Customer Reviews

The Writer's Handbook 1999 (Writer's Handbooks (Writer Inc))

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The annual edition of THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK is a joy to use. Need inspiration? Dip into the section, "Background for Writers" or soak up the interviews with successful writers. Weak plot? Wimpy characters? Study the "How-to-Write--Techniques" sections, two for fiction, another for non-fiction, with consideration of both articles and books. The handbook sometimes departs from the trite path: for instance, one article urges us to write what we DON'T know. Pulitzer Prize winning Donald Murray encourages us to "pay attention to what you need to understand and write your way to understanding." Rita Berman explains the difference in dialogue in fiction and creative nonfiction: in fiction, the writer can make up the words. In nonfiction, dialog should be verbatim from interview tapes and notes, something I'd never been clear about. The section on markets is smaller than that found in WRITER'S MARKET, but still gives a wide choice of publishers. This is a book for all writers. Definitely recommended.

The 1999 edition of "The Writer's Handbook" edited by Sylvia K. Burack is a valuable book for writers who want to be published. Overall this is a terrific how-to write, what-to write, and where-to sell reference book. Moreover, the "Background For Writers," section of the beginning of the book is filled with nearly twenty short, succinct essays with sound advice for writers.

The "How to Write," section of the text is comprehensive. It includes a detailed summary for general fiction writers advocating strong research, good characters, effective dialogue, managing emotion and piquing the reader's curiosity. I strongly recommend that everyone read "Making Every Word Count In Your Story," by Diane Lefer. It will help all writers "tighten" pieces and reduce rejection slips from publishers.

The "How to Write," section also includes a sub-section for nonfiction, poetry, playwriting and juvenile & young adult writing. The nonfiction part of the text helped me publish my first book. However, I was very impressed with Diane O'Hehir's piece on page 337 titled, "Becoming a Poet," and with Jennifer Shepherd's, "In Praise of Rhyme." Additionally, David Copelin's "Creating Effective Stage Characters," in the playwriting section is an eye-opener.

One must not overlook the "What to Write," editing, marketing and interviews sections of this text. The information will help the author understand the challenge ahead once a manuscript is accepted. The interviews include conversations with P.D. James, Russell Banks, Arundhati Roy, Joyce Christmas, Elmore Leonard, Joan Didion and Peter Mayle. Anyone truly serious about a career in writing should read this section at least twice. The interviews are precious. Finally, "Where to Sell," at the end of the book is a pragmatic guide with thousands of suggestions for contacts. Recommended.

Bert Ruiz