Customer Reviews

Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal: How to Have a Great Life as a Freelance Writer

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Clausen's book is excellent. It is both entertaining and informative.

Every chapter contains a bit of wisdom in the writing field and a small personal story that tugs the reader along for the ride. I've found most "How-To" books dull and unimpressive. Clausen's book is neither. I was entranced from the opening to the end.

As a comparison, I've read "Stephen King's On Writing" this month as well, and Clausen's book, was far more entertaining and informative. Where King would include endless pages of self-dramatizing autobiography, Clausen would wax poetic with stories about writers, which actually relate to the message he is trying to convey in each chapter.

It is not often that I can pick up a non-fiction book and laugh until I fall out of my chair, and learn something in the process. Clausen's book accomplished this feat.

I read every how-to book for writers I can get my hands on, and this is the most entertaining I've ever read.If you are a freelance writer or want to be one, you'll find inspiration, motivation, sensible advice, and great ideas here. Highly recommended.

John Clausen's book is helpful only to those would-be freelance writers who have never read one single issue of Writer's Digest magazine. He offers pablum instead of honest to goodness advice.

While I don't doubt Clausen's ability to spin a good tale, this is supposed to be a book that gives how-to's. But every time he gets into waters where you anticipate solid advice, he breaks into another chorus of "I know this guy who made good money doing..."

If the rating were based on story-telling ability, Clausen would get five stars. But if you are looking for solid, firm advice that can really help you earn money, this book is practically worthless.

Save yourself the money and buy a copy of Writer's Market instead. You won't regret it.

Other books have that same message: "You CAN get into freelance writing."

I've read many of those. A few chapters in and you get to their "easy" how-to's: Why, you simply open up the ol' Rolodex and start contacting all those folks you met during your days as a staff writer at [insert major magazine title here]. Yeah. Easy.

What makes this book different is that John Clausen does NOT assume that the editor of Family Circle or Sports Illustrated are old work buddies you can just call up for a favor.

Yet he still makes freelancing look accessible and manageable instead of daunting. and his writing style is far more user-friendly than most. (I'd hate to have to count how many 'encouraging' books on writing start with chapter after chapter of DIScouragement first!)

If you're really serious - and you're really scared (or even just a little clueless on where to start) - this is the book you should read FIRST.

John Clausen, a North Dakota farm boy whose earlier careers also included mobile home delivery man and carnival barker, found his calling as a freelance writer, and has become one of the best in the business. His book is as much a freewheeling autobiography as it is a blueprint for success as a writer -- in advertising, direct mail, magazine features, public relations, and marketing/consulting. Clearly this is a profession that can be tailored to an individual's talents and preferences. For most freelancer wannabes, the hardest part is gaining the confidence to make the commitment. That is where this book works best --- Clausen gives you the motivation to get up off your duff and do it: you'll work for yourself, you'll make as much money as your drive permits, and you'll have time to stop and smell the coffee. A great read.

I am familiar with John Clausen as a writer of direct mail. I also appreciate anyone who is willing to share their expertise in the business of writing.

But the book was too fragmented for my tastes.

Distracting anecdotes and testimonials disrupt the flow of the book making it a hard read. Also, Clausen does not provide real "meat" when it comes to the how-to's. Too much of the book is dedicated to his acquaintances--others and how they made it-- without tying their experience into real, credible suggestions for the budding writer to use.

I would recommend Bly or Bowerman for a better read, and for better "hands-on" and "how-to-do-it" information.

I'm an English major at the University of Texas at Austin with a
journalism background. I have to thank John Clausen for writing "Too Nervous To Steal...". Despite my predeliction towards writing of all sorts, I thought I would only be able to make money from it as a full time journalist or (as my hope is) as a novelist. My mother, a successful librarian, offered a copy of this book to me that some patron had donated but the library did not intend to stock. I read it on a three hour trip to Ingelside Naval Station (I'm also a midshipman in the NROTC program) on Saturday. By yesterday morning I had an interview with a client, a law firm. Using the principles Mr. Clausen outlined in his book, I obtained my first assignment and was paid last night when I turned the assignment in.

Without his book, I would not have known where to go to obtain the client nor how to negotiate during the interview. The law firm intends to use me again for other assignments in several categories. Last week I was living on ramen and one dollar worth of gas in my tank. This week I have a steady client and options for further expansion. I also was informed that I won an essay contest worth a small amount of cash. Suffice to say, it's nice to see my writing make the account balance go up, rather than the other direction.

I only regret that I was not the individual who purchased the book originally. I'd consider it an investment to see that Mr. Clausen made enough to continue in his ability to help new freelance writers.

If you are an aspiring freelance writer, this is the book you should have. Get it. John Clausen has crystallized his 20+ years of experience into this incredibly entertaining and informative book.

He guides you around the quicksand of "breaking and entering" into the world of freelance writing and, refreshingly, doesn't hold the attitude that writing is a reverent occupation that should be treated with worship and 12 hour days. Mr. Clausen's book shows you how to get ideas, where to pitch them and how to actually make money doing something you love.

I received this book for Christmas and have kissed my wife multiple times for it! Get your wife to buy a copy for you and you'll have the same experience!

John Clausen is a wonderful thinker and writer and this book abounds in creative ideas on how to have fun and make money. Even if you're not a free-lancer, as I am not, I recommend this book for the pleasure of observing a resourceful mind at work, a wonderfully affable sense of humor, and tons of inspiration to perk you up for any task that seems overwhelming.

John Clausen is the "Bridget Jones" of the writing world. Wedged in the midst of Clausen's stories that'll make you laugh out loud is some of the greatest and most practical advice I've ever seen in a writing book. Your job should be fun. And your dreams are doable. There's a ton of writing books on the shelf, but this is the one to get whether you're a rank beginner contemplating making the plunge into freelance writing as a career, or for those like me who have been here for a while and seriously in need of Continuing Education. If you buy one book this year, buy this one. Then go out and get another copy for a friend.