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The Writer's Bookshelf W-Writes
Wabi Sabi for Writers Richard R. Powell Adams Media Corporation 57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322 1593375964 $12.95 www.adamsmedia.com 1-800-872-5627 Wabi Sabi for Writers is a philosophical source of inspiration for intermediate to advanced writers. Author Richard Powell, who studied at the Kootenay School of Writing under such acclaimed authors as Margaret Atwood and David McFadden, Wabi Sabi for Writers emphasizes that while perfection is great to strive for, the struggle to create flawless beauty is in essence a false idea in an imperfect universe - absolute "perfection" is impossible, yet imperfection contains within its own sense of timeless beauty. Written in a soothing style of narrative flow, Wabi Sabi for Writers applies ancient Japanese aesthetic to modern practical principles and suggestions, and is filled cover to cover with tips, tricks, and techniques for improving one's writing production rate. From the value of personally experiencing and connecting with nature, to applying the concept of "yugen" in hinting at depths below the surface and engaging the conscious mind to puzzle over the unseen, Wabi Sabi for Writers is an invaluable and inspirational tool for promoting personal fulfillment as well as improved quality in one's writing. Wannabe A Writer? Jane Wenham-Jones Accent Press c/o Dufour Editions, Inc. PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007 9781905170814, GBP 7.99 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677 Writer professionally is a daunting task for the uninitiated. In a single and comprehensive volume, 'Writing Magazine' columnist Jane Wenham-Jones uses solid information liberally laced with humor to help aspiring writers figure out where they need to start, how they are to finish, and that eternal question besetting all ambitious authors: 'Will anyone ever publish it when you have?' in "Wannabe A Writer?". This thoroughly 'reader friendly' instruction manual is as informed and informative as it is entertainingly demystifying. "Wannabe A Writer?" features a wealth of practical tips and insights on writing and getting published from a number of successful authors, professional literary agents, and commercial publishers. Of special note is the section 'Novels Are Not The Only Fruit' which examines writing as therapy, writing as revenge, words of warning, memoirs and life stories, other non-fiction, and a great deal more. Practical, accessible, written with flair and humor, Jane Wenham-Jones' "Wannabe A Writer?" is confidently and enthusiastically recommended to the attention of anyone who aspires to a professional career as a writer -- or simply can't help themselves from expressing thoughts on paper where other folk can read them! The Way Of Story Catherine Ann Jones Michael Wiese Productions 3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, #1111, Studio City, CA 91604 9781932907322, $22.95 www.mwp.com 1-800-833-5738 The script is the first basic building block of any film, theatre, or television project. "The Way Of Story: The Craft & Soul Of Writing" by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Catherine Ann Jones offers aspiring authors an integrative approach to writing all the various forms of narrative storytelling. Laced with anecdotal stories and personal insights from her own professional experiences as a writer of scripts, Catherine Ann Jones persuasively argues that craft alone is not enough for success in this highly competitive, highly volatile business. There must be an effective integration of storytelling technique and experiential inner discovery as a writer in order to produce scripts that are commercially viable and persuasive when it comes time to pitch them to producers. Of special note are the wealth of practical tips for writing a successful script whether it is for a play, a movie, or a television show. "The Way of Story" is especially recommended reading for anyone who aspires to writing a screenplay, and will provide invaluable insights into both the process and the marketplace. Webster's All-In-One Dictionary & Thesaurus Merriam-Webster Federal Street Press 25-13 Old Kings Highway North, #277, Darien, CT 06820 9781596950467, $12.98, www.federalstreetpress.com 1-877-886-2830 Every reader, author, and publisher needs a good reference collection of dictionaries and thesaurus. But often space is limited to house a large collection of language reference works. "Webster's All-In-One Dictionary & Thesaurus" is ideal and recommended for a limited reference shelf space as it combines under one cover 67,000 clearly written dictionary definitions with 140,000 synonyms and antonyms. Thesaurus entry follows dictionary entry and is printed in a contrasting color making for a thoroughly 'user friendly' rapid look-up reference. Fully integrated, "Webster's All-In-One Dictionary & Thesaurus" is a 768-page hardcover compendium fully in compliance with Merriam-Webster standards. Also very highly recommended as inexpensive additions to personal, school, and community library language reference collections are Merriam-Webster's "Webster's Contemporary School & Office Thesaurus" (9781596950481, $7.98); "Webster's Contemporary School & Office Dictionary" (9781596950474, $7.98); and "Webster's New Explorer Vocabulary Skill Builder" (9781596950450, $9.98). Webster's Business Writing Basics Editors of Merriam-Webster Federal Street Press 25-13 Old Kings Highway North, #277, Darien, CT 06820 1892859270, $9.98 www.federalstreetpress.com 1-877-886-2830 Webster's Business Writing Basics is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use handbook, self-improvement guide, quick reference, and all-around practical resource for business writers of all venues. From fifty different sample professional letters, to a straightforward handbook of grammar, style, and punctuation guidelines, tips on how to effectively use email in business, "netiquette" fundamentals, and much more, Webster's Business Writing Basics is enthusiastically recommended for anyone in or aspiring to join today's modern workforce. An especially invaluable reference for businesspeople who just graduated from college (the scholarly tone of most college writings differs from the brevity necessary to business writing), and businesspeople who may have learned English as a second language. The Weekend Novelist Robert J. Ray & Bret Norris Billboard Books/Watson Guptill 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 www.wgpub.com 0823084507 $16.95 1-800-451-1741 The Weekend Novelist is deftly co-authored by Robert J. Ray (author of eight novels) and Bret Norris (founder of the Norris Literary Agency) who collaborate to provide the reader with a collection of practical lessons on successfully writing a novel. This revised and updated edition is a superbly organized and presented "how to" workbook and manual that offers the novice a 