Table Of ContentPraise for Write That Book Already!
“I learned more from this wise, witty primer of publishing than from fifteen
years in the business. With everything you need to know—and some things you
don’t want to—in one place, this is the only pen-to-shelf guide you’ll ever
need.”
—Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
“If I can’t have the enablers to kick me in the pants every writing day, at
least I’ve got this book!”
—Andrew Sean Greer, author of The Story of a Marriage
“If you read one book this year, I’d say you’re not an avid reader. But if you
write one book this year, this is the book you should read so you can get it
published.”
—Alan Zweibel, Thurber Prize–winning author of The Other Shulman
“Write That Book Already! is the most informative, interesting, useful, and
fun book about the business, art, and craft of book writing since . . . well, since
ever! Terrific writing, business, and human advice by some terrific, experienced,
funny, smart writers. Kathi Goldmark and Sam Barry, as the Author Enablers,
have been the Go-To People for aspiring writers for years, and in this book they
elucidate pretty much every aspect of the craft. This book is a must-have for
every aspiring writer on the planet.”
—John Lescroart, author of Treasure Hunt
“Among the many charms of this guide to becoming a writer, it consistently
helps you understand the perspective of the agents, editors, and gatekeepers who
you probably fear are in your way, but are in fact there to help you if you’re
willing to listen. Anyone at work on their first book, or wanting to start their first
book, should soak up some of this tough love from Kathi and Sam.”
—Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do with My Life?
This stellar new book on writing
Is most helpful, clear, and inviting.
The big kicker, though—
I feel you must know—
Is its humor, which just keeps delighting.
—David Corbett, author of Do They Know I’m Running?
“It’s the book you need in your back pocket and under your pillow so you
never feel alone on that long, mysterious road from blank page to bestseller list.”
—Jewelle Gomez, author of The Gilda Stories
“Too chicken to start writing that bestseller in your head? Read this book,
but only if you can handle success.”
—Bharati Mukherjee, author of Jasmine and Desirable Daughters
“A playful but practical guide that contains just about everything I’ve told
my own writing students over the last thirty years.”
—Molly Giles, author of Creek Walk and Other Stories and Iron Shoes
“With humor, compassion, wisdom, and street smarts, this wonderful book
takes aspiring writers by the hand and guides them through the publication
process, from first inspiration to bookstore shelf, with a matzo ball soup break
(recipe included!) on the way. If you want to write and get published, you need
this book.”
—Elizabeth Dewberry, author of His Lovely Wife
“Kathi Goldmark and Sam Barry are the literary older siblings every new
writer needs—encouraging, sensible, and funny as hell. They’ll cheer you up
even as they tell it straight, in a book filled with good advice, helpful hints, and
great anecdotes from marquee names in the world of publishing. Read their
book, already! It will Enable you—and entertain you—on the way to writing
your own.”
—Sylvia Brownrigg, author of Morality Tale and Pages for You
Foreword by Maya Angelou
WRITE THAT
BOOK
ALREADY!
The Tough Love You Need to Get
Published Now
Includes Original Insight from
Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry,
Scott Turow, Andrew Sean Greer, Meg
Waite Clayton…
and a whole bunch more
Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark,
BookPage’s Author Enablers
For Tony, Marissa, Daniel, and Laura,
terrific writers all
Copyright © 2010 by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher;
exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Published by
Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-60550-147-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-60550147-5
eISBN 10: 1-4405-0710-4
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0710-6
Printed in the United States of America.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject
matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal,
accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services
of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a
Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as
trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark
claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
On A of this very book we advise authors to avoid overkill on their
acknowledgment pages. “Try to avoid thanking . . . your second-grade teacher,
the guy who sold you all those lattes, your cat,” we primly counsel. Well, that’s
easier said than done.
First, a big shout-out to the Author Enabler Enablers: agent Deb Warren and
the team at Adams Media, including Brendan O’Neill, Meredith O’Hayre,
Ashley Vierra, Casey Ebert, Karen Cooper, Beth Gissinger, and Chelsea King.
Thanks to Lynn Green and all our pals at BookPage for permission to use Author
Enabler column excerpts, and to the intelligent and talented readers of our
column and blog for asking questions that inspire us to learn. Thank you to
Laina Adler, Eric Brandt, and Gideon Weil for their sage advice; to Betty
Kamen for editorial help on the home front; and to Rabih Alameddine, Leslie
Levine, Susanne Pari, and Amy Tan for brainstorming titles when we know they
had other important work to do. We thank all the authors who contributed words
of wisdom and experience, with special appreciation to Maya Angelou for both
her foreword and her friendship.
Love and thanks to our amazing kids and their equally amazing sweethearts:
Tony and Marissa Goldmark, Laura Barry, Daniel Barry, and Dilek Uygül. We
also thank all the folks at HarperOne, West Coast Live, and the Friends of the
San Francisco Public Library for working with us; and the Rock Bottom
Remainders for playing with us. Then there’s the guy who sold us all those
lattes, not to mention his cat . . .
KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK
and SAM BARRY
CONTENTS
Introduction: Ask the Author Enablers
Chapter One: Why We Write (and Why You Write, Too)
Chapter Two: You Have a Great Idea. So What?
Chapter Three: How to Get Started with the Write Stuff
Chapter Four: Your Manuscript: The Basic Rules of Attraction
Chapter Five: Finding an Agent
Chapter Six: Behind Closed Doors: Will They Buy Your Book?
Chapter Seven: You and Your Editor
Chapter Eight: Marketing and Publicity: Getting the Word Out
Chapter Nine: The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing
Chapter Ten: For Sale: Bookstores, Bookselling, and Book Groups
Chapter Eleven: Long Life: Paperback and Backlist
Conclusion: What’s Next?
Appendix I: Beloved Books of Famous Authors
Appendix II : The Life Cycle of a Book
Appendix III : Glossary of Publishing Terminology
Description:From the foreword by Maya Angelou:"[T]he joy they promise in their prose makes me glad that I and other writers have been willing to make good writing our aim, and even great writing our dream." "How do I get my book published?"Good question. Lucky for you, publishing insiders Sam Barry and Kathi Ka
