Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published

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Best book on the subject

Informed and easy to digest

Novel insights - of value even to published authors

Good book, disappointing author...

Comparing five books about writing book proposals

Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published
Susan Rabiner , and Alfred Fortunato
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393324613

Book Description

Distilled wisdom from two publishing pros for every serious nonfiction author in search of big commercial success.

Over 50,000 books are published in America each year, the vast majority nonfiction. Even so, many writers are stymied in getting their books published, never mind gaining significant attention for their ideas—and substantial sales. This is the book editors have been recommending to would-be authors. Filled with trade secrets, Thinking Like Your Editor explains:

• Why every proposal should ask and answer five key questions;
• how to tailor academic writing to a general reader, without losing ideas or dumbing down your work;
• how to write a proposal that editors cannot ignore;
• why the most important chapter is your introduction;
• why "simple structure, complex ideas" is the mantra for creating serious nonfiction;
• why smart nonfiction editors regularly reject great writing but find new arguments irresistible.

Whatever the topic, from history to business, science to philosophy, law, or gender studies, this book is vital to every serious nonfiction writer.

Customer Reviews:

Best book on the subject.......2007-10-18

"Thinking Like Your Editor" is one of the very best book for writers, up there with Strunk & White. The book not only explains how to get your own book published; it's a gold mine of advice on writing itself, and its authors' class shines through every line.

Informed and easy to digest.......2007-09-19

Rabiner and Fortunato's book is informed, insightful, a fast read, and easy to digest. It is not a step-by-step how-to book; instead it presents the key issues and concepts and provides guidance on how to address them. And its point of view--that of an editor or publisher--appears to be right on. It is as if you had an opportunity to get an honest, straightforward, well thought out answer from a top editor instead of the usual form letters or terse, cryptic meaningless notes. After years of working in this industry, I found this book both refreshing and helpful, even as an experienced writer.

Novel insights - of value even to published authors.......2007-07-28

Preparing a proposal for my second book, I bought THINKING LIKE YOUR EDITOR on a bit of a lark - and am delighted I did. The book helped me understand the early-on proposal process in a whole new light. I now see how my naive handling of my first book proposal (which was double-spaced, sent to the right editor, and fulfilled many of the points generally covered in other advice books) contributed to painful things that later happened along the way to publishing. This books fills an important niche and is valuable for academic or commercial authors.

Good book, disappointing author..........2007-06-19

I've owned this book for a while now and I've returned to it time and time again to familiarize myself with the process of composing the book proposal. I would recommend this book along with Peter Rubie's Telling the Story, which I think is slightly better.

My disappointment with Ms. Rabiner stems from a response to an e-mail I sent her asking a question about a nonfiction book I'm writing. While I wasn't expecting an invitation to dine with her or to be lauded with praise for a brilliant nonfiction idea, I was expecting a polite reply. Unfortuantely, Ms. Rabiner chose to answer my query with a rather rude two line response that caused me to infer that I was bothering her. At best, her response to me was unprofessional for an editor. I would think twice before recommending her as an agent based on this experience alone.

Perhaps this is sour grapes on my part because I was initially impressed with her as an agent based on the conent of Thinking Like Your Editor, but my brief communication with the real person behind the book left a sour taste in my mouth.

Comparing five books about writing book proposals.......2007-04-08

I bought five books to help me write a book proposal:

"How to Write a Book Proposal, 3rd edition," by Michael Larsen

"78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published & 14 Reasons Why It Just Might," by Pat Walsh

"The Forest for the Trees," by Betsy Lerner

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published, 4th edition," by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander

"Think Like Your Editor," by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunado

The worst was "How to Write a Book Proposal." This book felt like a bad date, like I wanted to wash my hair after reading it. The intent is to teach you to be an "Authorpreneur (r)." Yes, Larsen has registered this word. You'll learn such gems as everyone has 250 friends, and each of them has 250 friends, so you can "spread the word" about your book to more than 62,000 people by e-mail. I think there's a word for that -- spam. Larsen also says to include your promotion plan in the book proposal, including pushing "the paperback edition as hard as you can" when it's published a year after the hardcover edition. I'm not an agent or editor, but I'd think that an agent would giggle quietly to themselves if you were so presumptuous as to include a marketing plan for the paperback edition. (To the author's credit, he doesn't say you should suggest which actor should play the main character in the movie version of your book.) Then there's the chapter about including illustrations and cover art. Excuse me, I thought the editor and art director develop the cover art? I can't imagine creating the book cover to include in the proposal. And the author recommends including a "surprise," such as a baby shoe with a note saying "Now that I have a foot in the door." The book has one good piece of advice: pick a good title. For example, "How to Write a Book Proposal" is a title that will make 100,000 aspiring writers buy your book, regardless of how awful the book is.

"78 Reasons" was good. Some sections are wrong, such as #38 and #39, which correctly advises against paying for a vanity press to publish your book but confuses this with self-publishing. I've successfully self-published two books, and unsuccessfully self-published one book. The correct answer is that if you have a niche book in a niche market you know well, self-publish. Self-publishing mass market books is a recipe for disaster. Some of the advice is excellent, such as #16, about "killing your little darlings" (a scene you think is brilliant, that you build the rest of the book around). While most of this book is sound advice to a novice writer, as an experienced writer I didn't learn anything new.

"The Complete Idiot's Guide" covers the entire process from thinking of an idea through book proposals, book contracts, publicity tours, etc. It's a good overview but each chapter is too short. You'll need to buy another book about book proposals, etc. I'm keeping my copy as a reference to turn to occasionally but it's not the last word.

"The Forest for the Trees" starts with six essays about writing, with topics such as alcoholism, self-promoting poets (starting with Walt Whitman), the childhood of famous writers, writers who are too successful too young, etc. These are interesting reading. The second half of the book is essays about publishing, starting with literary agents. One paragraph describes the plethora of surprise gifts writers include with their query letters. She's received baby shoes, presumably from readers of Larsen's book. She says: "Please resist the temptation to do any of these outlandish things...a simple, dignified letter with a clear statement of your intent and credentials will win more affirmative responses than any gimmick or hype." If you read Larsen's book, read Lerner's book as the antidote. The next essays are about dealing with rejection, the life of editors, what writers want from editors, how book covers are designed, book titles selected, etc. This book is descriptive, not proscriptive, so you'll learn how the world of books operates, if not be told how to write a book and get it published. I enjoyed the author's "voice" and I recommend this book.

The best book is "Thinking Like Your Editor." The first half of the book is about preparing your book proposal. Unlike the other four books, reading this book made me completely rewrite my book proposal. The author begins by emphasizing the three most important things about a book: audience, audience, and audience. Who is going to buy your book? Not who might be sort of interested in your book, but who will feel that he or she must read your book. I'd thought about this before, but reading Rabiner's book made me think lucidly about this. She then walks you through the elements that must be in a book proposal, such as your thesis, or what makes your message unique and new and challenging; why is now the time to publish this book; and why are you the person most qualified to write it. The second half of the book is about writing your book, including the importance of narrative tension in non-fiction writing, and of presenting a balanced "argument" to make your views more convincing. The other four books made me say, "uh-huh, uh-huh" and not do anything. Rabiner's book made me spend several days working on my proposal. (My 2003 paperback copy has the typos corrected.)

Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication

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That's all there is?

Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication
Darrill Anderson
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on November 1, 2002. The length of the article is 769 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published. (Book Reviews).
Author: Darrill Anderson
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 2002
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 49 Issue: 4 Page: 475(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

That's all there is?.......2006-05-28

I thought I was buying a BOOK, not a review of a book. What a rip off.

Book Description

Combining fiction and nonfiction, this dramatic story set in the snowy backwoods follows the Robertson family as they prepare for Christmas in 1841. They are excitedly expecting visitors from afar. But as a winter storm begins to rage, the family fears for the safety of the travelers. How will Andrew and Sophie - with a baby on the way - fare on such a dangerous journey? Each chapter of the story is enhanced by information about the pioneer period and how Christmas was celebrated in the past. Children will learn about holiday traditions in more detail through crafts, games, songs and other activities. Even 150 years ago, Christmas was a special time. A companion book to A Pioneer Thanksgiving, A Pioneer Christmas weaves together stories, information and activities to create a tapestry of pioneer life.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Sequel to PIONEER SAMPLER.......2007-05-05

Yet a second sequel (following the Thanksgiving book) about a pioneer Scots family in Canada. As always, chapters are followed by information about the era and simple historical craft projects that can be done. The illustrations are nicely detailed.

The Flying Canoe (Aesop Accolades (Awards))

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The Flying Canoe (Aesop Accolades (Awards))
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On New Year’s eve, 1847, eleven-year-old Baptiste finds himself far from his friends and family and his home in La Beauce. He has come to the woods of the Ottawa Valley to live and work among “the finest lumberjacks in Canada.” As the New Year approaches, Baptiste and the lumberjacks grow more and more homesick. Resolved to see their families again before the stroke of midnight, the crew board a magical canoe that lifts them into the air, across villages, and closer to home.

This beautiful retelling of the Quebecois folktale reunites Roch Carrier with illustrator Sheldon Cohen and translator Sheila Fischman. (The Hockey Sweater, The Basketball Player, The Longest Home Run), and brings this beloved story to life.

A Wilderness Passover (Northern Lights Books for Children)

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A Wilderness Passover (Northern Lights Books for Children)
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Manufacturer: Red Deer Press
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Louie and Susan are excited about spending their first Passover in their mountain home. But without the right foods, they need to cook up a little Seder magic.

Christmas in Canada (Christmas Around the World Ser)

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Wonderful insight into Canadian Christmas traditions

Christmas in Canada (Christmas Around the World Ser)

Manufacturer: World Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Wonderful insight into Canadian Christmas traditions.......2007-03-07

Part of a series developed by World Book Inc. several decades ago for young people, these books have evolved into a rich storehouse of information for anyone of any age who enjoys learning the Christmas history, music, crafts, and recipes of many nations.

"Christmas in Canada" demonstrates the rich cultural heritage of Canada with chapters devoted to the British tradition, a French-Canadian Christmas, German settlers, Ukrainian customs and celebrations of First Nations Peoples.

The book is richly illustrated with full-color photos. There are piano arrangements of carols including "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime" also known as "The Huron Carol." Recipes in the book include Oyster Soup, Candied Cranberries, Mulled Cider, Honey Cake, and Maple Syrup Pie.

Included with the book are six recipe cards for additional Christmas treats and an Advent calendar.

Collect the whole series for your home library and re-read them every December.

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Delightful View into Inuit Culture
it was a good read

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Manufacturer: Annick Press
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Never having seen trees, the children in Repulse Bay decide that the funny things sent them one year must actually be baseball bats.

An autobiographical tale from Michael Kusugak's childhood tells a story of life in the arctic, and easily different cultures can interpret things differently.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful View into Inuit Culture.......2001-10-24

This is a wonderful story which conveys the resourcefulness of children. More than that, Michael provides a view from within the Inuit culture. He illuminates for those of us who did not grow up on the Arctic Circle what it is to live in that harsh environment. At the same time, he shows us how alike we all are: enjoying the holidays and a good baseball game with friends.
Vladyana's magnificent art is an added bonus.
I bought this book after hearing Michael tell the story at the International Reading Association teachers' conference in 1999. Since that time, it has become one of my favorites, as well as a favorite of my students and my colleagues.

it was a good read.......2000-06-19

i read this book to my brother who has asthma too. he is 4 and he realy enjoyed it i recommend it.

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One Splendid Tree
Marilyn Helmer
Manufacturer: Kids Can Press, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1553376838

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With Daddy away fighting in the Second World War, Hattie, Junior and Momma have had to move to the city so Momma can take a factory job. Money is tight, and this year a Christmas tree is a luxury the family cannot afford. But Junior finds an abandoned plant in the hallway, and in his eyes, it holds the promise of Christmas magic. If he can only convince Hattie, maybe they can have a tree after all! Marilyn Helmer's tender story and Dianne Eastman's richly detailed photocollage art bring this Christmas past to vivid life. Includes instructions on how to make your own snowman decoration!

Angel Square (Phoenix Honor Books (Awards))

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Angel Square
An interesting book

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Binding: Paperback

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It's 1945 and Tommy lives in the tough multi-ethnic neighborhood of Lowertown, Ottawa, where someone who hates Jewish people has attacked his best friend's father. Adopting the persona of his favorite radio hero, Tommy, aka. "The Shadow," teams up with friends "Killer" Bodnoff and CoCo Laframboise to find out who did it, but soon realizes that the quest will lead them straight to Angel Square - a fearsome battleground where Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish kids fight each other daily. Still, if Tommy can find the culprit, he's convinced Mr. Rosenberg will recover and his pal Sammy will return from the faraway town where his dad is hospitalized. And could it be that, in the process, Tommy will also manage to impress the girl of his dreams, Margot Lane? In the course of his search, Tommy learns about the forces that divide communities, as well as those that unite them.

Customer Reviews:

Angel Square.......2005-06-09

Angel Square is an exciting, suspenseful and historic novel. This book takes place after World War II. If you like mystery, this is the book for you. Young Tommy sees his best friend's dad get beaten up. Tommy goes on a quest to find out who beat up Sammy's dad and why? Will Tommy find out who beat up Sammy's dad? So many exciting events happen to Tommy in this book; for example when Tommy tries to make money to buy Christmas presents for his family. There are so many more exciting events happen in this book, I would love to tell you more but I would not like to spoil the book for you. I recommend this book to people who love exciting, humorous novel. I would recommend for this book for the 9-12 age group.

An interesting book.......2000-10-30

Tommy, aka the Shadow, is the main character of this book. A middle class kid growing up in post world war two, tommy and his friend Gerald try to find out who beat up their friend's father. I found this book to br fairly interesting, writen in the style of any young boy who thinks of himself as a great detective or whatnot. The characters are very human, all with their own habits, ect. The plot could have had some more dillema in it , though.

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The Best Book About Christmas Traditions

Canadian Christmas Traditions
DeeAnn Mandryk
Manufacturer: Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Included in this book are 28 traditional recipes showcasing Canada's multicultural heritage, plus a special section of 18 Christmas recipes from across the country, highlighting Canada's regional diversity. The origin of a Canadian Christmas is a fascinating blend of different traditions and festivities. The stories behind the celebration originate from around the world, and paint a wonderful picture of a season of joy, faith, superstition, and celebration stretching back over thousands of years.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Book About Christmas Traditions.......2006-01-16

I have been searching for a book for a long time that will explain where most of our Christmas traditions originate. This is it. The book by DeeAnn Mandryk is not only fascinating to read but also provides all the answers to the questions I always had.
An absolute must for everyone who wanted to know everything about Christmas traditions.

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A Candle for Christmas
Jean Speare
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Binding: Hardcover

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Christmas at Wapos Bay (From Many Peoples)

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Christmas at Wapos Bay (From Many Peoples)
Jordan Wheeler , and Dennis Jackson
Manufacturer: Coteau Books
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ASIN: 1550503243
Release Date: 2005-10-17

Book Description

At Christmas time in Northern Saskatchewan, three Cree kids - Talon, Raven and T-Bear, who have never lived in the bush - visit their Moshum's (grandfather's) cabin to learn about traditional ways and experience a life-changing adventure. Talon, Raven, and T-Bear, who have never lived in the bush, visit their Moshum's cabin to prepare for Christmas and to learn about traditional ways. But food is scarce this year, and Moshum is afraid Christmas may have to be cancelled. The kids decide to help by going hunting, but they don't understand how unprepared they are or what danger they're in. They get lost, forcing Moshum to come after them. But when they find him collapsed in the bush, it is the children who have to bring Moshum safely home. The experience helps them to grow in skill and understanding and to become more mature. Their parents come and Christmas isn't cancelled, in fact it's a wonderful, warm celebration, filled with music and feasting. T-Bear, Talon, and Ravon learn that they can benefit from two kinds of knowledge - traditional learning through their elders and the things they learn in school.

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