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How to Write a New York Times Bestseller in Ten Easy Steps
Download, for free!, a hilarious essay by New York Times bestselling author Jason Mulgrew, plus get a sneak peek from his new book, 236 Pounds of Class Vice President, available February 12, 2013.
For a few "glorious" weeks, Jason Mulgrew's first book, Everything Is Wrong with Me, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, before dropping off and returning to the deep obscurity to which it belongs. Jason Mulgrew has not been able to shut up about it since and now believes that he is qualified to write the following primer, "How to Write a New York Times Bestseller in Ten Easy Steps." Please accept our apologies in advance.
For a few "glorious" weeks, Jason Mulgrew's first book, Everything Is Wrong with Me, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, before dropping off and returning to the deep obscurity to which it belongs. Jason Mulgrew has not been able to shut up about it since and now believes that he is qualified to write the following primer, "How to Write a New York Times Bestseller in Ten Easy Steps." Please accept our apologies in advance.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2013
86 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 16, 2013
This is a fun read. I love the author’s voice, which comes through strongly in both the article and the following preview of his next book.
Including the four-letter words—which prompted three of the four 1-star reviews from people who found them offensive.
I’m an Australian, so my reaction is: WTF—who cares? Well…some people do. If you’re one of them, be warned.
Despite the title, it won’t teach you how to write a New York Times bestseller. But it will give you some clues, and you’ll learn a few things. Here are two that were new to me:
1. The first week’s sales of a print book—as counted by Bookscan and, therefore, the New York Times—include all PRE-orders of the book.
The conventional wisdom is that you have about three months to promote a new print book (we’re not talking eBooks here) before the bookshops clear their shelves for the next bestseller hopeful.
But if you can rack up enough pre-orders BEFORE the pub date, then you can kickstart your book onto the charts. Once it’s hit the NYT or other lists, then further weeks on those lists become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, “enough” is quite a lot. The lesson: the more time you have it listed on Amazon et. al. BEFORE pub date, the better.
2. Someone—Mulgrew or Harpers, I presume—came up with a great promotional idea: Take an article, add a big chunk of your next book, turn it into an eBook and give it away.
FREE—that marketing favorite from time immemorial.
Will I buy one of his other books? Maybe. But without the free intro via this eBook, the question wouldn’t exist for me at all.
Including the four-letter words—which prompted three of the four 1-star reviews from people who found them offensive.
I’m an Australian, so my reaction is: WTF—who cares? Well…some people do. If you’re one of them, be warned.
Despite the title, it won’t teach you how to write a New York Times bestseller. But it will give you some clues, and you’ll learn a few things. Here are two that were new to me:
1. The first week’s sales of a print book—as counted by Bookscan and, therefore, the New York Times—include all PRE-orders of the book.
The conventional wisdom is that you have about three months to promote a new print book (we’re not talking eBooks here) before the bookshops clear their shelves for the next bestseller hopeful.
But if you can rack up enough pre-orders BEFORE the pub date, then you can kickstart your book onto the charts. Once it’s hit the NYT or other lists, then further weeks on those lists become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, “enough” is quite a lot. The lesson: the more time you have it listed on Amazon et. al. BEFORE pub date, the better.
2. Someone—Mulgrew or Harpers, I presume—came up with a great promotional idea: Take an article, add a big chunk of your next book, turn it into an eBook and give it away.
FREE—that marketing favorite from time immemorial.
Will I buy one of his other books? Maybe. But without the free intro via this eBook, the question wouldn’t exist for me at all.
February 14, 2013
I LOVED "Everything is Wrong With Me", so buying this bk was a no brainer (and it's FREE). I couldn't resist that adorable little face on the cover the first time around. Just looking at it you wanna say Awwww, but at the same time laugh. This little quickie 15 pg read gave me some grins and more than a few laughs. The dialogue plus photos, hilarious! JM suits my quirky, irreverent sense of humor; the added bonus of a sneak peak for "236 lbs of Vice President" was a nice extra. Have been wanting to buy the new bk but waiting on more reviews, but no more waiting now I know I'll buy and look forward to the laughs.
October 23, 2016
Mostly a waste
While I did laugh out loud ONE TIME, most of the humor was childish. I though this would have something serious in it besides the snarkiness. Well, it did. It had excerpts from his other stuff in the back of this "book" so you'll buy them. If this is any indication, I probably won't be doing that.
While I did laugh out loud ONE TIME, most of the humor was childish. I though this would have something serious in it besides the snarkiness. Well, it did. It had excerpts from his other stuff in the back of this "book" so you'll buy them. If this is any indication, I probably won't be doing that.
