishing a freelance business, self promotion, research tools, writing for the Web, contracts, taxes and deductions, and working with editors and agents.
Each chapter contains the latest information, relevant anecdotes from the contributor's life and straight-forward advice on how to succeed in business as a writer. The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing comprises the following chapters:
* Freelance Writing Today ~ and Tomorrow by Jim Morrison
* Planning a Writing Business by Erik Sherman
* The Writer's Office and Tools by Samuel Greengard
* The Mystery of Ideas by Jack El-Hai
* Seven Secrets of a Successful Magazine Query by Lisa Collier Cool
* How to Sell a Book by Sherry Suib Cohen
* Writing for the Web by Lisa Iannucci
* Why Literary Agents Need You More Than Ever ~ And How to Get the Agent You Need by Michael Larsen, AAR
* Research: Finding the Right Stuff by Minda Zetlin and Steve Weinberg
* How to Find Experts by Estelle Sobell
* Writer-Editor Relations by Megan McMorris
* Collaborations: The Pleasures and Perils of Shared Bylines by Sarah Wernick
* The Serendipity of Specialization by Claire Walter
* Self Publishing: Alternatives for Getting Books into Print by Marilyn and Tom Ross
* Networking by Sandra E. Lamb
* This Pen for Hire: Leveraging Your Skills by Anita Bartholomew
* Op-Eds and Essays: Leveraging Your Knowledge by Larry Atkins
* Reprints, Re-Slants, and Other Ways to Resell Your Work by Kelly James-Enger
* Making Pictures by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
* Employing a Writing Assistant by Lester A. Picker
* Contracts: Protecting Your Writers' Rights by Richard A. Marini
* Creating Brand You : Promoting Yourself and Your Work by Jennifer Pirtle
* Writers and the Law by Sallie Randolph and Timothy Perrin
* Taxes and Deductions by Julian Block
* Forays and Fiction by Kathryn Lance
* Moving to Full-Time Freelancing: It's Not a Leap by Robert Bittner
* Appendix: Tips from the Pros
As you can see, this anthology turned reference book covers a lot of territory and addresses all of the major business issues facing professional writers today. Most notable are chapters, 'Research: Finding the Right Stuff' and 'How to Find Experts' which offer helpful hints and online links for researching and tracking down experts. I also particularly enjoyed the chapters on contracts, working with agents and self-promotion as a 'brand'.
That's the wonderful thing about The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing ~ it addresses such a wide range of specialist areas that there's something in it for every writer working in any genre. And one of the surprise sections is the Appendix which features a variety of quick but insightful comments from other professional writers. They share their trade secrets, everything from techniques for improving their craft to increasing productivity and profitability.
While the bulk of the material is aimed at journalists and non-fiction writers (since these writers make up the bulk of ASJA's membership), much of the information and advice can be applied by all writers to improve their skills and their business. If you're serious about writing, read this book and have a pen handy.
-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com
