You Can Write a Column (You Can Write It!) [Paperback]

Monica McCabe Cardoza (Author), Monica McCabe-Cardoza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000 | Series: You Can Write It!

Aspiring columnists will discover what it takes to establish themselves by following these exercises and advice for developing their ideas into timely, engaging pieces.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1st edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898799244
• ISBN-13: 978-0898799248
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Info for Aspiring Columnists, June 23, 2000

By 

KCR "KWDragon" (waaay up north) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Can Write a Column (You Can Write It!) (Paperback)

This packs a lot of information into a little over 100 pages. I was particularly impressed with the list of sources in the back, opening some avenues I didn't previously know existed.

I did find it a little disconcerting that after hammering "reasearch your market" home again and again, she chose a few columnists as examples that admittedly stumbled into the business.

I very much liked Part Three "Selling the Column," but found that much of the middle section, "Writing the Column," was too vague and general to be of great use. Some of the information in Part One "Before Beginning" was useful.

Overall, I would say that the information in the third part was well worth the cost of the book. If you are looking to get into this part of the newspaper business, this book may be a great timesaver for you. I think it has given me a head start and a good direction to follow.

In future editions however, I would like to see more specifics on the writing and formatting, and less space devoted to the columnist that is out to stop anyone from getting into his niche. What an egotist! That was two pages and several references wasted. His appears to be a mail order company that uses his column as an outlet, not what most columists are shooting for, I would assume. Although I would wish him the best of luck in his endeavors, personally, I do not feel his addition added anything to this book, whereas the inclusion of the other columnists was very inspirational and informative.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely helpful for aspiring columnists, December 17, 2000

By 

Stan Dubin "standubin" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You Can Write a Column (You Can Write It!) (Paperback)

This is the first book I've read that walks you through the different aspects of writing and selling a column. It is well thought out and it gives the new and would-be columnist the key information needed to actually succeed as a columnist. You do not feel patronized by an "expert" which happens with some how-to books. You are simply given a good set of tools that you can put to work right away. I highly recommend it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Brief Review, August 24, 2000

By 

Elysse Moreaux (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Can Write a Column (You Can Write It!) (Paperback)

As an aspiring columnist, I found the book informative and discouraging. Good information on getting started, researching the market, making contacts. Discouraging about availability of opportunity and rates of pay. Disappointing that only three columnists were interviewed for examples, and that one, who writes for free, says he has tactics in place to keep all new people out. Whatever....