May 8, 2016
[Insert profanity here]
This collection of drunken babble discussing a series of unidentifiable topics was a waste of a good tree. If you accidentally downloaded this faux book, then close your eyes and delete it immediately.
This collection of drunken babble discussing a series of unidentifiable topics was a waste of a good tree. If you accidentally downloaded this faux book, then close your eyes and delete it immediately.
April 20, 2024
Sebuah buku singkat dengan hanya 30 halaman berisi esai berupa tips dari penulis memoar, Jason Mulgrew, untuk bisa menulis buku "bestseller" versi New York Times seperti pengalaman pribadinya. Berhubung beliau adalah seorang penulis komedi, tentu saja sebagian tips yang ditulisnya dibumbui banyak humor (namun tetap realistis, sedikit-banyaknya). Dan di setiap akhir dari poin-poin yang ditulisnya, tetap ada bagian yang betulan serius.
"... for every five days you sit down to write, four will produce nothing and leave you horribly depressed, but on that fifth, look out — the words will come fast and furious and hard and strong and will pour out of your fingertips."
"... for every five days you sit down to write, four will produce nothing and leave you horribly depressed, but on that fifth, look out — the words will come fast and furious and hard and strong and will pour out of your fingertips."
January 22, 2020
Decent advice minus language
Language! Thanks for the advice, Jason. You have a very different take on authorship, but I appreciate your candor. 4 stars for relevant advice 2 stars for language.
One of my readers once told me before I published: “ ... your story carries itself just fine without the foul words.” I gained one more reader from it (probably more).
Language! Thanks for the advice, Jason. You have a very different take on authorship, but I appreciate your candor. 4 stars for relevant advice 2 stars for language.
One of my readers once told me before I published: “ ... your story carries itself just fine without the foul words.” I gained one more reader from it (probably more).
December 9, 2017
Waste of time
Even for a free book, this is a huge waste of space, oxygen, and digital occupancy. At the 35% mark it becomes an ad for his other book.
Even for a free book, this is a huge waste of space, oxygen, and digital occupancy. At the 35% mark it becomes an ad for his other book.
June 26, 2025
Oh my gosh, Jason is terrific! I love his writing and I love how he loves his dog, Brutus. And I love, love, love his advice.
Page-turner.
Page-turner.
March 1, 2013
In one word - funny.
James Mulgrew definitely has a knack for comedy and this book is proof. Short, catchy and downright hilarious, it's a book you could read in twenty minutes flat.
Some people of course, may find it insulting - authors or budding authors precisely. But in spite of being a creative writer myself, I wasn't offended. I think that the quick read that James has spun is actually a sarcastic, humorous take on what people think of when someone says 'I'm an author'. Being an author is not all fun and games and this book seems to take a sarcastic twist on that very ideology that is so easily associated with the difficult task of writing.
The author may have taken a satirical view of things, but the content is definitely true, albeit to debatable extents. There are actually pearls of wisdom hiding in the murky waters of the humor and the occasional abuse only adds to the light and funny aspect.
A quick and easy read that is light on the brain and thoroughly enjoyable, this book makes a good coffee companion when you're on your afternoon break.
James Mulgrew definitely has a knack for comedy and this book is proof. Short, catchy and downright hilarious, it's a book you could read in twenty minutes flat.
Some people of course, may find it insulting - authors or budding authors precisely. But in spite of being a creative writer myself, I wasn't offended. I think that the quick read that James has spun is actually a sarcastic, humorous take on what people think of when someone says 'I'm an author'. Being an author is not all fun and games and this book seems to take a sarcastic twist on that very ideology that is so easily associated with the difficult task of writing.
The author may have taken a satirical view of things, but the content is definitely true, albeit to debatable extents. There are actually pearls of wisdom hiding in the murky waters of the humor and the occasional abuse only adds to the light and funny aspect.
A quick and easy read that is light on the brain and thoroughly enjoyable, this book makes a good coffee companion when you're on your afternoon break.
December 1, 2013
I found the book very tongue and cheek about writing. I enjoyed his writing voice and humor. The title of book was about how to sell a New York Times Bestseller. I enjoyed how he poked fun at the industry but at the same time offered the best and most honest advice I have gotten on writing. Right in the middle of what I was reading, he switched to another story.
I stopped reading there. I hated how it skipped to his other writings without finishing the title of the book.
Beware of what you download for free.
I gave him two stars because of how it started out.
I stopped reading there. I hated how it skipped to his other writings without finishing the title of the book.
Beware of what you download for free.
I gave him two stars because of how it started out.
