Write to Publish: Essentials for the Modern Fiction & Memoir Market [Paperback]

Christopher Klim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

An award-winning author and writing mentor covers the craft of fiction and memoir, including practical techniques for reaching agents, editors, and ultimately readers. Through lesson and exercise, Klim maps the journey from writer to author. You won't find a more complete and concise tour of the craft on your bookshelf.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His passion is contagious. One of the best handbooks I’ve come across, fun to read and full of useful information." -- Maryanne Raphael, Writers World

"I swear if I had read this book twenty years ago I would be on a book tour right now." -- Maggie Harding, Book Crazy Radio

"Other books tend to not be as thorough in covering all of the aspects of writing and publishing." -- Harold McFarland, Readers Preference Reviews

"The guidelines and working structure are so clear even the most jaded fiction writers would benefit." -- Maggie Ball, The Compulsive Reader

"Two sections separate this book from others: a chapter on professional revisions, [And] information on how to get published." -- The Midwest Book Review

"Write to Publish is a more-than-you-bargained for look at the publishing world, honed to meat-of-the-matter perfection by Klim." -- The Boox Review

An impressive ability to provide the reader with the essential elements needed to breathe life into a manuscript. -- Suzie Housley, MySelf

Another bull's-eye for Klim. He understands story and makes it plain for us to see as well. -- J.D. Newbury, Alstott Reporter

Klim focuses on story, an excellent place to unearth the process of creating fiction, but it goes much deeper ... -- Ken Dreider, Write Off Magazine

Something I’ve never seen in "how to" books; he dissects his own short story by showing us the parts. Brilliant! -- Deborah Kaple, author of Dream of a Red Factory

From the Publisher

If you desire to learn the basic tools of fiction and memoir writing, if publication is your aim, WRITE TO PUBLISH strips away the hype and exposes the elements of the written storytelling craft. This book arrives as a popular response to the thousands who attend Christopher Klim's writing and publishing seminars throughout the country. In his highly accessible tone, he unveils the mystery and helps writers of all genres to reveal their stories.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Hopewell Pubns Llc; 1 edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972690697
• ISBN-13: 978-0972690690
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Klim is the author/journalist of several books, including the satires Jesus Lives in Trenton and The Winners Circle. His other books include Idiot!, Everything Burns, Write to Publish, and the Firecracker Jones juvenile series. True Surrealism gathers his stories into a complete set for the first time. He is the executive editor of Best New Writing and the chair of the Eric Hoffer Award for books and prose.

"I knew I was going to have an interesting literary life," Klim says, "when I was mentioned in the first chapter of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses."

In Klim's lectures, writings, workshops, and salons this award-winning storyteller entertains with contemporary tales that extend the American experience while transcending the ordinary. The Book Reporter dubbed Klim "one of the top novelists of our day."

"Most of what I write about is true, protected by the thin veil of fiction." - from an NBC interview with the author

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the overall picture of the industry, June 11, 2003

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Write to Publish: Essentials for the Modern Fiction & Memoir Market (Paperback)

"Write to Publish" covers all the typical areas you would expect in a basic book on writing fiction. The author discusses such things as openings, developing believable characters, point of view, setting the story landscape and working with plot development. This basic information is followed by two sections that separate this book from other basic writing books.

First is a chapter on professional revision that actually goes through the items that should be examined in the review process. It includes such items as reexamining structure, plot, character traits, simplifying sentence structure, and varying sentence structure, paragraph length, word choice.

The rest of the book predominantly contains information on how to get your book published. This includes tips for writing query letters, dealing with agents, submission etiquette, and even dealing with rejection.

The greatest value of this book is that it covers all the relevant areas of getting your fiction book written and published. These areas are covered at a somewhat basic level and you can find other books that deal in greater detail with each of the sections but then again, they tend to not be as thorough in covering all of the aspects of writing and publishing.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Write on Target, October 23, 2003

By 

Linnea (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Write to Publish: Essentials for the Modern Fiction & Memoir Market (Paperback)

I picked up this gem after visiting one of Christopher Klim's seminars in Florida. It's the next best thing to being there. From the lessons on craft to the useful exercises, there's not an ounce of fluff or fat in this essential manual.

Klim takes us through the process of creating a story from idea to print. He lends practical advice and lessons, and he tempers the entire process with real life examples. It's as if he's letting us know his secrets to success. These secrets apply to not only fiction and memoir but nonfiction as well.

I especially like the chapter on fighting writers' block. "I don't have time for writers block," Klim claims, tongue in cheek. He submits that writers get stuck looking for answers, when they haven't yet asked the right questions. Klim supplies the questions, at least gets the struggling writer on his/her way to fruition.

If I was building a toolbox for writers, this would be one of the books I put inside. While it doesn't have the depth of some manuals. It covers everything, including the essential protocol for reaching and establishing relationships with the industry. I ought know. I work in the industry every day. I wish ¾ of the wannabe's ran into Klim's material along the way.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the wonderful comments at www.Write-to-Publish.com or the many useful freebies from this intriguing new author.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What You Need, April 9, 2006

By 

T. J. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Write to Publish: Essentials for the Modern Fiction & Memoir Market (Paperback)

Well, it's not like taking one of Klim's master's courses in person, but it does cover all of the basics. Klim often speaks of the five tools of a writer that usher you through the beginner's and journeymen's phases en route to publication, and so this turns out to be one of the most important guides in my library.