Damn! Why Didn't I Write That?: How Ordinary People Are Raking in $100,000,00...or More Writing Nonfiction Books & How You Can Too!

by Marc McCutcheon

Book Overview

More non-fiction books are breaking the 100,000-copy sale barrier than ever before. Amateur writers, housewives, and even high school dropouts have cashed in with astonishingly simple best-sellers.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1884956173
• ISBN13: 9781884956171
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Quill Driver Books
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

If you are serious about non-fiction- BUY THIS BOOK!

I had an idea buzzing around for a non-fiction book, I wound up buying "Damn! Why Didn't I Write That?" as the title grabbed my interest and I needed more information on writing proposals. I stayed up all night reading this engaging book. The next day I began hashing my proposal out, following the wisdom and guidance found in the book. Six months later and I've just been offered a contract from McGraw Hill! I think that speaks volumes! This book will inspire you! Marc McCutcheon offers all the tools, motivation, and information needed to get started. It's no mystery that you have to add the "ideas",the writing talent, and the perserverance, but the rest of what you need, will be found in the pages of "Damn! Why Didn't I Write That?" Thank you Marc McCutcheon for producing such a quality book! Regards, B.A.Webb www.bawebb.com

More than just HOW...This books reminds you WHY

Sometimes a book is great because it's well-written, organized, clear, and/or comical. This book is all of the above. But in my opinion, what sets it apart from all the other good books on writing is Marc McCutcheon's personal touch. This is one of those books where the author's personality really shines through. I loved it from the minute I skimmed through it in the bookstore, and straight through the 3 or 4 times I've gone back to it over the last few years. The reason that it's the only writing book I've bought instead of just borrowed from the library is simple: Marc McCutcheon has achieved the essence of what I would one day like to achieve for myself.You might be wondering what that is, exactly. It's the freedom that comes from working for no one but yourself, and living your life in a constant state of creative expression. All you have to do to see that Marc McCutcheon has reached this point is read his dedication:"To all the kids on Hamilton Street who have drawn me away from the confines of my office to play whiffleball, break up fights, shoot hoops, check out salamanders,...apply bandages, build snow forts,...and provide endless excuses not to work when I didn't want to anyway..."This is the kind of life that being a successful writer can afford. There are many books that show you how to get there, but this is the only one that also reminds you why you're doing it in the first place. When you're swimming in rejection slips, uncertainty, and more than your fair share of disappointments, what you need most is NOT a how-to book, but something to remind you what you're working towards. This book is that something.

solid & inspirational

Marc McCutcheon pulls out all stops from the get-go. Instead of implying that "you, too can make money writing books," he tells you the exact figures he has earned in advances and royalties for various titles he has published. He gives sample query letters and proposals, including the one for the very book you're reading! McCutcheon explains how even a highschool dropout like himself can become an authority on various subjects as long as the author is willing to research and stick with their projects.He covers marketing, publicity, agents and editors. The book is fairly brief considering the span of what is covered, yet it is very thorough and easy-to-read.I have picked up a number of "how to get published" books, but they are all snore fests. They ramble on so much, it has been hard to pick out the lean meat from all the fat in the way. McCutcheon is to be applauded for delivering a straight how-to book on a seemingly overwhelming industry.McCutcheon inspires the reader by making this industry approachable and makes attaining the hope of getting your book published attainable.

Damn! Why didn't I write this FIRST?

Many 'how-to-get-published' books are vague in the concept of writing, but strong on the proposal and submittal of manuscripts. Marc McCutcheon makes his book stand out with specifics for getting your writing noticed, published, and sold. His writing style is casual and humorous, yet professional. I found it to be easy to read, inspiring, and factual. He puts in print what I've been thinking for years as I browsed through the latest Thousands-of-Reasons-to-Make-Maccaroni-type titles: I could've written that...I'm not even a PhD and I could've done that, and so-on.McCutcheon's tips on writing are very concise and motivating, with a fresh delivery of facts, not rehashing. The book also contains a thorough section of resources; from finding an expert on your nonfiction topic of choice, to a glossary of publishing terms for newbies. You'll find examples of query letters McCutcheon used himself to sell his books, as well as sample contracts with translations from legalese into normal language.He lists several success stories of everyday people who sold blockbusters. Common obstacles are addressed such as not having a degree (he is a high-school dropout himself), whether your idea is promotable, contract negotiation, and how to research. You are shown that with the right tools and hard work, anyone can do it.Once believing I might be able to write a non-fiction book and get it published, I now KNOW it. This is a must-read.

Great information, complete direction

The common conception about writing as a career is that it is difficult to get into and produces many "starving" artists. While this may be true in many situations, Marc McCutcheon argues convincingly that it is not necessarily the case when it comes to nonfiction writing. According to the author over 50,000 new books are published each year, but only about 3,500 of them are fiction. As a result, most of the competition is in the fiction area. The nonfiction area is by far the easiest one in which to become published.The author relates how even a beginning writer can learn to write nonfiction and start making a living as a writer much faster than commonly believed. The book is filled with the necessary details of not only writing a great nonfiction work but also how to handle contract negotiations, why you need (or don't need) an agent, writing proposals, marketing and just about any other subject that the writer may need to know.Throughout the book, McCutcheon encourages the new writer and points out that many top selling titles were written by ordinary people without any special writing skills or training. A book that should be on the bookshelf of all writers, I can't recommend it highly enough.