52 weekend schedule that will enable the writer to plot their novel, sculpt their characters, develop plots with more than one protagonist, build sciences and scene sequences, create rough drafts, and even tap the power of their manuscripts by writing a memoir, rewriting the novel, or writing a screenplay. A year-long workshop under one cover, The Weekend Novelist is a perfect initiation into the work and techniques of writing a novel from scratch to finished manuscript. Weinberg On Writing Gerald M. Weinberg Dorset House Publishing 353 West St, New York, NY 10014 093263365X $24.95 dorsethouse.com Weinberg On Writing: The Fieldstone Method by experienced and published author Gerald M. Weinberg is an informed and informative instructional reference to the process and skill of effective writing. Weinberg introduces the reader to forty-four exercises and offers many insightful tactics. Weinberg On Writing is an excellent detailing of all the necessary steps to be taken amidst the attempts and struggles of writing a book. Weinberg enlightens the readers to many original and particular strategies rarely recognized or pursued. Weinberg On Writing is very strongly recommended to all aspiring authors particularly oriented or favoring the presence of nature in their writing. The Well-Fed Writer Peter Bowerman Fanove Publishing 3713 Stonewall Circle, Atlanta, GA 30339 0967059844 $19.95 wellfedwriter.com The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As A Freelance Writer in Six Months Or Less is a 282-page compendium of tips, tricks and techniques essential for aspiring writers to "turn pro" and be able to support themselves on their earnings. In today's competitive marketplace, being talented and hardworking aren't enough. You've also got to be knowledgeable about the newspaper, newsletter, magazine, periodical, journal, and book publishers to whom you wish to successfully solicit and sell your work. Peter Bowerman draws upon his considerable experiences as a successful freelance writer and columnist in Atlanta, Georgia. His corporate list of clients ranges from The Coca-Cola Company, MCI, and Holiday Inn to The Discovery Channel, BellSouth, and Mercedes-Benz. He has published almost 200 columns and articles, as well as conducting seminars on writing. All that he has learned is distilled within the pages of The Well-Fed Writer, truly rewarding reading for aspiring freelance writers, copy writers, scriptwriters, columnists, journalists, and anyone else wanting to earn from what they write. What Are You Laughing At? Brad Schreiber Michael Wiese Productions 11288 Ventura Blvd. #621, Studio City, CA 91604 www.mwp.com 0941188833 $19.95 1-800-833-5738 Produce winning comedic screenplays using fiction and nonfiction alike with Brad Schreiber's What Are You Laughing At?: How To Write Funny Screenplays, Stories, & More. Included are over 70 excerpts from top screenwriters and pairing them with writing exercises and details on the differences between writing comedy for TV versus stage. There are eleven modes of comedic dialogue, 13 common problems screenwriters encounter and valuable insights into the rhythm and sound of words in What Are You Laughing At? Brad is himself a L.A. screenwriter, so his tips come from an insider's hand. Why We Read What We Read Lisa Adams and John Heath Sourcebooks 1935 Brookdale Road Suite 139, Naperville, IL 60563 140221054X, $16.95 www.sourcebooks.com What are the social trends reflected by bestseller lists? Any interested in books, reading, and popular trends will find WHY WE READ WHAT WE READ: A DELIGHTFULLY OPINIONATED JOURNEY THROUGH CONTEMPORARY BESTSELLERS to be an involving survey, considering how successful best-sellers provide insights into social change. Both public lending libraries and schools specializing in modern social science analysis will find involving this exploration of how public issues are reflected in the best-selling book world. Why, When, Where, & How To Write, Publish, Market, & Sell Your Book Bill Thurwanger Ripples On The Water 4750 East Union Hills, #1105, Phoenix, AZ 85050 978097968803, $17.95 www.ripplesonthewater2.com Bill Thurwanger draws upon his real-world experiences as the author of five books to write "Why, When, Where, & How To Write, Publish, Market, & Sell Your Book", an instruction manual designed to provide aspiring authors yearning to become published with some useful strategies and effective tactics to achieve their goal. Some common problems that neophyte authors have to deal with are presented along with sage and practical advice for resolving or avoiding them. The eight succinct chapters comprising this spiral bound, 99-page reference, deal with such issues as a writer's qualifications and the kind of book to be written; the timing of when to write a book; how to write a book in terms of set-up, forms and formats, composition and substance; general information about copyrights, ISBN numbers, cover design, ordering page, book pricing, determining an appropriate publisher, book brokers, and more; pre-marketing a book through book reviews, press releases, contests, etc.; the role of an internet website and e-commerce; what to do with a book once it is published including the role of reviewers, media mail, book fairs, agents, book signings, and more; and selling the book through online book sellers, book stores, selling to major publishers, and the creation of proposals. "Why, When, Where, & How To Write, Publish, Market, & Sell Your Book" is instructive and recommended -- especially for authors who haven't got a clue about how to write, publish, and sell in today's highly volatile and competitive publishing industry. It won't be found in bookstores. The only way to obtain a copy is directly from the author through the website www.ripplesonthewater2.com -- but it is well worth the effort and the investment. The Wizard Of Oz Vocabulary Builder Mark Phillips A. J. Cornell Publications 18-74 Corporal Kennedy Street, Bayside, NY 11360 0972743901 $19.95 1-718-423-4082 Mark Phillips' The Wizard Of Oz Vocabulary Builder is a unique vocabulary building guide, which teaches readers 1850 words through reading. The classic text of the memorable fable "The Wizard of Oz" is filled with literate terms, which are presented in bold with their express definitions at the bottom of each page. A recommended and unforgettable skill-improve-ment tool, The Wizard Of Oz Vocabulary Builder is especially recommended for the fans of Frank Baum (creator of the Oz books) and would prove a useful tool for building an impressive vocabulary for aspiring and professional writers who are invited to visit the dedicated website -- www.VocabularyBuilders.com Word By Word John Tullius & Elizabeth Engstrom TripleTree Publishing PO Box 5684, Eugene, OR 97405 0966627261 $19.95 TripleTreePub.com Begun in 1993 and taking place over the Labor Day weekend, The Maui Writers Conference is a well respected annual conclave in which writers and publishing