Rejection, Romance and Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer (Paperback)

by Laura Resnick (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Writing is a tough business, and no one knows this better than Resnick, an award-winning author of 20 romance and fantasy novels and dozens of short stories. Working with four different agents, dozens of editors, and numerous publishers over the last two decades taught Resnick a lot about the business of writing. Now, with this eclectic and entertaining collection of essays, Resnick shares both her own and other writers' experiences in getting and staying published. From the role talent, passion, and luck play in a writer's life to dealing with difficult editors and publishers, Resnick doesn't pull any punches, but her hard-won, practical advice will inspire both aspiring and published writers as it helps them navigate the always choppy waters of the publishing world. Charles, John

Review

"Resnick's marvelous essays on writing are not only laugh-out-loud funny, but she does a wickedly accurate job of depicting the craziness of publishing—and the creative passion that makes it all worthwhile."  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling novelist

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Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Jefferson Press (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977808645
• ISBN-13: 978-0977808649
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #881,716 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Advice Within, January 16, 2008

By	colinwoodward (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Resnick's book is like a good pep-talk by an experienced and wise football coach. It's written in a very breezy style--more like a conversation between the author and her reader than other writing books. It isn't, and isn't meant to be, a work of art. Resnick makes clear what's the most important thing: Don't give up. She's faced the rejections, survived sleazy editors, read the vicious reviews (including those on amazon), withstood writer's block as well as an equally dangerous case of logorrhea, and lived through it. She says the worst writer is the one who quits. Also, she says it's important to write at your own pace. Don't worry about how others work, because everyone has a particular style and habits. Most of all, she urges us to keep writing. Don't think or talk about it more than doing it. Resnick never says it's paradise doing what she does, but she is doing what she most enjoys. Her book is well worth reading for the aspiring writer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about the working writer's life, July 19, 2007

By	Eclectic Reader (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

There are a lot of books about how to write, but I've not run into any other book that so clearly describes the highs and lows of a working writer's life. Laura Resnick is not only a long-term career writer--with the scars to prove it--but she's also very, very funny. (Her essay on the horrors of spam e-mail had me laughing out loud.) She also deals with rejections and reviews, and the craziness and the satisfactions that make a writer keep doing what she does. Required reading for all writers, both published and aspiring.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truthful and funny essays from a professional writer, December 23, 2007

By	DavidT (Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

If not exactly a household name, Laura Resnick is a successful writer who's made a living at her craft despite any number of discouragements, difficulties, and complications. This is a very readable and practical essay collection that gives a plain-spoken, realistic but not bitter account of how she did so. There's plenty of good advice about dealing with the realities of the publishing marketplace. She's also quite funny, and worth a read just for the entertainment. Recommended.