Product Description

Practical, personal and honest advice on how to get published with contributions from over a hundred authors, agents, publishers and journalists. Hear from the professionals on how to sell your articles, write a synopsis, find an agent, get your novel accepted and much, much more. With insights, anecdotes and hot tips from Frederick Forsyth, Jilly Cooper, Ian Rankin, Katie Fforde, Jill Mansell, Adele Parks, Lesley Pearse, Michael Buerk, Carole Matthews, Erica James, Mil Millington, Miles Kington, Michael Bywater, Rosie Millard, Robert Crampton, Richard Morrison, Simon Trewin, Jonathan Lloyd, Teresa Chris and Jane Judd as well as publishers Harper Collins, Hodder Headline, Transworld, Orion and Simon & Schuster. A must-have handbook for anyone who's ever wanted to write or just wants to hear how others to do it... Where do you start? How do you finish? And will anyone ever publish it when you have? Drawing on her own experiences as a novelist and journalist, Writing Magazine's agony aunt Jane Wenham-Jones takes you through the minefield of the writing process, giving advice on everything from how to avoid Writers' Bottom to what to wear to your launch party. Wannabe a Writer? tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the book world - and a few things you didn't...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4241 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Excellent. A must-have book for every budding writer --New Writing Magazine

Practical and funny... packed with information and advice for new writers. --Woman's Weekly

I wish it had been on the shelves when I started out. --Katie Fforde - bestselling author

Woman's Weekly
Practical and funny...packed with information and advice

Katie Fforde
Tremendously informative. I wish it had been on the shelves when I started out.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant
Both wonderfully entertaining and extremely helpful, this book is ideal for all people, from those of us who have just daydreamed about becoming a writer, to those of you who are already well on their way. Well written with an endearing personal touch it was perfect for me, still being at university a book on how to become a writer could easily have terrified me out of the profession forever! This book, however, inspired several of my friends and I to give writing a go. Each chapter is full of useful information sandwiched between Jane's own unpretentious and amusing life experiences as a writer; I would highly recommend it to all!

Real people with real lives....real writing
Like every second house in every second street, I aspire to be published. I bought this book, initially because the reviews hinted at it being a wring book for the non-committed writer. And it is. But it's also for the absolutely dedicated, fanatical writer too. So who wins?
Both parties as it turn out. This book delivers everything you'd want. A fun read, a hilarious read. A real book of realistic expectations. it doesn't promise to make you or me rich. It can't even promise break even. even alluding to permanent poverty and despair.
However, it does demonstrate the best way to destroy your liver and family life. So that's fine by me too. A large glass if you please. Oh, and a keyboard to go....

Realistic, helpful and amusing
At last a 'how to' book on writing that doesn't preach to its readers. Wenham-Jones' writing style is funny, making the book a page-turner anyway but, for me, it's the fact that her approach is totally down-to-earth, realistic and not too highbrow that makes it a winner. The author shares her own struggles trying to get fiction published and reminds you constantly that hardly anyone creates a masterpiece on their first attempt. Instead she gives all sorts of tips that I found both inspiring and useful, plus lots of useful contacts, websites and groups you can join for support.
If you're serious about your writing, you won't regret buying this book.