industry professionals meet together to enhance their skills and understandings of the writing process. Word By Word: An Inspirational Look At The Craft Of Writing is drawn from conference participants and is a compilation of transcribed presentations made during the first six years of the event. Such luminaries as Richard Paul Evans, Terry Brooks, Ernest J. Gaines, Elizabeth George, Julie Garwood, David Guterson, Mitch Albom, Tony Hillerman, Ron Howard, Susan Isaacs, Barry Kemp, Ridley Pearson, Nicholas Sparks, Dave Berry and many others offer their wit, wisdom and experience in all phases of writing and publishing. Word By Word is an informative, occasionally inspiring, always practical "how to" anthology that is very highly recommended to writers of fiction, nonfiction, film and television scripts, and anyone who has ever wanted to set pen to paper and effectively record their ideas and stories for posterity. The Write Book Bob Perlongo Art Direction Book Company 456 Glenbrook Rd., Glenbrook, CT 06906 0881082252 $12.95 1-203-353-1441 Compiled and edited by essayist and author Bob Perlongo, The Write Book: An Illustrated Treasure of Tips, Tactics, and Tirades is a humorous and yet very practical collection of advisory vignettes drawn from a roster of forty-six successful writers that range from William Shakespeare; Mark Twain; Stephen King; Lillian Hellman; and Harlan Ellison; to Louisa May Alcott; Ray Bradbury; Tennessee Williams; Agatha Christie; Arthur Miller; and Mickey Spillane; and John Steinbeck. Black-and-white illustrations add an extra chuckle here and there to what is an inherently helpful book that is so much fun to simply browse through that even readers with no special interest in a launching a writing career will still chuckle at its passages. The Write Book is highly recommended reading, especially for anyone who has ever considered or aspired to a professional writing career. The Write-Brain Workbook Bonnie Neubauer Writer's Digest Books/F&W, dist. 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 1582973555 $19.99 www.writersdigest.com Writers seeking something more stimulating than a mere subject stimulation guide will welcome THE WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK: 366 EXERCISES TO LIBERATE YOUR WRITING. Playful and thought-provoking exercises range from finishing half-completed stories and filling in imagination blanks to using memories as a springboard to writing. THE WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK would initially seem inappropriate for libraries as it encourages filling in the blanks - but the color-coded pages make it somewhat difficult and lend to fill-ins elsewhere on white paper, and may make WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK a strong library lending tool. Write For Life Sheppard B. Kominars Cleveland Clinic Press 9500 Euclid Avenue, NA32, Cleveland, OH 44195 9781596240773, $14.95 www.clevelandclinicpress.com 1-216-444-1158 Sheppard B. Kominars began teaching writing in 1956 at Washington College, has been a journal writer for more than fifty years, and has written two previous books on the subject of recovery. In "Write For Life: Healing Body, Mind, And Spirit Through Journal Writing", Kominars draws upon his more than half a century of experience and expertise in the subject to provide a wealth of insights and techniques into the utilization of writing to promote personal transformation, meet life's challenges, and acquire a deeper and more enduring satisfaction in our lives. "Write For Life" offers cogent advice and instruction on using a personal daily journal to confront emotional issues; break through frustrating mental blocks; deal with personal, professional, and medical crisis; renew and define life's meaning and purpose; free up intellectual creativity; and use or dreams and aspiration to build a better life. Although the principle focus of "Write For Life" is on using the material in this superbly written and highly recommended book as a self-help, self-improvement vehicle, there is also an invaluable relevance for aspiring writers who could utilize the keeping of a daily journal to enhance their own literary creativity regardless of the genre in which they are working. Write From The Heart Keith Miller Paraclete Press PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653 1557250723 $79.95 1-800-451-5006 Write From The Heart is an eight-session, two-video series complete with workbook wherein Keith Miller goes over the professional writing process in easy, step-by-step instructions. From getting the initial inspiration to finding the right title, from outlining to researching, from writing to re-writing, from marketing a manuscript to working with a publisher, Write From The Heart covers it all. Keith Miller is articulate, knowledgeable, practical, and inspiring. Write From The Heart is highly recommended video workshop for anyone seeking to break into print and become a "published author". Write is a Verb Bill O'Hanlon Writer's Digest Books c/o F&W Publications 4700 East Galbraith, Cincinnati, OH 45236 1582974594, $24.99 www.fwpublications.com WRITE IS A VERB: SIT DOWN. START WRITING. NO EXCUSES offers writers an excellent survey of how to overcome common barriers to writing and self-expression. Writers who complete projects write and work through these barriers and while plenty of books admonish doing so, few offer up a program to achieve this goal. Chapters on changing set writing patterns to spark creativity, breaking up tasks, and tackling rewriting and polish present the author's own course, and even includes a DVD workshop which compiles all worksheets in the book in electronic form. Especially recommended for aspiring writers. Write It Right Dawn Josephson & Lauren Hidden Cameo Publications PO Box 8006, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938-8006 www.cameopublications.com 0974496626 $17.95 www.amazon.com Write It Right: The Ground Rules For Self-editing Like The Pros is a consumable, no-nonsense guide to learning how to improve the grammatical quality of one's own writing and edit one's own copy in a professional manner. Chapters offer a variety of self-tests to identify one's most likely grammar problems, and offer keen advice in how to "think like an editor, not a writer" - from ground rules for going over writing, to how to select the right prereader for help in examining one's written copy, to tips for writing well when pressed for time, and much more. A practical-minded self-help book for writers of all skill and experience levels, from aspiring novelists to business or advertising copywriters to speechwriters, college students, journalists, and everyone else whose job hinges on the power of the written word. Highly recommended. Write, Right, Rite! Gerald R. Oglan Allyn and Bacon 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 0205344240 $26.00 1-617-848-7320 Write, Right, Rite! by educator and author Gerald R. Oglan is a field-tested