January 13, 2014
He struck a chord w me
I laughed out literally several times throughout everything he writes. I also felt his pain on several points. Familial or otherwise. I lost it with his spelling bee story. Myself I bombed it a big spelling bee with a four letter word (not THE four letter word) but a humdinger all the same: levy. It haunts me. Rat bastard. Seventeen years ago and I still need therapy. Today even at 32- on the rare occurrence the word comes up- my eye still twitches slightly...
I laughed out literally several times throughout everything he writes. I also felt his pain on several points. Familial or otherwise. I lost it with his spelling bee story. Myself I bombed it a big spelling bee with a four letter word (not THE four letter word) but a humdinger all the same: levy. It haunts me. Rat bastard. Seventeen years ago and I still need therapy. Today even at 32- on the rare occurrence the word comes up- my eye still twitches slightly...
January 21, 2015
Jason Mulgrew is hilarious - I love his writing. Just to put it out there.
But here's the thing: I read this because I was interested in finding out what kind of advice and insight he could provide. And the part that focused on that topic was amazing - I would have rated it with at least four stars. BUT: about halfway through this book stops and he gives a "sneak peek" to another story. So frankly this comes across as a half-ass intent on actually enlightening the rest of us. Rather it comes across as a way to capture people who want to write and shove a new story down their throats.
But here's the thing: I read this because I was interested in finding out what kind of advice and insight he could provide. And the part that focused on that topic was amazing - I would have rated it with at least four stars. BUT: about halfway through this book stops and he gives a "sneak peek" to another story. So frankly this comes across as a half-ass intent on actually enlightening the rest of us. Rather it comes across as a way to capture people who want to write and shove a new story down their throats.
November 20, 2013
First and foremost, Thank you so much Amazon for this free Kindle book. Without it I wouldn't be knowing about Jason Mulgrew. It is a hilarious attempt. The author definitely has a bent for comedy and this book is cogent evidence. Humble, attention-getting and out-and-out hilarious. I was smiling away and found myself highlighting the lines I loved from the book. And I am all set to read his next ;-)
May 7, 2013
Don't waste your time thinking it will help you become a better writer, the so called ten easy steps in this book can be learned from Writer's Digest or other writers who have also become NYT Bestsellers.
It got stars 'cause of the excerpt from his memoir, it's funny and I think I may read it in the future.
It got stars 'cause of the excerpt from his memoir, it's funny and I think I may read it in the future.
April 19, 2014
This felt more like a humorous newspaper column (similar to Dave Barry), but the use of curse words seemed lazy on the part of the author. Most of the rest of this free download was an excerpt from the author's book which I didn't even bother to read.
May 18, 2014
It had a few tips that really speak the truth and I liked it overall. It's short and simple, which is good. But if you're looking for hardcore statistics, facts and such, I suggest you find a little more professional book on how to write bestsellers.
September 26, 2014
Too big picture
I am sure all these things worked for Jason, but nothing in the books would be considered actionable. if you haven't seen good writing books yet read this one. this does make a good primer.
I am sure all these things worked for Jason, but nothing in the books would be considered actionable. if you haven't seen good writing books yet read this one. this does make a good primer.
December 28, 2014
Bahaha! This was a great irreverent guide on how to become a best selling author. Recommend highly to any writers out there.
I didn't read the excerpts from the books, so I'm only rating based on the essay.
I didn't read the excerpts from the books, so I'm only rating based on the essay.
February 21, 2013
Fun read! It's free and I did laugh several times. No complaints!
Read
May 21, 2013Nop..
June 12, 2013
Clever enough for a couple of smiles, quite short. Most of the book is a promo for his memoirs.
November 27, 2013
I mean, this book takes about 15 minutes to read. Fun insight on what the writing and publishing process is like.
January 15, 2014
Nothing new, have already read all this before. Gets a star for the humour. Hardly a 20 minute read.
July 6, 2014
fun and quick essay that had some very quotable lines. the preview was great, too, and felt like a complete short story. really liked his sense of humor.
July 14, 2016
More an essay than a book, but very clever and funny.
February 22, 2014
A brief satire on how to make it in the world of book writing. Short and sweet.
April 8, 2017
Some good information
I was struck by the poor use of language in this book. There were some bits of information I had not considered previously.
I was struck by the poor use of language in this book. There were some bits of information I had not considered previously.
Read
March 6, 2018Steer Clear if you're a serious writer. I am providing a zero star review so others won't have to waste time delving into this one. If you're still curious, it will take no more than 20 minutes to discover what you already know about writing, self publishing, and marketing.
Though this author may indeed be a successful comedian, I found his humor and dismissive writing style to be offensive.
Though this author may indeed be a successful comedian, I found his humor and dismissive writing style to be offensive.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews