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How to Get Happily Published
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
According to Judith Appelbaum, author of How to Get
Happily Published, "it is largely within your power to determine whether
your work will get published and whether the public will buy it once it's
released." Anyone who has had a manuscript boomerang back from every
publisher who sees it (or a book remaindered mere months after publication)
may view this assertion with some amount of skepticism. But, as Appelbaum
says, "hardly anybody treats getting published as if it were a rational,
manageable activity," and it's hard to argue with that.
In addition to providing a mini-course on editors and agents and
submissions and funding—peppered with revealing anecdotes from the front
lines—Appelbaum offers information less frequently found in books of this
sort. For one, she emphasizes the importance of taking publicity for your
book or article into your own hands (and she has savvy advice on how to do
so without alienating your publisher's publicity department). She also makes
a very strong case for self- publishing—not to be confused with using a
vanity press—and then tells you how to go about it. And finally, her
annotated resource guide to books, Web sites, periodicals, courses,
organizations, and more—stretching to over 120 pages—is astounding. That's
right. Astounding. —Jane Steinberg
Spotlight
Reviews
Great insights into the writer-publisher relationship., February
11, 2003
I almost put this book away after just starting it, because I didn't
like the first section on how to write well. Her suggestions on writing
seemed almost fatalistic—either you have it or you don't. Where the
book excels is when Judith gives her advice on dealing with editors,
publicists, and others in the publishing industry. As a publisher, her
words rang true. The author definitely knows how to coach authors to win
the attention and respect of those in the publishing industry and then
to make their books successful.
When I got to the final section of the book I was amazed. She has 120
pages listing every conceivable resource for writers organized into the
five main sections of her book: where to find material for writing and
advice on how to write well and connect with writers' support groups;
connecting with people of influence and negotiating the best deal with
the publisher; the follow-through needed to make your book successful;
help with self-publishing when you choose to go it alone; and how to
earn more money as a writer. She lists the books, web sites, other
publications and contacts for each of these topics, and comments on each
resource. This is truly an incredible aid to the aspiring author, and
must come from a deep well of experience that Ms. Appelbaum possesses.
The book addresses the needs of both fiction and nonfiction writers.
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Reviewer: Dan
Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual, from Santa Barbara
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How to Get Happily Published is the best-selling book on book publishing.
Judy tells you what is selling, how to find an agent and/or a publisher and
what to submit to them. Then she gets into book promotion and sales. [It
does not matter whether you sell out to a large (NY) publisher or publish
yourself, the author must do the promoting]. She describes where to find
help, where to find money (grants, writers' colonies, tax angles, angels and
more) and what to do once your book hits the charts. Judy is an author, past
executive editor of Publishers Weekly and a book publicist. She knows book
publishing and shares the knowledge generously. Whether you plan to look for
a publisher or self-publish, this book is a recommended investment.
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