guide for teaching pre-high school students how to edit and revise their own written work. Exercises, writing strategies, tips for assessments and a great deal more fill the pages of this practical, accessible, and highly useful supplement which is especially recommended for grade school teachers and would be quite appropriate for home school instruction as well. Write Tight William Brohaugh ISI Books Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431 www.isibooks.org 1882926889 $14.95 1-800-526-7022 Former editor of "Writer's Digest" magazine William Brohaugh presents Write Tight: How To Keep Your Prose Sharp, Focused And Concise, a practical guide to focusing one's message with grace, simplicity, and power, especially in today's attention-span deprived world of sound bites and distractions. From removing unnecessary syllables to excising gratuitous chapters, Write Tight identifies sixteen types of "flabby" writing (which says too little with too much verbage), offers "verbal aerobics" to hone one's skills, and even offers nonverbal devices such as sidebars and checklists to streamline one's manuscripts. Write Tight is a supremely valuable, "must-have" for aspiring writers in all fields from prose to nonfiction, journalistic copy, screenwriting and so much more. The Write Type Karen E. Peterson, Ph. D Adams Media 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 9781598694703, $12.95, www.adamsmedia.com Committed or Conflicted? Organized or Chaotic? Lunch Hour or Log Cabin? What kind of writer is one, really? "The Write Type: Discover Your True Writer's Identity and Create a Customized Writing Plan" is a guide to help writers identify with who they are as a writer by going over preferred writing conditions such as mood, organization, deadlines, solitude, order, and other aspects of ones writing that may not be obvious to everyone. "The Write Type: Discover Your True Writer's Identity and Create a Customized Writing Plan" is highly recommended for any writer who can't seem to find the right groove or mood to really start cooking, and for community library shelves dedicated to writers. Also highly recommended from Adams Media in the subject, "Time to Write: No excuses. No distractions. No more blank pages" (9781598694383, $12.95) by Kelly L. Stone. The Writer Behind the Words Dara Girard Ilori Press PO Box 10332, Silver Spring, MD 20914 9780977019151, $12.95 www.iloripress.com Award-winning author Dara Girard presents The Writer Behind the Words: Steps to Success in the Writing Life, a handy guide for aspiring and professional writers alike to achieving success and an honest living in the field. Chapters cover the seven traits of successful writers; how to make one's writing output more prolific; dealing with doubt, depression, and writer's block; forming a sensible strategy for success; and much more. A highly motivational resource for developing a writer's work ethic. Writer Profits: "How I Got the Gig" Susan M. Carter, editor Nasus Publishing 8917 Kell Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55437 0967029171, $14.95 www.writerprofits.com Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Susan M. Carter, "Writer Profits" is a very special compilation of advice and commentary by fifteen professional writers who share their individual stories of pursuing and winning writing assignments of all kinds. Included in this group, each of whom wrote their own chapter, are both part-time and full-time writers, writers who right for fun and writers who ply their craft for profit, writers who write periodically and writers who write every day. Collectively, their stories reveal a wealth of tricks, tips and techniques that will have exceptional and practical value for aspiring authors seeking to break into print, as well as those novice authors seeking to land paid assignments. "Writer Profits" shows just how to turn a vacation into a book opportunity, turn quick tips into quick cash, become a recurring columnist, get writing referrals, establish and develop a technical writer career, become a script writer for television, and so much more. If you want a career as a professional writer, give a careful reading to "Writer Profits" and learn how to land gigs of your own! The Writer Within You Charles Jacobs Caros Books 16 Pinecrest Drive, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 Atlas Book Distributors 30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805 9780979363603, $19.95 carosbooks@gmail.com 1-800-537-6727 Specifically written to be of value to retirees and other senior citizens, "The Writer Within You: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing And Publishing In Your Retirement Years" by author, editor, and publishing consultant Charles Jacobs provides the aspiring author with practical, detailed, useful and relevant information and guidance on how to write books and articles in six different genres, select the best publisher for a specific book and market, and how to promote their finished work. All of these principles and procedures are relevant for writers of any age, but are of specific utility to those ages 55 and older who have a wealth of life and career experiences to draw from in what they choose to write. While "The Writer Within You" is a stand-alone, single-volume, comprehensive instruction manual whose chapters cover becoming a writer, writing your book, publishing your book, marketing your book, marketing your book, writing and placing your articles, writing and promoting on the internet, and commercial writing. It should also be noted that Jacobs has created a retirement writing website at http://www.retirement-writing.com; plus a Retirement Writing Blog at http://www.retirement-writing.com/blog. You can even download a free sample chapter from the book at http://www.retirement-writing.com/press_room. If you are a senior who wants to try your hand at writing books and/or articles, the begin with a careful reading of Charles Jacobs' "The Writer Within You". Writers' & Artists' Hideouts Andrea Brown Quill Driver Books 1831 Industrial Way, #101, Sanger, CA 93657 www.QuillDriverBooks.com 1884956343 $14.95 1-800-497-4909 Writers' And Artists' Hideouts: Great Getaways For Seducing The Muse by literary agent Andrea Brown is a very special travel guide for writers, artists, actors, and other creative people seeking to find somewhere they can go to focus upon their work which is all to often interrupted in their primary homes, studios and offices with the demands of friends, family, and the pressures of day-to-day living. Ranging from the inexpensive ($19.00 per night hostels) to the extravagant ($1000.00 per night luxury hotels) Writers' & Artists' Hideouts covers the gamut. Arranged geographically into The Pacific Northwest; California; Hawaii & Alaska; The Southwest; The Rocky Mountain States; The Midwest; The Heartland; The Northeast; The Mid-Atlantic; and The Southeast, Writers' & Artists' Hideouts is further enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Introduction, advice on "How to Use This Book", security tips, an "Index by Venue"; and an "Index by City". If you need to "get away from it all" and consult your personal muse, then browse through the pages of Andrea Brown's Writers' & Artist's Hideouts. A Writer's Coach Jack Hart Pantheon c/o Random House 1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019 0375423273, $24.95 www.pantheonbooks.com 1-800-726-0600 Jack Hart is the managing editor at 'The Oregonian' and a frequent lecturer at Harvard University's prestigious 'Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism'. In "A Writer's Coach: An Editor's Guide To Words That Work", Jack Hart draws upon his more than 30 years of experience and expertise to demystify the writing process and methodically present every step (and misstep) in the processes involved with putting down thoughts and information into print. Hart's emphasis is that good writing demonstrates energy, conciseness, personality, rhythm, clarity, as well as being 'mechanically correct'. "A Writer's Coach" is very highly recommended reading for all aspiring authors seeking to make writing stronger and more effective – be they novice beginners or seasoned experts. Writer's Desk, The Jill Krementz Random House Inc. Jeffrey DeMann, Reviewer (guru1999@prodigy.net) 0679450149 $35.00 When I think of all the social documentarians, I will first and foremost thank those who pay tribute to the creative souls, and Jill Krementz deserves our thanks. The Writer's Desk is exactly what it purports to be and much more. The reader is given not only a visual perception of these well-known authors, but an actual glimpse into the essence of quite private individuals. Those who take the time will receive a full value of scales in terms of photographs and word pictures. One cannot but feel an intimate connection with the writer's who are interviewed in this book. The private work world once reserved only for authors is now revealed. Krementz has firsthand knowledge of this by being wed to author Kurt Vonnegut. In addition, she has innate instincts which have connected her soul to that of the writer. The Writer's Desk is more than a collection of intimate photographs. The Writer's Desk documents the visual eye which few have ever seen. It is one those intangibles which the bibliophile simply must have in one's personal library. Writer's Digest Books 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 www.fwpub.com Tim Lemire's I'm An English Major – Now What? (1582973628, $14.99) will hit a chord with any who love the liberal arts yet find themselves wondering how to get a job with such a degree. Surprisingly some big names too have English degrees: Alan Alda, Steven Spielberg, and Stephen King among them. I'm An English Major, Now What helps majors and grads understand how to apply their interests and skills to the job market. Chapters show how to market an English major, how to move beyond the usual writing/teaching directions to promote English skills in exciting career choices, and how to enhance and hone such skills through extracurricular activities. A 'must' for any who love English. William Baer's Writing Metrical Poetry: Contemporary Lessons For Mastering Traditional Forms (1582974152, $16.99) is a breath of fresh air because it teaches all the basics of poetry in all major forms, yet uses a modern set of examples and focused assignments, not droll re-reading of past classics. From a review of poetry's history to discussions on its applications in pop culture and to modern themes, Writing Metrical Poetry is an excellent study. Writer's Digest Dictionary of Concise Writing, The Robert Hartwell Fiske Writer's Digest Books 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207 0898797551 $19.99 1-800-289-0963 Successful writers treat their readers to a quality of writing hallmarked by clarity and energy. Robert Fisk spotlights say-nothing phrases that have waddled into common usage and shows how to kick them out of your work thus making your prose lighter, tighter, easier to read and to understand. Part one is a hard look at wordiness -- how to spot it, and how to keep it from robbing your writing of power. Part Two is a dictionary that is several thousand entries strong where you will see wordy phrases, compact alternatives, and (in many cases) verbose and streamlined examples. The Writer's Digest Dictionary Of Concise Writing: Thousands of Alternatives to Wordy Phrases is a "must have" reference whether you are writing a school paper or the next great American novel. Writer's Guide to Corporate Communications, The Mary Moreno Allworth Press 10 East 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010 http://www.allworth.com 1880559749 $18.95 1-800-491-2808 Freelance writers need to succeed in corporate communications: that's why this guide, written by a communications specialist, is so important. Moreno shares her expertise on finding clients, developing a portfolio, and setting fees, going beyond most books on business writing to cover the process which goes into writing scripts for business. Writers will find new job opportunities here. Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature, The Philip Martin The Writer Books/Kalmbach Pub. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612 0871161958 $16.95 1-800-533-6644 Philip Martin's The Writer's Guide To Fantasy Literature: From Dragon's Lair To Hero's Quest is a collection of informative essays specifically written to help both aspiring and established writers improve the quality of their work, and create fantasy worlds to suspend disbelief and capture the imagination. Essay contributors include such notable talents as Patricia A. McKillip, Jane Yolen, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Peter S. Beagle. Chapters and essays cover such issues as generating ideas, constructing a coherent plot, and enhancing settings with your own brand of magic. The Writer's Guide To Fantasy Literature is a truly inspiring and insightful "must-read" for anyone looking to improve their fantasy writing - and the majority of its tips, tricks, and techniques would also apply to the writing of science fiction, historical fiction, or genre novels of any sort! Writer's Guide To Magazine Articles, A Patricia L. Fry Matilija Press 323 East Matilija Street, Suite 110, Ojai, CA 93023 0961264268 $6.50 matilijapress.com A Writer's Guide To Magazine Articles For Book Promotion And Profit is a 66-page compendium of ideas, tools, and inspirations for writers with respect to coming up with saleable magazine article ideas, finding the right magazine for them, writing effective query letters, working with editors, conducting interviews, doing research, locating expertise, actually writing the article, even recycling articles. Practical, effective, easy-to-read, A Writer's Guide To Magazine Articles is highly recommended for aspiring writers seeking to break into