How to Write What You Want and Sell What You Write

by Skip Press

How to Write What You Want and Sell What You Write

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Business

268 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 1991

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim while at Barnes & Nobel with a birthday gift card in hand. It turns out that this was a remarkably helpful book for anyone trying to sell their writing. Skip Press is a veteran of the field and has insightful advice, much of which comes from his years of experience. I appreciated the chapters on non-fiction and journalism since those are my particular areas of interest. I personally, have been paid for my work, so some of his advice for people just getting into the field was not personally applicable, but certainly helpful. I did appreciate his advice on how to write, including discipline, contacts, editor expectations, pitching a story, etc. This was very helpful and encouraging.

I have been dabbling in fiction and short story, and appreciated not only Skip's chapters on PR and marketing in this area, but also networking, selling, as well as technique. He includes a chapter on ghostwriting, which some may find useful. I, personally, have moral qualms about certain forms of ghostwriting, which is different from writing anonymously or as a group of individuals (e.g. for a company), but Skip seems to take a pretty good perspective on it, including very clear boundaries. He does not define ghostwriting as loosely as some would.

Overall a good resource for writers of all levels and varieties.

[Roger Eschbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A veritable Swiss army knife of a "how-to" writing book, just about every format imaginable is covered within its pages. From novels, TV and Film through corporate reports, graphic novels, and magazine articles, author Skip Press gives first-rate/pro-level advice on how to get started and come off looking like a professional. I've been a paid writer for a number of years now and I still learned quite a bit. A real confidence builder for the newbie, too.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it. Followed advice. Sold only ever piece to nationally syndicated magazine. Well done, Mr Press.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is too broad, for lack of a better explanation. It's great if you wake up one day and suddenly decide you want to write, but have no idea what or how to get about it. Then all the tips here will be very useful. If you however already have an idea of what you want to write and what you want to focus on, then not all the chapters will help. The first half was what I found most useful, it talks about writing either articles, novels, or even screenplays. The advice given was sound, logical, and doable. The chapters were short and to the point, which for beginners is great, I sometimes wished I had more, but luckily this is not the first book on writing I read, so I could fill in the gaps. The think that I really didn't like was that it is completely cantered on an American audience. I'm not saying this is bad in anyway, and I'm certainly not expecting the guy to know how the publishing world works outside his home country, but he kept insisting on going to New York, LA and the likes, and sometimes it gave me the impression that he never intended the book to be read outside the US, so a few of the tips feel really alien to me, or not doable at all. You have to extrapolate the knowledge to your own reality, and do the research yourself if you live elsewhere, so all the helpful things he wanted to provide, might not work unless you are in the US. I certainly can't afford to go on 'a little trip to NY', but I can definitely find what my options are in my own country. The ideas he provides are still good. I'll see what I can put in motion with these suggestions. But first of all, get something written, that's probably the most important part of all.

[S.E. Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an easy read, meaning that Mr. Press tips and ideas are presented in an easy to follow and understand. Since the edition, I purchased is a 2005 Barnes and Noble Publication some of the websites listed throughout the readings are no longer active. I never really thought of screenwriting or writing a book to become a movie, I write because of the stories in my head that I want to share with everyone. Mr. Press pointers have helped me to know how to set up my query letter and manuscript for possible publishers. I recommend this book to anyone who has, like me already self-published, to see what you have done right and wrong and where to make minor improvements.

[Gaston G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent book if you want to learn some of the tricks to become a writer. Mr. Skip Press does not teach or explain how to write, he explains format to be used to present your work whether it be book, movie or TV scripts, poems, even jokes. I would recommend it to any writer wannabe.

[Travis E.]

As an aspiring author, very helpful.

[Writer's Edit]

Press clearly cares about the next generation of writers and the writing process, as is not only evidenced in the work itself, but in his commitment to improving editions. In addition to the 2011 update, Press is currently rewriting the work to reflect recent advancements in the publishing industry.

I would give How to Write What You Want and Sell What You Write a Siskel and Ebert two thumbs up or a Michelin five stars… but I guess that would be hackneyed and cliche.

Read our full review here: https://www.writersedit.com/book-revi...

[Camille Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I really like this book, and I think it is incredibly interesting, as well as applicable. However, I must admit that I haven't read it all the way through. But there is a reason for that! This book is absolutely full of information, and right now, when I am only writing and have yet to try to publish anything, only the beginning makes sense to me.
I now own this book, and fully intend to use it later in my life when I actually finish writing something. =)

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay. It had advice for all types of writing but most of it are writings I don't think I'll ever try out. The novel section wasn't very helpful to me so that's why I only gave it 3 stars.

[Amber Ziegler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre

[Ajcc]

F 808 PRE

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some really good advice in it. I am a new writer, however. I will ultimately see how it pans out. Right now, it seems like he has really good advice as to where to start. :)

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review of this book here:

http://annalisaparent.com/2014/07/04/...

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12883857