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The Writer's Essential Tackle Box: Getting a Hook on the Publishing Industry

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Writer's Essential Tackle Box is a new way of thinking about getting published. It is well written, full of valuable information, fun to read, and worth the time to read it twice.

You need to read this book before you send your manuscript out to be judged by agents and publishers alike. In fact, you need to read this book before your manuscript is even completed. Lynn Price gives you the scoop on what a publisher really thinks when they are contacted by an author who wants to get their book published and she does it in a wonderfully entertaining way. She gives good advice on how to properly make the important contacts that will lead to success and tips on how to make your manuscript shine. The book is packed with humorous stories of her own experiences as both an author as well as an editor of a successful publishing company. This book is not only helpful, it is just plain old good reading!

The Writer's Essential Tackle Box: Getting a Hook on the Publishing Industry
I heard Lynn Price speak at a writer's group and bought her book the same day. It is full of helpful and practical advice for aspiring writers. Lynn has a fun, snarky, way of writing that keeps you interested from beginning to end.

I'm starting to move into the book writing realm, and I'm doing as much reading as I can to find out exactly how the business of publishing works. I found Lynn Price's blog, Behler Blog, during my research, and found she also had a book titled The Writer's Essential Tackle Box: Getting a Hook on the Publishing Industry. Loving her snarky style there meant that I was looking forward to a whole book's worth. And she didn't disappoint. Price has a great format that combines knowledge from a variety of sources, and shares her own wisdom in her unique style.

Contents:
Section 1 - Interviews - Casting the flyrod: Agents; The Book Review; Marketing and Sales; Book Shepherd; Bookstore events; Cover design; Distributor; Independent Editor; Warehouse Distribution; Internet Resources; Publicists; Websites; Conclusion
Section 2 - "Forget the bait, pass me the Maalox" - The Submission Process: Before You Bait Your Hook; Myth busting; The Log Line; The Pitch; Author Bio - creating something from nothing; Word count; The Snooze-less Query letter; The s-s-sy-sy-synopsis; Submissions Advice; Apres le query/submission; Rejection; "So why did you reject me?"; The Promotion Plan
Section 3 - "Chumming the Waters": Publishers Are Not Created Equally; The Players; Print-on-Demand - POD; Questions every writer should ask a publisher before querying; Vanity/Subsidy Publication - pay to play
Section 4 - "The Writer's Survival Style Guide": When a manuscript feels sick; Punctuation Beerfest; Submission Autopsy - Part 1 - Show vs. Tell; Submission Autopsy - Part 2 - Backstory, Fluff and Good Intentions; Submission Autopsy - Part 3 - Dialog tags; Submission Autopsy - Part 4 - POV; Physical Descriptions in Blocks of Text - Watch Out For Those Bosoms; Survival Style Guide; Watchful Writing - Mind Your Characters; Do Miracles Happen?
Conclusion; Index

Unlike books that tend to focus on fiction, non-fiction, or specific genres, Price offers up information that spans all writing types. Section 1 consists of interviews with a number of professionals in the publishing business. These interviews give the reader an understanding of everything that happens once you have a book or manuscript that is ready to be sprung on an unsuspecting public. From getting an agent to getting your book on shelves to letting people know your book exists, you'll get a solid understanding and perspective of what you can realistically expect. And the key word here is "realistic". Price and her interviewees don't sugarcoat the information or blow smoke. This is all hard work, and the more you know, the better.

Sections 2 through 4 moves the subject material back onto the side where Price controls the action... the publishing firm. Here she deals with what an editor will look for in terms of story, pitch, and writing. She answers the most important questions, such as what makes a successful query letter, how best to approach an editor, and the etiquette of following up on your submission. This manuscript might be the most important thing in your life, but it's just one of hundreds of submissions that the editor sees on an annual basis. Don't expect them to have the same love for your work as you do... unless you can successfully get them excited about it with your query. Section 3 is also very important, as she deals with the topic of "self-publishing" your work. As a traditional publisher, she has some definite views on that topic. You may disagree or feel like the old publishing model is dead, but her basic information is solid, and you'll be able to approach that path with eyes wide open if you choose to travel it.

I personally loved Section 4... Price is at her snarky best here. She pulls no punches on exposing bad writing and sloppy habits, but she also offers ways to clean it up. I hate to admit that I recognized myself more than once in there, so I have plenty of work to do. I also know of at least two editors who would send chocolate to Ms. Price if she could cure me of the "wasies"...

The Writer's Essential Tackle Box: Getting a Hook on the Publishing Industry is an excellent reference tool for anyone who has fantasies of one day being a published author. Yes, you might get lucky and have everything just fall into your lap without working at it, but it's far more likely you'll have to travel the ground that Price has mapped out for you. And her map will make your voyage much more productive.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Author
Payment: Free

There are a lot of instructional choices for aspiring authors seeking to educate themselves in order to find a publisher. A lot of them. There is a multitude of books, blogs, websites, forums and so much writing-oriented blather flying around in cyberspace it has created a swirling storm. The job of parsing it all down into manageable form can be daunting. Just separating the important knowledge from self-aggrandizing opinion or wishful suggestions from real help can make the learning process tedious. This book, on the other hand, is a breakthrough.

As an aspiring author myself, I've read much of what's out there and feel confident when I tell you that Lynn Price's Tackle Box is not just essential for anyone who wants to consider publishing their work, it is indispensable.

Have questions? You'll get answers. The Tackle Box is filled with highly readable interviews that actually make valuable points and will add immeasurably to the neophyte's understanding of the publishing business. It covers the range of salient material in real-world question form and the facts as well as the opinions offered in answer are complete and balanced. Overall, they give a writer honest tools and worthy knowledge to use in honing their efforts for publishing. Honesty is something writers need more of these days.

For my use, the book worked equally well whether following the index to answer key questions that had been plaguing me, or just letting it fall open. Ms. Price's contacts and connections in the business are impeccable and well utilized. Every lesson I found inside was useful, enlightening and direct. The Tackle Box is also intelligently organized into sequential sections for easy access as a reference source. I found the Style Survival Guide section alone worth the cost of the book.

Well done, Ms. Price. Writers everywhere, whether published or not, will benefit from your experience, candor and humor.

A 'truth in advertising' moment: the Midwest Book Review and an extensive interview with me form an entire chapter of "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box", a 368-page compendium of information and insight into the publishing industry in all of its elements and aspects by Lynn Price (Editorial Director of Behler Publications). But I can say with absolute sincerity that the Midwest Book Review is in excellent company and just one of the informative interviews along side those with publishing industry professionals such as Wilda Williams from 'Library Journal', professional literary agents such as Rita Rosenkranze, Andrea Brown, Laurie McLean, and Peter Cox, ABA President and Changing Hands bookstore owner Gayle Shanks, and so many others. "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box" addresses writers' boards, writer conferences, writer and publisher blogs, and a myriad of 'how to' books for writers. Of special note is 'The Writer's Survival Style Guide" delineating the most common mistakes made by aspiring authors seeking publication. Informed and informative, "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box" is very strongly recommended reading for anyone seeking to become a published and professional author in today's highly competitive, complex, and evolving publishing industry.