Rating: 
Summary: Lots of fluff but little meat
Review: After reading the reviews and the title, I had expectations about the information in this book. I expected some useful tips on writing style and organization and received very little real information. I found the constant quotes and urls after every chapter extremely distracting and annoying and found that most of tips were simple common sense. All in all, I was very disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid ideas about modern self-publishing
Review: Dan Poynter's self-publishing manual has for years been the state of the art guide to getting one's book into self-publication from dealing with printers to getting marketing done. The world of self-publishing has undergone a sweeping change due to the internet and changes in printing technology. This book helps explore the changes, and how to use the changes to help get new self-published works to market. The book discusses how to use new technology such as print on demand. The book has a chapter on the e book. The book's style is light and easy to read, with quotes to leaven up the mix, but the book is not a mere "wouldn't it be a good idea to write your own book". Instead, the book has tons of tips, supported by URLs and e mail addresses of real-live people who have been doing what the author advocates. This book does not set out to be an encyclopedia of self-publishing, but instead is a good overview, which provides the reader with other resources, including the author's own materials available for purchase on individual topics, at the publisher's own website. Although we are going to see a lot more of this promotion of "for a fee" resources in modern books, I am not sure that this form of cross-marketing product is going to be the best sales device. To this reader, it is a dissonant note in the otherwise extremely helpful tone of the work. Indeed, more books would be sold if the majority of the information were free downloads rather than "for a fee" stuff. I don't want to overstress the point--you can read this work cover to cover and get enough tips, URLs and ideas to solidly launch into a self-publishing venture of your own. But the admittedly modest extent to which this book markets the author's "e info for a fee" service did not work for me. Still, this is a quibble. Money spent on this book is money well spent. The work is very readable, using play with fonts and inset to keep the reader hooked, without quite moving into that diagram and comic essay mode of, say, a Ten Speed Press book. I found myself so interested in this book that I read it cover to cover within two days--which is certainly different from the "resource to be read over time" way in which I view most books in this genre. This book is about non-fiction, but it could apply to fiction writers as well. Its advice is real-world, and geared to how for an investment of anywhere from several hundred dollars (the e book chapter) to a few tens of thousands (for a splashy full-print run work), one can literally compete in good order with the major publishing houses. The new printing technology, the internet and Amazon.com have killed the dragon of publishing houses, rejection letters from NYC agents, and books that cannot be distributed. Learn from this work how to put your book on the shelves.
Rating:
Summary: Proceed with Caution
Review: I found this book easy to read, and it was clear that Mr. Poynter follows his own advice on how to design front and back covers, construct chapters, etc. However, after reading this and another of this authors books, it started to feel like an advertisement for the self publishing industry. Since Mr. Poynter is in that business, and much information is made available from his business to further help authors, I began to feel like I was on the receiving side of a sales pitch towards the end of the book. I did pick up a few ideas, which were of great value. However, I think this book has one, but not the only, and for some authors, not necessarily the best, perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book by Dan
Review: If you are looking for a how to guide, this is it! Dan outlines exactly what to do and how to do it in simple and clear terms. This book helped me write my book! Highly recommended. Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
Rating:
Summary: A superbly written and presented instruction guide.
Review: In Writing Nonfiction: Turning Thoughts Into Books, veteran writer and publisher Dan Poynter surveys the modern technology that enables anyone to write, produce, sell and promote books faster, easier, cheaper, and in more formats than at any time in the recorded history of writing and publishing. Poynter shows aspiring authors how to "build" their books, rather than just write them. He explains how to "publish" a book in a downloadable, CD, and ebook version; how to obtain maximum value from a book through audiotape, videotape, magazine excerpts, foreign-language editions, and more. Writing Nonfiction is an ideal, very highly recommended "how to" instruction guide and an invaluable reference for the self-published author, small press publisher, and completely accessible for the non-specialist general reader who aspires to become a commercially successful author of nonfiction books.
Rating:
Summary: A superbly written and presented instruction guide.
Review: In Writing Nonfiction: Turning Thoughts Into Books, veteran writer and publisher Dan Poynter surveys the modern technology that enables anyone to write, produce, sell and promote books faster, easier, cheaper, and in more formats than at any time in the recorded history of writing and publishing. Poynter shows aspiring authors how to "build" their books, rather than just write them. He explains how to "publish" a book in a downloadable, CD, and ebook version; how to obtain maximum value from a book through audiotape, videotape, magazine excerpts, foreign-language editions, and more. Writing Nonfiction is an ideal, very highly recommended "how to" instruction guide and an invaluable reference for the self-published author, small press publisher, and completely accessible for the non-specialist general reader who aspires to become a commercially successful author of nonfiction books.
Rating:
Summary: You Must Read about The New Book Model!!!
Review: It took me a few years to write and produce my book and during the last year we've seen a lot of changes in the industry. In Dan's 2nd chapter he introduces the "New Book Model" which I believe is the most up-to-date, cutting-edge thinking on the subject of self-publishing. A new writer could spend a small fortune buying all the books of "How to Get Published" but here's a book that I think belongs in every writer's library. Of all of Dan's books, this is the one I recommend most to other writers. It also serves as a good model in itself. There's only about 3 or 4 people who really are experts in the self-publishing area and Dan is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: A Simple Approach to Writing and Publishing
Review: Sitting down in front of a blank computer screen to write a book is intimidating. Where do you start? What should you say? How should you format your manuscript? Dan Poynter takes much of the pain out of writing, even if you are not experienced. His organization systems help you to pull together all the bits and pieces you will need to write your book. Not sure where to start? Dan suggests starting not with the first chapter, but with the one that will be shortest or easiest to write. (Good advice--it always works for me!) You may find it odd that he addresses creating a mock-up of your cover before you start writing. That not only makes good sense from an organizational perspective (after all, the book cover promises what you will deliver in the book), it also helps you to think of what you are writing as a "real" book. Once you complete the book you need to get it published. Dan helps you decide whether to self-publish or seek and agent and traditional publisher. Of course, Dan is "Mr. Self-Publishing," so if you decide to self-publish, be sure to get a copy of "The Self-Publishing Manual," his excellent resource for publishing and marketing your book. This is a user-friendly and approachable guide to writing a nonfiction book that can be followed by anyone who wants to be published. Cathy Stucker
Special Interests Publishing
Rating:
Summary: A book for those who don't love books or writing
Review: This guide is all about writing a book quickly, based on little research or expertise, then publishing it yourself. The author admires "writers" who can produce a book in a few weeks, or better yet, a few days. If that's your goal, I guess this could help a bit although it's not very detailed on the writing process. But you want to make a real contribution on a subject through writing nonfiction, skip this!
Rating:
Summary: Writing Nonfiction: Turning thoughts into books
Review: This is an extremely useful book for writers. Many people have difficulty putting on paper what they know and think. Dan Poynter gives them a very good guide to follow. With this book's help writers can translate their thoughts and knowledge into words with organization and clarity. I recommend this book to all nonfiction authors with whom I come into contact.
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