Rating: 
Summary: Renegade Rules!
Review: I had just made the leap from corporate complainer to full-time writer when I found this book on Amazon.com. Its catchy title intrigued me and its content did not disappoint.The Renegade Writer is full of useful advice and it's fun to read. It covers every topic a freelancer could possibly need more information on and even touches on things you've secretly thought about, but never expected to see covered in a book like, "Don't write anything you wouldn't want your mother to see." It helped me be more confident in approaching editors and I landed my first assignment before I'd even finished the book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Rating:
Summary: Worked for me!
Review: I have read a lot of how to books on breaking into magazine writing, but absolutely recommend this one for two reasons. One - since buying this book I have noticed several articles in periodicals and web sites I already read bylined by one of these two authors. Can't beat advice from someone who is verifiably successful. Two - I finished the book Monday, and made my first ever magazine sale Friday of the same week. Coincidence? I think not!
Rating:
Summary: This book rocks!
Review: I just read The Renegade Writer from cover to cover, and it is without a doubt the most inspirational and common-sense writing book this fledgling freelancer has ever read - and I have read many. For some reason the other books just paralyzed me, while The Renegade Writer mobilized me. After reading Chapter 3, "No Fear Querying" I actually got off my butt and emailed (gasp!) FIVE queries. This may not seem like a big deal, but they are the first queries I have ever sent. Now if I just get some favorable replies...
Rating:
Summary: One of the most PRACTICAL books out there
Review: I truly enjoyed this book - it provides a ton of useful information in a very non-intimidating style. Perfect for someone trying to break into freelancing - they provide tried and tested strategies. I love the chatty style of the book - makes it feel like the authors are right there holding your hand each step of the way.
Way to go!
Rating: 
Summary: Save Your Money - Same Old Stuff
Review: I was looking for serious information and was seriously disappointed. I found the authors to be overly chatty and their advice (despite the publisher's hype) to be mostly generic. What wasn't generic seemed dangerously limited. Based on the credentials they provided, the authors have worked with a very limited number of editors (several of the same ones) and no editors at the top levels of magazine publishing in America. I highly recommend Bob Bly's new book instead of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Renegade Writers Unite!
Review: I was trolling the Web, looking for ideas about how to live la vida loca as a freelancer, when I stumbled across http://www.renegadewriter.com. What a hoot! Got the book and devoured it in three days (hey, it would have been one day, but there's this five-year-old running around the house singing the "Magic School Bus" theme song at the top of his lungs). For my part, I can't sing Linda's and Diana's praises loudly enough. These two ladies, with only a few years of writing experience between them, have written the perfect how-to marketing-and-sales book for writers. This is NOT a book about how to write. They assume you've figured that out already. This IS a book about how to make a living doing it -- and have a blast at the same time. Jam-packed with ideas and motivation, it belongs beside the keyboard of every freelancer.
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Summary: If you dream to write for the big magazines, get this book!
Review: If I was to listen to many 'other' freelance books, I'd have to start at the bottom, write for 'Gopher's Monthly' or any other obscure magazine, amass enough clips to start a small recycling plant, be happy to receive any trivial payment offered and only then feel worthy enough to target the big magazines. No thank-you! The reason I chose to become a freelancer in the first place was to be able to write the articles I was interested in for the magazines I read. But to do so I'd have to break a few 'rules'. This is where The Renegade Writer comes in. It teaches you the rules you ARE allowed to break, and better yet HOW to break them. Filled with tricks and tips for everything from the all important query letter to where to find those ideas editors drool over, this book is a must have for anyone serious about taking their freelance dreams and turning them into a paid reality. Do yourself (and your career) a favour by buying this book.
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Summary: Rule-Breakers that Actually Work
Review: In this book, you'll find many examples of broken rules that have proved profitable for these dynamic writers. They show how these rules are not only meant to be broken, but also how they're silly, and sometimes even damaging to a writer's career. Linda and Diana also have tips for what to do when an editor gives you the "check is on its way" excuse or how to let go of assignments that become major headaches.
Let's take a few examples. You've always heard that writers aren't supposed to call editors, right? But guess what? Successful writers not only call editors to get assignments, but also meet them, chat with them, and even go to lunch with them. Or how about the rule you've always believed that says that you should always come up with original ideas? Nope. These radical writers admit to often stealing ideas from newsletters, government reports, press releases, trade magazines, regional magazines and newspapers to even consumer magazines and books. According to them, "ideas can't be copyrighted, so ideas can't be stolen."
All in all, this is a fabulous book that consists of dozens of such rules and why you should be breaking them if you're looking for a successful and lucrative career in this business. For writers who're already familiar with the basics and have maybe sold a couple of articles, this book provides the added advantage of insider tips that no other book does.
-- Mridu Khullar, Editor of www.WritersCrossing.com
Rating:
Summary: A great reference for magazine writers
Review: Last night for the first time in at least a week, I was requested to sit outside my daughter's room as she fell asleep. I grabbed my new copy of The Renegade Writer for some company. I was enthralled. (No joke.) I had planned to read only the introduction, but I continued on through the first chapter, long after my little one was snoozing. (This was no small thing, as I was sitting on a six-inch-by-six-inch pillow on a heart-of-pine floor.) The writing is light and funny. The tips are out of the mainstream but not outrageous. This book is well worth the cover price. Not only was I entertained and inspired but The Renegade Writer served to boost my spirits and confidence. This week, my first big magazine story was edited to bits. I'm working on a re-write and repeating the mantra: "I *am* a good writer. I *am* a good writer." The Renegade Writer helped me remember that this business is tough but worth it. I hope others find this great reference, but not too many. I don't want the competition.
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Summary: Information You Haven't Seen Elsewhere--and It Really Works!
Review: Like every wannabe freelance writer, I've devoured every book I could find, hoping there would be something there I hadn't read in all the other writing books. The Renegade Writer was the first one that made me say, "Ah ha!!" Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell share "secrets" that aren't really secret at all--they're just good common sense solutions to the old rules that don't apply to 21st century freelancing. And their tips are applicable to those of us who actually want to make a living as freelance writers. A good example: Of course it's ridiculous to send a paper query to one magazine and then wait two months for a rejection letter--how can you make a living doing that? As a former magazine managing editor, I always answered e-mail queries and never rejected an idea or a writer for contacting me with multiple ideas. Formichelli and Burrell's information may work better for those who have some experience in the writing field, but I wonder if it's actually not more of an advantage to start without having all of those "old rules" stuck in your head. I've already gotten two paid assignments by following their "non-rules"--and I've only been freelancing full-time for three weeks! If you're interested in freelancing and you're going to spend money on a how-to book, this one is well worth the cost. Keep it near your writing desk for easy reference--you'll find yourself turning to it over and over again as you navigate the freelance waters.
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