Customer Reviews

The Writer's Friend

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"It's about time someone wrote a book for writers that concentrates on the view from the editor's side of the desk," I said to Linda Davis Kyle when she asked me to supply a tip or two for the "The Writer's Friend." After reading the finished product, I found that not only is this book a must-read for neophyte scribes, but it is also an equally valuable refresher for old pros.

Chapter 5, "A Day in the Life of an Editor," and its blow-by-blow description of how editors do what they do should be required reading for all writers, again, experienced or not.

The other chapters are packed with clear, concise advice that, if followed, will increase the odds of receiving checks in the mail for stories sold, instead of those dreaded rejection letters. Highly recommended!

First off, The Writer's Friend has earned itself a permanent place next to my PC. Why? Because it is exactly what the title claims; "The Writer's Friend". This book, in a few short chapters, manages to detail for you, the hardened pro or newbie amateur, exactly what you need to know that mere talent itself does not cover. Chapters such as; Preparing to Query and Writing Warmups are absolutely indispensable. Not to mention others like; Writing with a Purpose Pays and Maximizing Your Research. The Writer's Friend, a friend indeed. Trade PB, 192 pages, -- Leann Arndt, Reviewer

The secret to selling your writing is to understand your buyers and what they need. Writers sell product. Editors buy entertainment (fiction) or information (nonfiction). The Writer's Friend reveals who editors are, what they do and what they need. Use this sage advice to get on the inside track to sell more of your writing sooner. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

Not sure how to approach editors? Tired of receiving rejection letters? Then The Writer's Friend is for you! It's chock full of useful tips and practical advice to help writers get published and turn those rejection slips into checks.

The 20 short and easy-to-read chapters cover the whole of the writing process from studying the market and analzing target publications to composing sparkling query letters, to interviewing, researching and finding new twists for story ideas. Drawing on their own experience as well as including words of advice from over 40 editors from around the world, the authors have produced a veritable treasure chest for writers.

Novice writers will find the book indispensable but more experienced writers, too, will find a wealth of helpful suggestions to help them enter new markets and increase sales.

This imminently readable book takes an inside look at exactly what editors look for in writers:
Do your homework
Know the magazine
How to prepare a successful query
Grabbing an editor's attention by slanting your topic to fit the magazine of your choice

The Writer's Friend also includes valuable information for technical writers looking for assignments.

Reading this book and knowing what editors look for, paves the way to success.

"The Writer's Friend", it truly will become your friend. This book will give you powerful insight into the world of editors. Not only will you learn from the authors' of this book, but you will also learn from a number of editors as they tell you what they like and dislike in submissions. You will learn how to grab an editor's attention and begin earning money selling your articles.

"The Writer's Friend", in addition, gives you information on researching, giving interviews, preparing and submitting query letters, improving your writing skills, getting ideas for stories and articles, and a lot more. Not only did I find this book helpful but I also gained inspiration from it. Everytime I put the book down I found myself at my computer polishing up my articles, stories, and queries; that's how much "The Writer's Friend" inspired and helped me.

This book is a must for all freelance writers. It would even make a great book for teachers to aid them in teaching their courses on freelance writing. After you finish the book you will want to store it by your computer to keep referring to. It not only provides you with resources on and off-line, but an appendix of questions that you can always look back at.

If you find yourself down because of rejections and feel that you should just give up, think again, just pick up a copy of "The Writer's Friend" and you're sure to be back in your spirits of writing and submitting again! I give this book 5 stars for outstanding excellence!

This excellent little book is a giant in its field. It is more than interviews with editors, it is a wealth of advice with practical and workable examples. If you want to see your work published follow Kyle,Gregg and McAlary's profound visions on the process. Their tips and sage advice help you establish sound, publishable writing and if you follow them, will give you an edge in the publishing world. I highly recommend this magnificant book as an absolute must have for any writer's book shelf.

The Writer's Friend is one of those books that should be on your shelf so that, when you are suffering from 'the rejection blues,' you'll be able to pick yourself up and begin again, using the information between this book's covers as a guide to solve your problems. The talented authors show you how to take an idea for one article aimed at one publication and turn it into several articles written from several points of view for as many different markets. They point out the pitfalls of ignoring an editor's instructions or submitting an article to the wrong market. The Writer's Friend gives you a thorough look at the other side of the writing field, that of the editor working for a publication or publisher. Here you will find advice on the many points most new writers will ignore while they focus on getting their work published; that of contracts and rights and learning your market before submitting. Invaluable information and tips on how to aim for a particular audience and market are included as well as help with the query process. The authors draw upon their own experience to guide you around the roadblocks to success. The Writer's Friend will serve you long and well, and you'll find the more you use it, the more of a friend it will be come.

If you are desiring to write magazine articles then this is the book for you. I've read several books about getting your magazine articles published and the Writer's Friend is truly the best. This book is comprehensive in that it covers what you need to know about writing query letters, doing research, understanding legal ramafications & contracts, targeting your market and so much more. I now feel prepared to begin submitting my queries to magazine editors. Honestly, this book should have been called The Writer's Best Friend.

The secret to selling your writing is to understand your buyers and what they need. Writers sell product. Editors buy entertainment (fiction) or information (nonfiction). The Writer's Friend reveals who the editors are, what they do and what they need.The sooner you understand the procedure, the sooner you will sell what you write.

Book authors will be able to use the techniques described in this book to spin-off sections of their book into articles--and get paid for them.

Use this sage advice to get on the inside track to sell more of your writing sooner. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com