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59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book That Delivers On the Promise Of Its Title, December 30, 2009
This review is from: 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer's Guide (Paperback)
Unlike so many books about writing that try to be "The Definitive Guide to Being a Writer," this book does not overreach. Instead, just as the title suggests, it offers 102 project ideas and business avenues that writers can explore. This "cut to the chase" approach makes the book more useful than other writing books that waste paper and time with a lot of boilerplate material about bookkeeping, taxes, time management and other stuff that's mostly common sense or, if not, can be looked up easily in any general business reference book.
The ideas presented here are broken down into broad categories, such as magazines, newspapers, and corporate writing, with each specific "gig" numbered and given its own writeup that includes an introduction as well as detailed advice in a question/answer format. The Q and A sections answer such questions as how to get started, whom to contact, and how much to charge for a writing job. Other helpful advice is provided where appropriate, often in the form of interviews with writers or editors who specialize in the type of work being profiled as one of the book's 102 featured writing jobs.
For someone who actually wants to make money writing, I recommend this book over most any other writing book on the market. It's readable and well organized, and it contains many ideas that a motivated writer can use to get his or her material into print.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Many numbers in the title, and it still works!, May 28, 2010
This review is from: 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer's Guide (Paperback)
I.J. Schechter really does present exactly 102 ways for the freelance writer to earn income from writing, and the book announces loudly each one with large, bold, white-on-black numbers. The cleverness continues. The "102" puts the number of goodies one higher than the more humdrum 101 (...Ways to ..., Cook Artichokes, Do Your Laundry, etc.). The "1,500 Words" tells the serious writer that Schechter's ideas are each large enough to weed out the duffers, but short enough so that a good writer could secure many, many gigs for pay.
Choice of title aside, "102 Ways" ranks at the top of writers' how-to books. The author's straight-shooter style sometimes gets called "non-nonsense," but one will find enough humor sprinkled throughout the text to make the book flow smoothly. In fact, most of the book's charm lies in the matter-of-fact way which the reader sees that writing for income is quite a do-able thing. Chapter 4, "Corporate Writing," is easily worth the price of the book just by itself.
The author plainly states what "102 Ways" does, and does not do. The book does detail what each of the writing area topics entails as to whom to contact, what to offer as service, how much effort usually goes into it, etc. The book does NOT name what specific gig charge rates should be. Schechter tells us to find this crucial current information in several places, e.g., Writers Market - excellent, excellent approach. Most books are vulnerable to criticism, or at least a few cautionary words. This one does not. "102 Ways" gives you plenty of money's-worth. Buy the book.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Made to Order for this "Wanna Be" Writer, March 21, 2011
This review is from: 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer's Guide (Paperback)
I found myself totally engrossed right from the first page of the introduction to the last paragraph of suggestion 102 "Grant Writing. "At first glance I thought "this is not what I expected from the book. So I was amazed when I found that the very first suggestion tied in directly with a project I am working on.
I have already picked up on several suggestions tailor made for my writing style, whims, and work in process.
The book is divided into five sections: Magazines, Newspapers, Literary Outlets, Corporate Writing, and Everything Else under the Sun. I love Schecter's sense of humor.
Each of the individual "ways to earn money" includes suggestions on where to start, who to contact, and what to charge. The index itself is an excellent "brain storming exercise" for experiencing "aha" moments.
Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up for I. J. Schecter's "102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1500 Words or Less."
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