print, extrapolating articles into books, crafting news releases, submitting book reviews, and any other aspect of writing articles professionally -- and profitably. Writer's Guide To Powerful Paragraphs, A Victor C. Pellegrino Maui arThoughts Company PO Box 967, Wailuku, HI 96793-0967 0945045050 $18.95 booksmaui.com A Writer's Guide To Powerful Paragraphs by Victor C. Pellegrino is a straightforward, easy-to-understand how-to guide to improving the quality of one's writing, one paragraph at a time. Aspiring writers are provided with thirty different but effective ways to organize and write competent paragraphs, including paragraphs focused on chronology, physical or process analysis, classification, enumeration, cause and effect, dialogue, anecdotes, introductions, conclusions, transitions, and a great deal more. Highly recommended and quite "user friendly", A Writer's Guide To Powerful Paragraphs is a superbly organized and presented supplement for aspiring authors of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels ranging from the high school novice, through community college and university level writing assignments, to professional contract and free-lance authors. Writer's Guide To Queries, Pitches & Proposals, The Moira Allen Allworth Press 10 East 23rd St, Suite 210, NY, NY 10010 1581150997 $16.95 1-800-491-2808 Writers need to develop strong proposals to even get their work read: Moira Allen's The Writer's Guide To Queries, Pitches & Proposals provides both beginning and experienced writers with tips and practical examples on how to write queries for publications ranging from books to columns. Insights on approaches which work also provide keys to understanding the publishing industry as a whole. Writer's Guide To Transitional Words And Expressions, A Victor C. Pellegrino Maui Arthoughts Company P.O. Box 967, Wailuku, HI 96793-0967 0945045026 $9.95 1-800-403-3472 A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words And Expressions by Victor Pellegrino is a very specific and highly useful reference for writers of all ages and skill levels, ranging from novelists to journalists. It is quite simply a collection of lists of English words and phrases. Each list is offered as an effective verbal transition mechanism for authors seeking the best phrase "To Indicate Time Order," "To Indicate a Sequence," "To Emphasize or Intensify," "To Substitute for 'Said'" and a dozen other lists. Perhaps most useful is A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words' unusual format layout, which makes an index tab for each list instantly visible upon opening to any page - which in turn makes finding the list one wants to consult a supremely quick and easy process. A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words is an enthusiastically recommended reference for professional writers of all walks, since the type of phrases it presents are not ones that are quite so easily gleaned from a common thesaurus. Also highly recommended is Victor Pellegrino's companion book A Writer's Guide To Using Eight Methods Of Transition (0945045034, $5.95). Writer's Internet Handbook, The Timothy Maloy Allworth Press 1880559803 $18.95 Writers using the Internet would do well to consult this guide, which provides a step-by-step approach to getting connected. From the basics of Internet research and its applications to writing objectives to how authors have marketed and sold their skills on the Net, this provides new and traditional writers alike with a range of computer-oriented applications choices. The Writer's Journey Christopher Vogler Michael Wiese Productions 3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, #1111, Studio City, CA 91604 9781932907360, $26.95 www.mwp.com 1-800-833-5738 Originally published in October 1998, "The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers by Christopher Vogler is now available in an updated and expanded third edition and continues to justifiably lay claim to being one of the most relied upon and influential instructional reference works for aspiring writers -- especially screenwriters. Drawing from the late Joseph Campbell's groundbreaking work, Vogler explores the historic and fundamental relationship between modern storytelling and classical mythology, and in the process reveals a set of useful myth-inspired storytelling paradigms, as well as step-by-step guidelines to plot and character development. This newest edition of a writer's reference classic includes a revised chapter that looks back on the 'Star Wars' phenomenon and an analysis of all six of the feature films as an epic on the theme of father-son relationships. There are new illustrations and diagrams providing additional perspectives to mythic principles. Of special note is the final chapter 'Trust the Path', an inspiring call to adventure for those aspiring writers seeking to discover themselves through their writing. A basic component of any personal, professional, academic, or community library basic writing reference collection, "The Writer's Journey" will now be of benefit to a whole new generation of movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, literary critics, academic scholars, writers of fiction and non-fiction, students of pop culture, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the adaptation of ancient myth to contemporary storytelling. Writer's Legal Guide, The Tad Crawford Allworth Press 10 East 23rd Street, #210, NY, NY 10010 1581150040 $19.95 1-212-777-6395 Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, Ted Crawford's The Writer's Legal Guide continues to authoritatively answer virtually every question writers are likely to face concerning their rights and the law. Extensively revised to cover recent developments in the law, The Writer's Legal Guide is an essential addition to every professional or aspiring writer's reference shelf as it covers such topics as gaining and keeping copyrights; copyright registration and deposit; work for hire and joint works; infringement, fair use, and permissions; libel and invasion of privacy; The Freedom of Information Act; contracts; magazines and syndication; electronic rights and new media; agents and agency contracts; vanity presses and self-publishing; grants and public support for writers; collaboration; even taxes and estate planning. Sample forms and contracts essential to every writer's business or legal transactions are provided, along with a selected bibliography and a complete index. Highly recommended. The Writer's Little Helper James V. Smith Jr. Writer's Digest Press/F&W, dist. 4700 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 1582974225 $19.99 writersdigest.com From time-saving tips to insights on how a believable dialogue is created and how a compelling pace is maintained, The Writer's Little Helper: Everything You Need To Know To Write Better And Get Published packs in specific tips and references for writers of fiction who wish to improve their style