Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Practical, and Fun to Read!
Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction & Fantasy" provides practical, solid advice, and it does it with the help of some very funny stories. It's at once sobering and hopeful; it doesn't get you worked up with a lot of false hopes, yet doesn't leave you depressed and suicidal about your chances of getting published either.

This book debunks popular myths and legends about writing. It covers the varieties of science fiction, as well as fantasy, including "dark fantasy" or horror. It briefly touches on fans and conventions, including how to handle your fans (the good and the bad). It discusses the importance (or not) of having "new" ideas for your stories, and of knowing your subject. It'll also point out some of the mistakes and problems that knowing your subject can push you into.

It goes into writing as a job. It covers the usual "you have to make time for it" idea that every book trots out, but it also provides useful suggestions for how to go about this. It goes over the good and bad methods SF authors use to convey information in their stories. Instead of simply trotting out the old "show don't tell" advice, it provides practical structuring suggestions, as well as examples of those suggestions. It also goes into such genre topics as world-building.

One of the invaluable aspects of this part of the book is the insider's perspective. These authors haven't just summed up their own experiences submitting things--they've talked to lots of editors and networked with everyone. They tell you what editors like, don't like, and dread.

This book gives practical advice on self-promotion, without pushing you to use the sleazy, shady, or just plain rude self-promotion practices I've seen advocated in many articles. You'll find all sorts of tips in here on readings and signings, conventions, cards and fliers, press releases, interviews, reviews, and book launches. The book even covers web sites, newsgroups and netiquette, mailing lists and awards. There's also a section on agents, electronic rights and publishing, contracts, taxes, and writers' associations.

This is an immensely practical book for genre authors, and well worth reading several times over. It includes information on everything from idea generation through publication and promotion, in as much detail as possible!

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Practical, and Fun to Read!
Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction & Fantasy" provides practical, solid advice, and it does it with the help of some very funny stories. It's at once sobering and hopeful; it doesn't get you worked up with a lot of false hopes, yet doesn't leave you depressed and suicidal about your chances of getting published either.

This book debunks popular myths and legends about writing. It covers the varieties of science fiction, as well as fantasy, including "dark fantasy" or horror. It briefly touches on fans and conventions, including how to handle your fans (the good and the bad). It discusses the importance (or not) of having "new" ideas for your stories, and of knowing your subject. It'll also point out some of the mistakes and problems that knowing your subject can push you into.

It goes into writing as a job. It covers the usual "you have to make time for it" idea that every book trots out, but it also provides useful suggestions for how to go about this. It goes over the good and bad methods SF authors use to convey information in their stories. Instead of simply trotting out the old "show don't tell" advice, it provides practical structuring suggestions, as well as examples of those suggestions. It also goes into such genre topics as world-building.

One of the invaluable aspects of this part of the book is the insider's perspective. These authors haven't just summed up their own experiences submitting things--they've talked to lots of editors and networked with everyone. They tell you what editors like, don't like, and dread.

This book gives practical advice on self-promotion, without pushing you to use the sleazy, shady, or just plain rude self-promotion practices I've seen advocated in many articles. You'll find all sorts of tips in here on readings and signings, conventions, cards and fliers, press releases, interviews, reviews, and book launches. The book even covers web sites, newsgroups and netiquette, mailing lists and awards. There's also a section on agents, electronic rights and publishing, contracts, taxes, and writers' associations.

This is an immensely practical book for genre authors, and well worth reading several times over. It includes information on everything from idea generation through publication and promotion, in as much detail as possible!

Rating:
Summary: A Simple Guide with the Wrong Name
Review: First, let's get one thing out of the way-- this book is NOT for complete idiots, or dummies, or Republican Jehovan telemarketers. It IS a simple yet intelligent guide to the craft of writing and marketing science fiction. Cory Doctorow, a former staff writer for the late, underrated Science Fiction Age magazine, uses simple, clear language to instruct Joe Writer-in-Training in the methods and manner of smart story construction, followed by comprehensive lists of agents and publishers.

