The Writer's Friend: Behind the Scenes with Editors

by Joseph Gregg, Ron Franscell, Nancy McAlary, et al.

The Writer's Friend is perhaps the first book to show how magazine editors view writers and how editors would like writers to change. More than 40 editors from around the world reveal what writers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967365104
• ISBN13: 9780967365107
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Writing Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

This Will Become Your Friend!

"The Writer's Friend", it truly will become your friend. This book will give you powerful insight into the world of editors. Not only will you learn from the authors' of this book, but you will also learn from a number of editors as they tell you what they like and dislike in submissions. You will learn how to grab an editor's attention and begin earning money selling your articles."The Writer's Friend", in addition, gives you information on researching, giving interviews, preparing and submitting query letters, improving your writing skills, getting ideas for stories and articles, and a lot more. Not only did I find this book helpful but I also gained inspiration from it. Everytime I put the book down I found myself at my computer polishing up my articles, stories, and queries; that's how much "The Writer's Friend" inspired and helped me.This book is a must for all freelance writers. It would even make a great book for teachers to aid them in teaching their courses on freelance writing. After you finish the book you will want to store it by your computer to keep referring to. It not only provides you with resources on and off-line, but an appendix of questions that you can always look back at.If you find yourself down because of rejections and feel that you should just give up, think again, just pick up a copy of "The Writer's Friend" and you're sure to be back in your spirits of writing and submitting again! I give this book 5 stars for outstanding excellence!

For neophytes and pros alike

"It's about time someone wrote a book for writers that concentrates on the view from the editor's side of the desk," I said to Linda Davis Kyle when she asked me to supply a tip or two for the "The Writer's Friend." After reading the finished product, I found that not only is this book a must-read for neophyte scribes, but it is also an equally valuable refresher for old pros. Chapter 5, "A Day in the Life of an Editor," and its blow-by-blow description of how editors do what they do should be required reading for all writers, again, experienced or not. The other chapters are packed with clear, concise advice that, if followed, will increase the odds of receiving checks in the mail for stories sold, instead of those dreaded rejection letters. Highly recommended!

Sell More of What You Write

The secret to selling your writing is to understand your buyers and what they need. Writers sell product. Editors buy entertainment (fiction) or information (nonfiction). The Writer's Friend reveals who editors are, what they do and what they need. Use this sage advice to get on the inside track to sell more of your writing sooner. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

Every writer needs "The Writer's Friend"!

Not sure how to approach editors? Tired of receiving rejection letters? Then The Writer's Friend is for you! It's chock full of useful tips and practical advice to help writers get published and turn those rejection slips into checks.The 20 short and easy-to-read chapters cover the whole of the writing process from studying the market and analzing target publications to composing sparkling query letters, to interviewing, researching and finding new twists for story ideas. Drawing on their own experience as well as including words of advice from over 40 editors from around the world, the authors have produced a veritable treasure chest for writers. Novice writers will find the book indispensable but more experienced writers, too, will find a wealth of helpful suggestions to help them enter new markets and increase sales.

"Must" reading for all aspiring writers seeking publication.

First off, The Writer's Friend has earned itself a permanent place next to my PC. Why? Because it is exactly what the title claims; "The Writer's Friend". This book, in a few short chapters, manages to detail for you, the hardened pro or newbie amateur, exactly what you need to know that mere talent itself does not cover. Chapters such as; Preparing to Query and Writing Warmups are absolutely indispensable. Not to mention others like; Writing with a Purpose Pays and Maximizing Your Research. The Writer's Friend, a friend indeed. Trade PB, 192 pages, -- Leann Arndt, Reviewer