and quality of work. The format here is unique: it especially lends to browsers who just wish to hone in on a particular area of interest or improvement: checklists, boxed outlines and notes, the use of color bullets and more allow for quick, breezy reference. An exceptional guide for any who would absorb the foundations of good writing solid and who would hone improvement routines. Writer's Little Instruction Book, The Paul Raymond Martin Writer's World Press 35 North Chillicothe Road, Suite D, Aurora, OH 44202-8741 0963144170 $8.95 1-330-562-6667 The Writer's Little Instruction Book offers 385 secrets for writing well and getting published. Each of these short, pithy gems of practical wisdom providing essential information and instruction along with often-needed motivation. These are proven techniques and down-to-earth advice to help aspiring and emerging writers polish and publish what they write. Here are to be found words of affirmation and inspiration to "kick-start" the writing process, the "do's and don'ts" on the business of writing and on working with agents and editors; as well as "how-to" information on self-editing, coping with rejection, conquering writer's block, and much more. If you are an aspiring writer serious about having your work published, then read The Writer's Little Instruction Book -- and keep it handily nearby at all times. Writer's Market Companion, second edition Joe Feiertag et al. Writer's Digest Press / F&W Publications 4700 E Galbraith Rd Cincinnati OH 45236 1582972915 $19.99 1-800-289-0963 Now in an expanded and updated second edition, Writer's Market Companion is the collaborative effort of Joe Feiertag, Mary Carmen Cupito, and the editoral staff of Writer's Digest Books. Featuring tested advice for improving one's research and interviewing skills, writing for online markets, successfully sell fiction, nonfiction, and screenplays, and much more, Writer's Market Companion is packed from cover-to-cover with vital, need-to-know business advice. The second edition is especially enhanced with query letter samples and electronic submission guidelines that cater to the demands of writing markets in the twenty-first century. Writer's Market Companion is a "must-have" resource and reference for anyone seeking to write professionally. Writers on the Job Thomas E. Kennedy & Walter Cummins Hopewell Publications P.O. Box 11, Titusville, NJ 08560-0011 9781933435213, $15.95, http://www.hopepubs.com Writing is not a job that pays well at entry level. In fact, it's not a job that pays at all for most - "Writers on the Job: Tales of the Non-Writing Life" has twenty writers telling their stories of working the grind - something familiar to many in the entertainment industry of waiting tables to get their big break. Twenty writers tell their stories of how they get along while submitting their stories, novels, and essays abroad, sure to be an inspiration to many trying to hack their way through the craft. "Writers on the Job: Tales of the Non-Writing Life" is highly recommended to any writer just starting out, and for community library writing/publishing collections with a focus on memoirs. Writer's Online Marketplace Debbie Ridpath Ohi Writer's Digest Books c/o F&W Publications, Inc. 1507 Dana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45207 1582970165 $17.99 1-800-289-0963 Debbie Ohi's Writer's Online Marketplace is a definitive guide to getting published online. She provides an informative overview of today's online publishing landscape; methods for crafting queries and submissions addressing the specific needs of the online marketplace; using the Web to network, promote and sell work; making a web site; electronic rights; the differences between writing for print and writing for online publications; email basics that will ensure a positive response from editors; and invaluable information on who's buying what and what types of markets are now available on the Web. Enhanced with tips and advice from dozens of successful online writers, hundreds of Web site listings, a comprehensive section with details for 300 paying online markets (including what they want, how much they pay, contact information), Writer's Online Marketplace is an essential, core reference for any writer seeking to be published online for fun or profit. The Writer's Partner Martin Roth Michael Wiese Productions 11288 Ventura Blvd., PMB 821 Studio City, CA 91604 0941188329 $19.95 1-800-833-5738 In The Writer's Partner: 1001 Breakthrough Ideas To Stimulate Your Imagination, television script writer Martin Roth draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to present a compendium of quick and easy "things to do" to get started with a writing project, or embellish one already underway. From ideas for character development and plotting, this invaluable resource goes on to address genre categories including science fiction, horror, romance, comedy, sports, crime, westerns, and more. A truly "user friendly" text is further enhanced with appendices on "Web Wordage"; "National Hockey League Teams"; and "Additional Sports League Official Offices". The Writer's Partner is a valuable and practical addition to any writer's reference shelf. Writer's Partner for Fiction Television and Screen, The Martin Roth Index Publishing Group 3368 Governor Dr. #273, San Diego, CA 92122 1568661487 $19.95 Build stories suitable for television and screen with the aid of a writer's guide which is filled with ideas and techniques for producing screen-oriented writing. This will prove a perfect choice for any working in the theater arts: it provides plot lists, common plot problems and challenges, and plenty of detailed information to spark a production. The Writer's Quote Book Jim Fisher, editor Rutgers University Press 100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099 0813538823 $22.95 http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu 1-800-446-9323 Edited by Jim Fisher (professor emeritus, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania), The Writer's Quote Book is intended for aspiring writers combating writer's block, writer's of all walks, genres, and seasons, and book lovers who simply relish the printed word. Compiling the thoughts of five hundred published writers about the quintessence of literary life and what it means to write, The Writer's Quote Book offers passages ranging from one sentence to one paragraph long, each with its own distinct and often witty insight. Highly recommended. "Turning out flashy, dense, complicated prose is a breeze; putting things down in simple terms that anyone can understand takes brainwork." -Patricia T. O'Conner Writer's Resource Handbook, The Daniel Grant Allworth Press 188055979X $19.95 From locating writer's residency programs to seeking career advancement programs, this packs in a wealth of information for aspiring professional writers. Understand the industries which utilize - and pay for - the written word with this all-inclusive