You Can Make It Big Writing Books: A Top Agent Shows How to Develop a Million-Dollar Bestseller
Author: Jeff Herman
List Price: $18.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0761513620
Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (08 September, 1999)
Sales Rank: 73,158
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Publishing is a Business
This book is wonderful. It combines the professional know-how of 60 celebrated American authors. The topselling American authors all seem to have been asked the same questions, and there is a lot to learn from this group of successful self-promoters in the first 220 pages of the book. And in the final third of the book is devoted to promotional tips from top literary agent Jeff Herman and his colleagues. Every page of "You Can Make It Big Writing Books" has inspiration. But this book is not about writing fine literature. This is about taking a pretty good idea and positioning it for success. This book for those who wants to make big money writing books -- from the basics of drafting a great idea into a marketable book to the specifics of book publishing.
I recommend: don't even think about writing a book until you read "You Can Make It Big Writing Books". This is one of the best reference books on this subject, maybe the next after "How to Be Your Own Literary Agent: The Business of Getting a Book Published" by Richard Curtis. It is a must-have for anyone trying to break into the world of authorship.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Inspired, practical advice for aspiring writers.
Literary agents and published authors Jeff Herman, Deborah Herman, and Julia DeVillers collaborate on You Can Make It Big Writing Books to relate the success stories (in their own words) of sixty writers who made it big. The aspiring writer will learn how to create a product people will buy; the insider story behind publishing's greatest success; how to promote a book to the big time; how to avoid sabotaging chances of publishing success; and the "Seven Secret Ingredients" to making it big as an author of books. You Can Make It Big Writing Books is highly recommended, informative, and inspiring reading for anyone seeking to write marketable fiction or non-fiction.
Rating: 2 out of 5
How to Make It Big 30 Years Ago
This book is a series of questionnaires filled out by successful authors. Many, if not most, have published 10, 20, or 30 bestsellers in the past 10, 20, or 30 years. Over and over the writers say that 30 years ago they did this or they had this bit of luck, which started their career. The Internet, self-publishing, print-on-demand, e-books, etc. are mentioned maybe once in passing, or not at all. What's repeatedly discussed is enduring reams of rejection letters from agents and publishers. I don't know any aspiring writers who worry about that. We're too busy finding ways to sell directly to readers to worry about agents and publishers. This book will give you great insights into what it took to "make it big" in publishing 30 years ago. Don't expect to learn much of use in the 21st century.
--
Review by Thomas David Kehoe, author of "Hearts and Minds: How Our Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships" Similar Products
Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition
Book Index