Customer Reviews

Write your eBook or Other Short Book - Fast!

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An interesting, informative book and one that you will want to buy if you plan to self-publish. However I found the writing extremely clunky with numerous typos (even stuff that should have been caught by spellcheck). At one point the author switches from first person to third person and then back again. While the information is solid and I will likely buy at least one more book that the author offers, reading her books is a lot like going to the dentist; you don't enjoy it, but you know it is good for you.

I believe self-publishing is the greatest thing to happen to the book world since Guttenberg. Self-publishing has allowed thousands of talented writers to make their collective voices be heard. The reading public benefits in untold ways by having available countless books that would likely have not otherwise been published. How many great manuscripts lay buried in some old steamer trunk somewhere, never to be read again, and never to be shared with the world?

But self-publishing also brings with it a host of shortcomings. To this reader, a lack of professionalism being the most notable, and primarily that lack of professionalism shows itself in the editing. Now, for a self-published book on how to repair the plumbing in your home, I can overlook a lack of editing, but in a book about how to write a book, a lack of editing is inexcusable. Other than that, WRITE YOUR eBOOK OR OTHER SHORT BOOK - FAST, by Judy Cullins, is pretty good. You can't even make the argument that hiring an editor is too expensive. I edit raw manuscripts for $3 per page. I'm sure many summertime vacationing English teachers would be willing to do it for even less!

The information contained here is good, although somewhat of a sleight of hand. By that I mean, Cullins did something she teaches in the book, she took what should have been a forty-page pamphlet and turned it into a 130-page book. The problem is, she does so with redundancy and a good deal of white space. Every two or three paragraphs is a new subheading that takes a couple of inches out of print.

I did learn a few things here. As I said, the information is worth the price of the book, I just hold a book on writing to a higher standard. There is too much emphasis here on making the dollar and not nearly enough focus on the quality of the finished product.

This book is a great example of what the author suggests that you do. That is, pick a non-fiction subject and write a fairly small book on the subject. There is a lot in what she has to say. The rules are pretty simple. Pick a subject that you know something about, that is small enough that it hasn't been written about too much. Write a small book, and spend as much time on promotion as you did on writing the book. People like to read authors that they know, so picking a subject where you can write a series of books covering different aspects.

Most of the book consists of short fast chapters that are fast to write, fast to read, convey information that the reader wants. There are chapters on just the back cover. When you have fifteen or twenty seconds of the buyers attention, what you put on the cover is very important. Then there are chapters on getting the book published, including finding a major publsher and on publishing it yourself.

She writes a bit on eBooks. I'm not so sure I agree with her on this one. eBooks have not been terribly successful. People don't seem to want to read on a computer. But publishing as a paper book and a eBook at the same time might make some sense.

When considering giving your money to Judy Cullins, first, consider the value of your time, and what you hope to gain from the time you'll spend (lose) with Judy's "Write Your e-Book...Fast" (in which Judy demonstrates how haste does make waste [evidenced by the great number of mistakes and inconsistencies throughout Judy's pages]). If you're entirely clueless about writing, you may find something of value in Judy's often condescending, self-aggrandizing presentation. If, however, you're looking for a substantive source on the subject, there must be better books on the subject (let's hope!).

Judy tells us in her book that she is an active self-marketer. So, don't be fooled by the reviews of praise Judy's book has received from her friends. Apparently, Judy has gained the endorsement of authors Dan Poynter and Marshall Masters through a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" arrangement. (You'll find articles by these authors in the "bonus material" of Judy's book.)

Additional reasons to write-off Judy:

(1) Judy's advice is HOLLOW. She will tell you what to do (which is likely something anyone with a pinch of common sense will know to do), but offers no insight or recommendation for how best to do it.

(2) Judy will take pages to give you completely useless information. For example, the first two pages of her book ask you to consider a list of reasons for writing a book (something anyone who'd buy Judy's book would already have!!).

(3) Judy's redundancy-- throughout her book--struck me as an effort to just fill pages. The book could have easily been reduced from its 113 pages to 40 pages, tops.

(4) The "Bonus material" seemed more of a bonus for Judy than her readers.
The few additional pages seemed a primer to buy more of Judy's work or the work of those endorsing her book.

You're better off searching the Internet for free articles by other authors.

Judy and Dan's book gives clear, practical advice on how to get your ideas into a form that grabs the reader and moves them to action. You will love how easy and fun it is to write following their guidelines on how to organize and express your thoughts. Great advice on publishing and marketing, too.

Judy's book is absolutely vital for the beginning writer to get organized and stay on track. I use it as a text in a life long learning class I teach for senior citizens. The format is easy to read, follow and implement. I give it five stars.

[...]

Not only have I read "Write Your Ebook or Other Short Book - Fast!", I've also taken a workshop with Judy Cullins. She really understands the nature of ebooks, and how they are different from print books. This is a crucial distinction. Judy shows you how to organize your files, avoid wasting time with the wrong kind of writing style, how to write a book that people will not only want to read, but WILL read, and how to market your ebook. This book also helps you choose your format. As a dissertation coach, I work with graduate students who are engaged in academic writing. But as a coach, I am aware that there is a need to communicate to people in non-academic arenas in a clear, concise, and readable way. I recommend this book to people in the coaching world who have something important to say but are stymied as to how to do it.

Judy Cullins' book provides specific detailed information on how to write your book, decide on its content, market the book, get it published, and many many other factors critical to publishing sucess. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to get started in writing and publishing. Its particularly good for those interested in pursuing 'non-traditional' publishing methods, such as e-books, internet, etc.

I was more than pleasantly surprized by this book. Its about time a "how to" book actually describes a ton of answers your looking for clearly, and moves you right along to each phase of information needed, not only on the mechanics of to get your ebook off the ground, but other ways you should consider putting them them out there to your target buyers. Thank goodness there is a lot of importance given to marketing and the reasons to focus on corporations, specialty groups and companies. As a first timer just taking the plunge, this book saved me lots of time. That alone was worth buying it, once in hand it kept me rivited. For those of us a bit shaky about writing and getting it out there, the author replaces fear with generous amounts of help and support by supplying us with useable, up to date internet contacts, addresses and so forth. That's a valuable asset right there, saves lots of time researching. Feel safe with this guide book, its filled from cover to cover with sound advice.

What I learned also is that its one thing to publish, its a whole different animal to actually be known by name and be successful, while of course, still alive and breathing. Read her tips on how to get your project done or sold in the shortest amount of time, while shooting your ebook or short books out there in front of the highest numbers of clients/customers turned buyers. How about getting offers to speak or work the lucrative seminar route because of your subject or expertize? Nice huh, well this book will help you get on that pathway the first time the right way, armed with a great deal information. Cleverly written, author, Judy Cullins, M.A. does the job well.

I now keep this book as my "go to" book, referring often to it while I continue with my writing journey.

Psychic Medium/Paranormal Investigator
www.LouiseUngro.com

This book provided very useful information in an easy, concise and very thoughtful way. I used Judy's experience and knowledge to help me think and organize my writing in a more useful and productive manner. Thank you Judy, for providing me with the right information at the right time in my writing career!!