Getting Your Book Published for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: They Could Have Done Better ...
Review: Alas! The estimable Stephanie Dray has written most the review of this book that I wanted to write. As does Ms. Dray, I feel that some of the content is trite.

Otherwise: One really good thing this book has going for it was far too brief. That is the initial "Getting Started" section. The authors provided much good info therein, but there is a lot more to be said about evaluating and developing ideas, as well as on the subject of how things work (and don't work) in the world of freelancing. (New writers--and that is the category into which most of the buyers of this book fall--need more direction in those areas.)

The title makes me wonder what the marketing and editorial people weren't thinking when they agreed on it. The publisher deals exclusively with nonfiction books, and I think this led to editorial and marketing thinking in terms of nonfiction books only--not taking into account the fact that novels are books, too! Thus it may be that the title misled novelists into thinking the book was for them.

On the paw, "Getting Your Nonfiction Book Published for Dummies" would have been a bit unweildy. But the cover copy or a subtitle would have sufficed to alert the reader. (Details, details ...)

I applaud the line's parent, IDG, for moving into the writing how-to field. But they could have done better.

Rating:
Summary: They Could Have Done Better ...
Review: Alas! The estimable Stephanie Dray has written most the review of this book that I wanted to write. As does Ms. Dray, I feel that some of the content is trite.

Otherwise: One really good thing this book has going for it was far too brief. That is the initial "Getting Started" section. The authors provided much good info therein, but there is a lot more to be said about evaluating and developing ideas, as well as on the subject of how things work (and don't work) in the world of freelancing. (New writers--and that is the category into which most of the buyers of this book fall--need more direction in those areas.)

The title makes me wonder what the marketing and editorial people weren't thinking when they agreed on it. The publisher deals exclusively with nonfiction books, and I think this led to editorial and marketing thinking in terms of nonfiction books only--not taking into account the fact that novels are books, too! Thus it may be that the title misled novelists into thinking the book was for them.

On the paw, "Getting Your Nonfiction Book Published for Dummies" would have been a bit unweildy. But the cover copy or a subtitle would have sufficed to alert the reader. (Details, details ...)

I applaud the line's parent, IDG, for moving into the writing how-to field. But they could have done better.

Rating:
Summary: This book made me look like an idiot...
Review: Earlier this year I had a book fall in my lap. A publishing company had an idea for a book, and I just happened to be the expert in the book's topic. I had a journalism background, so the publisher offered me the job. We set up a meeting to talk about the specifics of my duties and my contract a few days later.

I ran out and sifted throught the limited section of books on publishing at my local bookstore. I chose this book and began to read through the chapters. Although the organization of the book is pretty good and there is some good information (probably more suited for the publishing market a few years ago), some really bad advice nearly cost me the job.

The standard royalty rates weren't really put into context (for example, my specific situation was hard to apply to the text). I felt like all of the information was too general, and because of that, I looked like an idiot in front of my editor, marketing coordinator and the VP of acquisitions.

I got a lot out of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published, The Self-Publishing Manual and a few other books. For the money, I got very little out of this title.

Rating:
Summary: This book is EXCELLENT!!
Review: Getting Your Book Published for Dummies is a wonderful resource for anyone wants step-by-step information on how to get their book published. I loved everything about this book, from the down-to-earth and upbeat style, to the specific information about contracts and finding an agent, reading these chapters made me feel like a career as a professional writer is possible.

I loved the info on the various publishing houses that provides web site addresses and contact names. I also loved the section that tells you what happens during an auction and how the book interprets the publishing industry lingo so the common person may understand. And I appreciated how you're advised not to 'jump' at any offer, but to be a professional and evaluate the terms before giving your approval.

Each piece of advice presented in this book is critical and helpful and I feel much more informed and prepared. The money and time spent in reading Getting Your Book Published is more than worth it and this book is highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: This book is EXCELLENT!!
Review: Getting Your Book Published for Dummies is a wonderful resource for anyone wants step-by-step information on how to get their book published. I loved everything about this book, from the down-to-earth and upbeat style, to the specific information about contracts and finding an agent, reading these chapters made me feel like a career as a professional writer is possible.

I loved the info on the various publishing houses that provides web site addresses and contact names. I also loved the section that tells you what happens during an auction and how the book interprets the publishing industry lingo so the common person may understand. And I appreciated how you're advised not to 'jump' at any offer, but to be a professional and evaluate the terms before giving your approval.

Each piece of advice presented in this book is critical and helpful and I feel much more informed and prepared. The money and time spent in reading Getting Your Book Published is more than worth it and this book is highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Any aspiring author NEEEEEEDS this book
Review: It's a bit dated, but it really shows a lot of the intricacies involved with the DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLISHING. It was a bit weak on the POD side, and somewhat dated for the traditional publishing method, but all in all, I can't see writing a book-then trying to publish it-without reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Any aspiring author NEEEEEEDS this book
Review: It's a bit dated, but it really shows a lot of the intricacies involved with the DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLISHING. It was a bit weak on the POD side, and somewhat dated for the traditional publishing method, but all in all, I can't see writing a book-then trying to publish it-without reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: It's About Time Someone Made it Easy!
Review: Not only does this book give writers valuable resources to get their manuscript out there, it explains the publishing process! This book doesn't do the work for you of course, but it does set you on the right path to getting the job done! There is a lot of information in this book that the Writers Market Guide or any writer's workshop does not provide. For those who are serious about getting their work published, this book must be permanently placed on your desk!

Rating:
Summary: Getting your book published for those who already have
Review: This book was a disappointment. The reviews below pretty much reflect my problems with the book. Another problem I had concerned promotion. The authors assume that every aspiring author already has extensive media contacts. The sample proposal they give is from 2 college professors who have already published 2 books and have been featured on national TV and raidio. Now come on, most people who buy this book have not been on national TV and have no idea where to begin a promotional campaign. That's why they buy this book in the first place! Instead of telling us how to establish media contacts to use in the proposal, the authors simply tell us to use all our media contacts in the proposal. If I already had media contacts I wouldn't have needed the book.

In sum, if you havn't already published a few books and havn't been on national TV, this book will leave you with many lingering questions.

Rating:
Summary: Dummies buy this book
Review: Too general to be useful. Too trite to be tolerated. I read the whole thing in about an hour, and realized it was geared mostly to non-fiction writers, held dubious advice about calling editors directly (against a mountain of evidence to the contrary about how much editors do not want to receive phone calls), and was really only a superficial glossing over the topic. The 'Sell-Your-Novel Toolkit' by Elizabeth Lyon seems more helpful.