Rating: 
Summary: This book isn't worth a damn
Review: Think about it. If you browse through Borders or Barnes & Nobles (the real live stores) not their websites, you can tell what sort of books are popular and which are not. If you need a book to tell you what types of books people are looking for, you probably don't know much about a) American culture, b) the media, c) the daily concerns of most people, d) the buying habits of most people. Do you REALLY need a book to tell you that a book about making money in antiques would probably sell better than a book on the history of the Crimean War? Do you really need a book to tell you to be sure to do your research when developing a book proposal to make sure there aren't a whole bunch of books on your subject that are probably at least as good as yours? Do you really need a book to tell you that to write a book you should know how to write? Well, if you don't know these things, by all means buy this book, but if you are of at least average intelligence and curiosity, you should re-title this tome, "Damn, why did I buy this book." There is a good book on the market, "How to Think Like Your Editor" which is a lot better. And I have no financial stake in it. However, it is written with intelligence and savvy and without the pie in the sky idea that it's easy to write a widely selling book. Think of it this way: if you saw a book entitled, "Damn, why didn't I write that highly rated TV show?" and bought it thinking you were on your way to another hit like The Simpsons or Seinfeld, do you really think a book could give you the answers? If it did, it would be a national best seller. Let me ask you another question before buying this book. Is THIS book a national best seller? If not, why not? Because you can't learn these things from a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Just the motivation you needed!
Review: This book is great for the author-to-be. If you have always thought about publishing but did not know where to begin, this is the book for you. Marc McCutcheon spells out every aspect of publishing in plain and simple terms. This book is different from any other book on publishing because it is humorous, informative and inspiring. Most other books tell you how to write and market your manuscript. This book encourages you to think and motivates you to write.
Rating:
Summary: I bet I REALLY could have written that!
Review: While I was reading this great book, my husband kept coming into the living room to check on me because with each new page I read, I made little squeaking noises as I came across yet another successful book I could have written - easily!Could I have written Simplify Your Christmas; Diary of a Cat; Kids' Questions; Brain Quest (quizzing cards for children); How to Study; 365 Outdoor Activities You Can Do with Your Child; Polish Your Furniture with Pantyhose or 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said (a compilation)? Betcha I could've! These are all real books that Marc McCutcheon lists along with the number of copies each has sold. Those I've mentioned have sold between 85,000 (Polish Your Furniture) and 14,000,000 (Brain Quest)! Are you uncertain about how long it might take you to write a book? The book gives you some ideas on how to estimate the time you'll need to get your brilliant ideas down on paper and ready for a publisher. And if you're suffering from the "I'm-not-worthy-syndrome" and feel you don't have the qualifications to write, take heart! There are suggestions for ways to establish the credibility you need to write about any topic. And then there are chapters that explain where to find experts, how to write queries and proposals, whether you should consider engaging the services of an agent - or not, how to negotiate a book contract and how to promote your book.
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