Highly recommended for the newbie who doesn't want to hurt his brain on the complex "craft-of-writing-sf" books.

Rating:
Summary: A Simple Guide with the Wrong Name
Review: First, let's get one thing out of the way-- this book is NOT for complete idiots, or dummies, or Republican Jehovan telemarketers. It IS a simple yet intelligent guide to the craft of writing and marketing science fiction. Cory Doctorow, a former staff writer for the late, underrated Science Fiction Age magazine, uses simple, clear language to instruct Joe Writer-in-Training in the methods and manner of smart story construction, followed by comprehensive lists of agents and publishers.

Highly recommended for the newbie who doesn't want to hurt his brain on the complex "craft-of-writing-sf" books.

Rating:
Summary: Doctrow and Schroeder: THEY KNOW
Review: I almost returned this book when it first arrived in the mail. I took a look at the back and saw that Cory Doctrow had published all of 15 short stories--no novels, no books, no anthologies... He publishes 15 short stories and off he goes to write a book about getting published.

I did not return the book. Instead, I scanned the pages and found that the chapter headings seemed quite sensible, even practical. So I gave the book a try.

Doctrow and Schroeder may not have all of publishing credentials of an Asimov or a Card, but they have a lot of solid practical advise to offer any fledgling writer. They have put a lot of work into creating a solid, readable guide with good information about the benefits of agents, methods of editing, places to publish, definitions of genres, and the state of Science Fiction as a whole.

I almost judged this book by its cover and it would have been a terrible mistake. Having read this reference cover-to-cover, I believe it is invaluable for the BEGINNER, the new writer or the writer who is new to SF and Fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Doctrow and Schroeder: THEY KNOW
Review: I almost returned this book when it first arrived in the mail. I took a look at the back and saw that Cory Doctrow had published all of 15 short stories--no novels, no books, no anthologies... He publishes 15 short stories and off he goes to write a book about getting published.

I did not return the book. Instead, I scanned the pages and found that the chapter headings seemed quite sensible, even practical. So I gave the book a try.

Doctrow and Schroeder may not have all of publishing credentials of an Asimov or a Card, but they have a lot of solid practical advise to offer any fledgling writer. They have put a lot of work into creating a solid, readable guide with good information about the benefits of agents, methods of editing, places to publish, definitions of genres, and the state of Science Fiction as a whole.

I almost judged this book by its cover and it would have been a terrible mistake. Having read this reference cover-to-cover, I believe it is invaluable for the BEGINNER, the new writer or the writer who is new to SF and Fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT INTRO TO WRITING SF!
Review: I decide to purchase this book based on a recommendation from the SFWA webpage, and I found it to be well worth its cover price. I particularly liked that it did not skimp on discussing the more mundane aspects of writing professionally, e.g. taxes, standard formatting, contracts, dealing with agents, etc. Along with this, the sections discussing the actual act of writing were also good, but I have read several works about that. This is the first book to give me a good feel for the nuts and bolts of actually submitting stories and getting paid for them. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT INTRO TO WRITING SF!
Review: I decide to purchase this book based on a recommendation from the SFWA webpage, and I found it to be well worth its cover price. I particularly liked that it did not skimp on discussing the more mundane aspects of writing professionally, e.g. taxes, standard formatting, contracts, dealing with agents, etc. Along with this, the sections discussing the actual act of writing were also good, but I have read several works about that. This is the first book to give me a good feel for the nuts and bolts of actually submitting stories and getting paid for them. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: My Bible
Review: I knew nothing about publishing or how to attack my writing ( I just wrote for fun) until I got this book. It is extremely informative yet easy to read. I learnt a great deal, and kept it by my side constantly during the first few months of submitting stories. Even now, it's not too far away as I know I will need it again. A great book to get to kick start your career.

Rating:
Summary: My Bible
Review: I knew nothing about publishing or how to attack my writing ( I just wrote for fun) until I got this book. It is extremely informative yet easy to read. I learnt a great deal, and kept it by my side constantly during the first few months of submitting stories. Even now, it's not too far away as I know I will need it again. A great book to get to kick start your career.