Rating: 
Summary: Only For The Beginner
Review: Unless you are a rank beginner, don't buy this book. Lukeman's probably justified in writing this book, but don't buy it if you have a shred of ability. Save your money for a relationship with a professional editor. You will learn more, faster, than you will by reading this book.On the other hand, if you're just starting in the business, the book is filled with examples of laughably poor writing. You can compare your work to his examples; if your's bears a resemblance, stop reading and seek an editor or a college writing course. Don't take me wrong, most college writing courses are abysmal, but you may be able to lever a few tips out of the professor.
Rating: 
Summary: HELP FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Review: Most books about writing tell us what to do. This book, however, takes the opposite approach and tells us what not to do. As an editor, Noah Lukeman shows writers why their manuscripts are rejected by both agents and publishers time and time again. After defining the problem spots, the author gives us examples and then follows with exercises to help correct the problem. The only criticism I have of the book lies with the examples. They are truly dreadful. I'm sure the author made them up to illustrate his point, but I, myself, would have found examples more helpful had they been drawn from actual books. This book, however, is very useful, both for the beginner and the more advanced writer and will go a long way toward keeping you out of the rejection pile.
Rating:
Summary: A Wealth of Practical Advice
Review: Four and a half stars is more appropriate. This is one of the most practical books on writing I've ever read. Lukeman deals in three parts with writing mistakes which will almost certainly assure the rejection of a manuscript, or an article. He also breaks each part into individual chapters and suggests exercises to--hopefully--alleviate each problem area. The only complaint I had is that most of the writing examples are so horrendous, they border on unbelievable. This is a minor drawback. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve as a writer.
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining book for both readers and writers
Review: Although the book is designed to help fiction writers get published, its appeal is far broader than that. Lukeman has many examples of bad writing that are laugh out loud funny. These examples by exagerating the particular fault, make his points very well, whether setting, pace or excessive use of adjectives. (Lukeman also warns us that these are not the worst examples.) I came away from the book with a far greater appreciation of how well the books I read are written and edited and the tremendous amount of work and skill required to write a book. I would recommend this book to both aspiring writers and avid readers.
Rating:
Summary: At last a manual both industry-smart and inspiring
Review: Most books to help us prepare and sell MSS are technically centered, full of savvy about making it in the system- good MS presentation, warnings about dumb things not to do, same nuts and bolts stuff like hooks, pace, character intro, etc. Lukeman's has all that and but lots more and his particulars about craft are smarter than most. But what knocked me out is that he also emphasizes the deep things that made us ever want to be writers in the first place--our ideas about life, the joy of taking the trouble to write fresh language, the unusual things we know, not just the formula things we pick up around writers' workshops. This book is a spell binder because it has both ends of what we need--how to keep agent snd publishers from glazing when they pick up our manuscript, and genuine literary help, too. This is invaluable kitful of useful, humorous, and tasteful ideas. I am showing it to all my students.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for "professional" writers
Review: Full disclosure -- I initially purhcased this book solely because Noah and I went to college together and we were in the same fraternity. Also, I am neither a professional author, nor am I working on a manuscript. However, I am an attorney, and as such, the ability to write well is crucial. Some of the chapters in Noah's book while well written, entertaining, and informative, are not relevant to my work (e.g. narrative, viewpoint, etc.). Others, such as his tips on improving writing styles, were crucial. Much of my work is written with the purpose of persuading the reader that my arguments are correct. Legal writing is often analgous to an author submitting a manuscript to an agent. If the writing is weak, wordy, overly passive, and full of mistakes, even if the substance is correct, the impact will be far less than beautifully polished prose. When reading Noah's book, I (unfortunately) saw much of my writing style in his various "what not to do" examples. Most, if not all, law schools require its first year students to take a legal writing class. Noah's book -- at least the chapters that don't apply only to fiction -- should be required reading. This book is not just for authors seeking to be published, but should be read by everyone who does some writing in part of their daily life. I'll keep this book on my shelf where it belongs, in between Strunk and White, and the Chicago Manual of Style.