resource guide. Writer's Rule, The Helen Gurley Brown William Morrow 0688159060 $22.95 Learn how to create and publish positive prose through The Writer's Rule, written by a founder of Cosmopolitan and a writer for over three decades. Brown rose to the pinnacle of her profession: this imparts her basic formulas for creating - and testing - successful pieces. Recommended for aspiring writers. Writer's Sourcebook, The Rachel Friedman Ballon Lowell House 1565654668 $26.00 Make the transition from writing exercises to writing prose through a step-by-step account which begins with a 20-minute exercise and which continues through examinations of fundamental skills and writing motivations. Beginners learn about building plots and characters, using material from different sources, and producing fiction for both print and the screen. Writer's Tax Guide, The Michael Arthur Jones, CPA Veritas Publishing Company Box 325, McMinnville, OR 97128-0325 0965578704 $19.95 1-800-247-6553 The Writer's Tax Guide: Writing And Writing It Off is a comprehensive, "reader-friendly" tax guide that includes numerous examples of how professional and hobby writers are affected by provisions in the tax code. Each classification of writer is shown to bring with it certain tax benefits as well as disadvantages. Because of the crucial importance of a writer's taxpayer classification, all rules presented in the The Writer's Tax Guide are examined from both "business" and "hobby" points of view. A unique feature is a section at the end of each chapter "Questions You Should Ask Your Tax Preparer." Chapters also provide guidance in sections entitled "If Your Prepare Your Own Tax Return". The Writer's Tax Guide is very highly recommended for any writer who has earned money from their writing. Writer's Tool Kit, ACaroll Dale Short Court Street Press P.O. Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102 1588380459 $15.95 writerstoolkit.com Carroll Short's A Writer's Tool Kit: 12 Proven Ways You Can Make Your Writing Stronger - Today! is an immensely useful, accessible, and practical guide for beginning and experienced writers alike. Chapters cover a variety of ways to trim down and spice up one's grammar and prose, from pruning excess pronouns to using narrative sequence to make a story flow better, to bringing spoken dialogue to zest-filled life. Filled with examples and just plain solid advice, A Writer's Tool Kit is invaluable reading for all writers striving to improve their personal or professional wordsmithing abilities! The Writer's WorkshopGregory L. Roper Intercollegiate Studies Institute F.M. Kirby Campus 3901 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431 9781933859330, $18.00 www.isi.org 1-800-526-7022 It is a truism that people who have not read the great writers of English literature are less equipped to write as well as those who have. There are lessons available in the writings of such literary giants as Shakespeare, Milton, Conrad, Cicero, Aquinas, Dickens, Joyce, Hemingway, that can improve the narrative skills for written expression for high school students writing term papers, college students striving with creative writing assignments, aspiring authors yearning to see their manuscripts turned into books with the widest and most appreciative possible readership. "The Writer's Workshop: Imitating Your Way To Better Writing" by Gregory L. Roper (Professor of English and Directory of the Writing Program at the University of Dallas) is a complete-in-one-volume workshop instruction guide that can assist anyone from a home-schooled student, to a novice novelist, to an beginning playwright, to aspiring poet to write more effectively, fluently, engagingly, and successfully. Simply stated, "The Writer's Workshop" should be on the supplemental reading list of anyone wanting to successful express themselves through the written word and should be considered a core acquisition for personal, professional, academic, and community library Writing Reference Studies collections. writers.net: Every Writer's Essential Guide to Online Resources and Opportunities Gary Gach Prima Publishing 3875 Atherton Road, Rocklin, CA 95765-3716 0761506411 $22.00 1-916-632-4400 In writers.net, veteran Internet trainer and author Gary Gach gives writers of every medium valuable insight into using the Net in many aspects of their writing. From poetry and romance to technical writing and science fiction, Gach directs writers to appropriate forums, magazines, publishers, home pages, and many other resources that will help writers stay on top of developments in their field of specialty. writers.net also covers the most common uses of the Internet for writers including finding writing assignments, conducting research, improving one's writing, and carrying on discussion with other writers. For those new to the Internet, Gach provides an "Internet Primer for Writers" that includes basic terminology, a guided tour, and an essay that puts the Net in perspective for beginners. He also discusses the new worlds of electronic publishing, interactive and collaboratory writing, Net censorship, and cyberjournalism. There are three valuable Internet resources tied directly to writers.net. Research Central (http://www.primapublishing.com/other/76150641.html) is a hyperlinked version of Chapter 14. On this page, all 150 sites covered in the chapter are actively connected and immediately accessible to readers of writers.net and all other Netizens. Gach's Online Updates (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/2730/updates.html) is an online collection of updates, corrections, and additions to writers.net maintained by Gach. writers.net Forum is an unmoderated online forum. E-mail majordomo@listlink.berkeley.edu and in the message body put "subscribe writersnet." Prepublished and published writers are equally welcome. Discussion topics will span the subjects covered in writers.net and beyond. This is a free service to the writing community. Writes Of LifeRobert Yehling Koboca Publishing PO Box 133, Tomales, CA 94971 www.kobocapublishing.com 0974499773 $10.95 1-813-994-6262 Robert Yehling draws upon his experience and expertise as an author of fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, the spoken word, and teaching workshops around the country in Writes Of Life: Using Personal Experiences In Everything You Write. An informed and informative introduction to the fine craft of writing, Robert Yehling deftly guides aspiring writers through the process and practice of using their own (and others) true life experiences by deliberately incorporating them into their writing style. A very strongly recommended and instructive resource and reference for novice writers searching for greater and easier expression through their authorship and compositions, Writes Of Life comprehensively and logically approaches the intricate art and medium of writing and in doing so has much to offer even the more experienced author. |
