The Writer's Handbook 2001 (Writer's Handbook) (Hardcover)

~ Sylvia K. Burack (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A book as big and sprawling as a Larry McMurtry western--in fact, two books in one: The first 500 pages (!) are a copious selection of essays on the writing craft from pens ranging from E. Annie Proulx to Barnaby Conrad to Rita Dove. The second few hundred pages make up a "market guide" with information on magazines, publishers, playhouses, contests, and more. The handbook provides a good overview, but most of the listings give only street addresses; without phone or e-mail options, you're left with no recourse but snail mail. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

If you could give a beginning writer only one book, this might be the one to pick. This venerable work, which has been helping writers for over 60 years, continues in a traditional format: the first 550-plus pages feature 110 chapters drawn mainly from The Writer magazine. Written by well-known authors, these chapters offer practical advice on topics as varied as writer's block, dialog, genre writing, book contracts, and even how to kill off characters. Then, an interview section features interviews with authors such as Wally Lamb, Sue Miller, and Doris Lessing. The second half of the book lists markets for all kinds of writing--articles, fiction, drama, and books--along with helpful information about literary prizes, writer's colonies, writer's conferences, and literary agents. Some of this material covers the same territory as The Writer's Market (F&W Pub., annual), which generally has more and longer listings; for the most part, The Writer's Handbook does not list telephone numbers, FAX numbers, or URLs, providing readers only with U.S. mail addresses. And while the markets are indexed, other aspects of the book are not. But, quibbles aside, this handbook packs a lot of useful information into one volume and should be of use to beginning, intermediate, and freelance writers. Most libraries will find it essential to have a recent edition of this standard reference work.
-Kathy Breeden, Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga Lib.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 912 pages
• Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871161885
• ISBN-13: 978-0871161888
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,477,805 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful for beginners as well as professional writers., August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Writer's Handbook: 1999 (Annual) (Paperback)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those seeking to market their manuscripts, February 4, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This 65th edition is fully updated, revised and expanded thereby continuing to present the aspiring writer and the seasoned author with a premier compendium of writing techniques, inspiration, and advice from dozens of leading writers in all fields and aspects of the writing process. For those seeking to market their manuscripts there are 3,300 listings for possible publication which include names, addresses, editorial requirements, payment rates, and preferred lengths. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, essays, articles, short stories or full-length novels, writing for adult or juvenile readerships, working with agents, and more, The Writer's Handbook 2001 is an essential, core reference title that is highly recommended for personal, professional, writing class and seminar, as well as academic and community library "how to" and reference collections.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Interesting Book, May 30, 2000

By	Kate (WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writer's Handbook (Paperback)

Not only does "The Writer's Handbook" give you helpful tips on how to write well, but it also gives the reader a selection of markets to send his or her work. I think this book is a very helpful resouce.