Rating:
Summary: A Sharp Bite of Reality
Review: Noah Lukeman's portrayal of overworked editors looking for just one reason to shoot your beloved work into the rejection pile is a sharp bite of reality that some writers won't want to feel. Like it or not, Lukeman is bluntly asserting that most writers are rejected by agents and publishers because they simply can't pass first muster-and that the margin for failure is very narrow. Lukeman's book is a gutsy reminder that success as a writer is hard won and that writing is a craft like any other and must be learned-the hard way. If (in terms of numbers alone) the odds are stacked against you each time an editor or agent opens your work - then all the more reason you should be as good a writer as you can. The critical, probing exercises found at the end of each chapter are likely to be valuable to writers not only because of the very practical way in which they are presented, but because they also have the virtue of supporting Lukeman's central conviction that writers can train their minds towards critical thought-and through critical thought comes better writing. New writers will pore over his exercises in detail, while more skilled writers will use them to throw new light on specific problem areas. The glimpses Lukeman offers into the pent-up pressure within agent and editors offices, and the "read to reject" rule that prevails throughout the publishing industry also represent valuable insights into the context in which each writer's work is reviewed. And his frank assessment of some writers' abilities is obviously the result of having been on the receiving end of a lot of poor writing in his time. But while he is sometimes impatient towards writers Lukeman is never scathing, presumably because he seems genuinely to believe that anyone can train her/himself to be a better writer. For this reason, although his stated objective is to help writers avoid the mistakes that will send them to the rejection pile, Lukeman is in fact offering a much larger opportunity to any writer who wants to seize it. He is offering tools to help train self-critical thought in the minds of those whose solitary activity can so easily steer them towards self-indulgence and uncritical acceptance of their work. It's an excellent book and at such a reasonable price it's also a great investment.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you to - The First Five Pages
Review: I have been writing for over four years now and have read and attended countless books and seminars. I HATE how most books and such make promises they don't keep such as - Write a Blockbuster, etc. I found that this book keeps its word. I read and studied it like crazy, made intense revisions to my book, and resubmitted it to agents. IT WORKED! Thanks to The First Five Pages I NOW HAVE MY FIRST AGENT! I advise that all writers read it. Even those who already have an agent. It gives great advise and really helped me critique and focus on work own work.
Rating:
Summary: This is Da Book on how not to get rejected
Review: Noah asked me, as the "Critters.org guy," to read a galley of TFFP; I was terribly impressed (and no, I don't know him beyond a few emails, nor am I in any way involved in this). The book neatly describes the majority of what I personally find wrong with beginners' (even much pro :-) writing. Yet it's not particularly a book about how to write -- it's a book about *How not to get rejected*. The title is from the widely practiced, but perhaps not as widely known, concept that you only have the first few pages to make an impression. (He said he'd have called it "The First Five Sentences" -- but he didn't think people would believe him.) What he's done is categorized the kinds of things that he as an agent and editor sees so much of in slush reading that they earn a manuscript a near instant rejection. If you want to sell stuff, you need to know how editors look at your work. This is the book to read. I agree with him so much, and like it so well, my only regret is that I didn't write it myself. :-)
Rating:
Summary: A book for every writer's library
Review: I have read many books on writing technique over the past 20 years, but THE FIRST FIVE PAGES has become one of my favorites. Finally, here is a compassionate yet practical guide for both beginners and professionals, written by an expert in the publishing industry. Though there are many excellent chapters on writing well, they took me beyond the ordinary how-to fare. I asked myself tough questions, especially, if it's so difficult to be published, why do I keep writing? The answer became obvious to me, and I knew I owed it to myself to do my best work. I've read THE FIRST FIVE PAGES three times. I plan to read it again, and apply what I've learned to my novels and short stories. You can read two interviews with the author at my site: One Woman's Writing Retreat (prairieden.com).
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