The Business of Being a Writer (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)

This would be a good resource for high school or college students interested in learning more about the publishing industry. Although some of the information is dated, the insights provided retain their value. I wish there had been more information for self-published writers or authorpreneurs.

Great book. Feels like you have a friend sharing their best info with you.

Jane Friedman does a thorough job of describing writing careers in many fields and what writers will encounter. The book will burst false notions idealists hold. I recommend her book to those who’d like to write for a living, and everybody who hopes to publish their manuscript. I spent most of life working as a journalist, technical writer, and copywriter. I have experienced what Jane so openingly shares in her book. Her book will save those entering the field a lot of disappointment and heartache.

Wow. WOW. I haven't found such a comprehensive resource on being a professional author anywhere else. It answers so many questions I still had, despite months of research, and a few I didn't know I needed to ask. Definitely a must-have for anyone considering a career relating to publishing in some form (and definitely something that'll require MULTIPLE re-reads).

I read a lot of self-help and inspirational books, and writing advice (heck, I write some). Most of it is the "Woohoo! You can do this!" type necessary to psyching yourself up to do the difficult business of wrangling words and sharing them.This book is not one of those books.This book is your older, wiser, best friend who loves you, and sits you down to say,"Girl, I believe you can do it if you want to--you know I do. But first, let me show you what 'it' really looks like..."OK, now are you sure you still want in? Yes? Well in that case... [Smiles spreads over her face. Eyes light up]"Let me tell you how to do this part, then that part and oh! Here's something you might not even have thought about...and if you're going to do that, here's how not to screw it up...That's the kind of book this is.It is thoroughly up-to-date and written by someone who has been in and around the writing business for more than 20 years. (This will seem impossible when you bump into her at a writers' conference, but it's true. I know, because I've been following her career for much of that time.)This is the new, state-of-the-art bible for anyone thinking about writing for a living. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to make fiction a part of that business. (Spoiler Alert: you can, but it probably won't earn you all your money.)There's likely more information in here than you need right now, but dip in, root around, see what excites you and what you might be willing to try. As you build your business you might need to add a new string to your bow. (Content Marketing? Crowdfunding? Creating an author website?)When you do, this book will be waiting for you, full of good advice and an encouraging squeeze.

No-joke Jane is the penultimate B.S.-free authority on writing and publishing. She’s been doing the damn thing for eons, and she is not here for some nonsense. Thus, The Business of Being a Writer is straightforward and detailed. It pulls back Oz’s curtain on the mysteries of the publishing industry, introducing us to nuts and bolts like the P&L, or “profit and loss”: “a publisher’s basic tool for deciding whether a book makes financial sense to publish” (p. 47). So, OMG. It’s not a popularity contest that decides if they sign you; it’s a frigging spreadsheet. Who knew.Jane gives broad advice, too, as soothing as it is honest: “Platform…[is] about putting in consistent effort over the course of a career, and making incremental improvements…It’s about making waves that attract other people to you—not begging them to pay attention” (p.175-176). In other words, you guys, we can quit the panic-inducing, neon-flashing GIVEAWAY! posts, and quietly do our best for the long haul instead.If you’re done getting burned by romantic publishing fantasies; if you’ve got your big-writer panties on and you want to get to work, this book is your new bible. It answers your honest questions—“Chapter 1: Can You Make a Living as a Writer?”; it breaks down the arms of the publishing industry; it prescribes the steps one takes to get published. It gives the God’s-honest truth about how to build a platform; it goes granular in part five, “How Writers Make Money.”The Business of Being a Writer is a writer’s career instruction manual condensed to 296 pages. With the fluff and empty promises of other book publicity "pros" boiled off, and the industry insider's knowledge added in, Jane Friedman's book is the beef demi-glace of authorhood.

One of the most helpful and genuinely interesting books I've ever read. If you want to be a writer, this is a must-have.

While this resource digs deep into the heavier side of being a professional writer (not just being a book author), there is a ton of info that new writers can take on board to begin their authoring journey. The practical examples are simple enough for a newcomer to understand and implement but detailed enough to highlight the merits of taking those steps. A valuable resource for any writer planning a long-term career.

Jane Friedman provides invaluable information and guidance in this must-have book for anyone wanting to generate some kind of profile and income through their writing. Friedman has years of experience as a writer and editor, from which comes her advice. We have the privilege of benefiting from all of it. Buy this book!

Highly recommended if you’re a forward-thinking writer, and especially great for MFAs and creative writing students who want to understand the changing context writers live in today.Creative writing courses are fantastic, but they rarely go into the nitty-gritty of what happens afterwards – how writers survive, build a career (or at least a living), sustain themselves creatively and financially. I’ve met a lot of writers who feel bereft after their MFA studies, possibly because they’ve had unrealistic expectations about the future.This book is an overview of today’s creative writing ecology, and where you might fit in. It’s for writers with serious chops who want to know about approaching the publishing industry, writing proposals, author platform, residencies, and building a career. It includes advice on the different ways writers make money (including teaching, grants, fellowships) and other kinds of writing such as trade publications and journalism. It’s also bang up-to-date with online, self-publishing and digital developments. If you need to get strategic about where you’re heading as a writer, this is for you.Jane has a publishing and media industry background, and is a college professor, keynote speaker, author and publisher of the influential Hot Sheet about publishing industry developments. She’s writing from a US perspective, but the principles apply everywhere.I actually cheered when I read this. Jane bridges the gap between industry, literary and tech (at last!) and is really encouraging and practical. I’m a tutor with the Open University, and I’ve recommended this to my department.

I have been a freelance writer for nearly fifty years. Twenty five years ago, before the internet and before Amazon, I published a book titled “How to Make Money from Freelance Writing “ which was republished several times over the years. Aware that almost everything has changed in the market since I started, I am always on the lookout for up-to-date advice. This book is by far the best I have come across. Jane Friedman is almost certainly the world’s preeminent expert in this field.