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Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams
Do you dream of being a Published Author?
In today's competitive marketplace, to get published, you need three elements.
First, you need the insider knowledge about how book editors, magazine editors and literary agents work. If you don't understand their needs, then you will never be able to meet their expectations.
Second, you need the skills to provide these publishing professionals with what they need. Finally, you need to bring strong storytelling to your writing. These pages provide step-by-step guidance on each of these essentials.
In today's competitive marketplace, to get published, you need three elements.
First, you need the insider knowledge about how book editors, magazine editors and literary agents work. If you don't understand their needs, then you will never be able to meet their expectations.
Second, you need the skills to provide these publishing professionals with what they need. Finally, you need to bring strong storytelling to your writing. These pages provide step-by-step guidance on each of these essentials.
286 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2009
5 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
W. Terry Whalin
44 books410 followersW. Terry Whalin understands the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his work has appeared in more than 50 publications. Terry is an Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 books through traditional publishers. Terry's newest book released on October 5, 2021 called BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (REVISED EDITION). Another recent book from Terry is, 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS, INSIGHTS EVERY AUTHOR NEEDS TO SUCCEED . Late in 2014, Terry had another new book, BILLY GRAHAM, A BIOGRAPHY OF AMERICA'S GREATEST EVANGELIST. Terry is a popular speaker at numerous writers’ conferences and an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 28, 2015
Terry happens to be my acquisitions editor. They guy who liked The Burning Man enough to give it a chance to get to market (Thanks Terry!). Terry guide is really everything you want to know from a man who has been in publishing for decades. I have been to writers conventions, where writers have asked questions about words counts and been given astronomical numbers that I know are wrong, based on Terry's book. I refer to it again and again as I write and move my books such as The Burning Man by Solange Ritchie, now available for preorder on Amazon, through publication. I consider this one of the bibles.
February 7, 2015
Written by an experienced publishing insider this book will take you through the steps you need to take to become a better writer and get yourself published.
The book covers all areas of the writing and publishing process. It is easy to read, very well written, well laid out with handy tips and references to more information at the end of each chapter. I am sure I will refer to it again and again over the years.
I originally learnt the process of editing the hard way and could not have got through my M.A. without having someone review my work and suggest changes that were difficult to take on board. Ultimately this was a rewarding process. A couple of years on, I now enjoy writing and have started a blog simply for the pleasure of writing and putting it up for public view.
I was therefore delighted to received this review copy in a Goodreads First Reads draw. It showed me how to develop my blog and gave me some very useful tips that I would not have otherwise thought of. It emphasised the importance of editing and having someone you respect review your work before sending it off.
The author, Terry Whalin, writes with a generosity that clearly shines through. He adopts a pay forward approach, whether in giving advice, recommending other authors books or useful websites. He makes excellent suggestions as to how you can get yourself noticed and remembered.
Terry demonstrates that writing is a craft to be developed. If writing is viewed as an ongoing process you can remain open to making opportunities and taking advantage of any offers that may come your way. He offers advice on how to stay focussed on your goals, handle rejection, explore different avenues whilst developing your writing, reviewing and editing skills.
He explains how actively engaging in these processes helps you to make contacts and to learn what editors and publishers are looking for. Ultimately I do not know where I will take my work, but whether you are already published as an author, just starting out, had articles published or are writing a blog, this book will be useful.
The book covers all areas of the writing and publishing process. It is easy to read, very well written, well laid out with handy tips and references to more information at the end of each chapter. I am sure I will refer to it again and again over the years.
I originally learnt the process of editing the hard way and could not have got through my M.A. without having someone review my work and suggest changes that were difficult to take on board. Ultimately this was a rewarding process. A couple of years on, I now enjoy writing and have started a blog simply for the pleasure of writing and putting it up for public view.
I was therefore delighted to received this review copy in a Goodreads First Reads draw. It showed me how to develop my blog and gave me some very useful tips that I would not have otherwise thought of. It emphasised the importance of editing and having someone you respect review your work before sending it off.
The author, Terry Whalin, writes with a generosity that clearly shines through. He adopts a pay forward approach, whether in giving advice, recommending other authors books or useful websites. He makes excellent suggestions as to how you can get yourself noticed and remembered.
Terry demonstrates that writing is a craft to be developed. If writing is viewed as an ongoing process you can remain open to making opportunities and taking advantage of any offers that may come your way. He offers advice on how to stay focussed on your goals, handle rejection, explore different avenues whilst developing your writing, reviewing and editing skills.
He explains how actively engaging in these processes helps you to make contacts and to learn what editors and publishers are looking for. Ultimately I do not know where I will take my work, but whether you are already published as an author, just starting out, had articles published or are writing a blog, this book will be useful.
May 15, 2015
This book, has been a slow read for me in between other daily tasks, but well worth it! The author and his years of expertise in many of the aspects of publishing, is not only wise, but gives great thoughts/ideas when it comes to starting small, getting known, building your platform and more. I would have never even contemplated some of the ideas the author gives, but they definitely are smart, logical reasons. This book is full of great resources, and the Dig Deeper questions at the end of each chapter will give you some homework to do if you are truly serious about publishing a book, or publishing anything for that matter. Very thankful that I was a good reads winner of this book, and definitely will be referencing this book often throughout my writing "process!"
March 11, 2015
I finished this book within two days of receiving it. As a would-be writer who wants to develop both my skills and understanding of publishing, this book was a fantastic resource. Terry Whalin packs years of experience, stories, and advice into every page. There were several chapters I reread immediately.
One of the things I most appreciate is Terry's sincere desire to help authors succeed. That is evident in the tone he uses as well as the suggestions and tips he provides.
I would highly recommend this book to any aspiring or experienced author.
One of the things I most appreciate is Terry's sincere desire to help authors succeed. That is evident in the tone he uses as well as the suggestions and tips he provides.
I would highly recommend this book to any aspiring or experienced author.
November 28, 2010
Mr. Whalin brings his years of experience to us in a form which provides in depth and practical advice to the writer. My favorite part of this book? The practical application exercises listed at the end of every chapter. It has been my personal experience that when one takes the advice of professionals and applies it to their own career, one is more likely to succeed.
August 22, 2020
In this book, Whalin delivers a strong course in all the different areas an author needs to know about in order to be successful. I’ll just touch on a few areas that seemed to speak the most.
He encourages people to pursue traditional publishing, mainly because according to him your books have little to no chance of getting into retail stores if you self-publish. One exception to this might be if you are a speaker and can generate a lot of backroom sales. He includes a short overview of what should go into a proposal to assist the reader in finding a publisher for their book.
Even if you do find a traditional publisher, but especially if you self-publish, he says that you are going to need to learn how to build a platform and market your book to your specific target market in order for your book to have any chance of success. He quotes from a best-selling author who says, “The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out.”
He shares how-to information along with stories, experience and statistics to back up his advice. For example, he says if you ask 50 people to write and post a review of your book along with giving them a review copy, expect to get 25 reviews in return. I also like the fact that he also recommends other books on specific areas of publishing.
According to Whalin, being successful in the field of publishing has a lot to do with talent, craft and skill, but that’s not all that there is to it. He asserts that being successful in publishing depends to a large degree on cultivating relationships with other people in the field. Sometimes, he says, who you know is as important as what you know.
Even though this book is a few years old, it nonetheless contains much information that can be helpful to both the beginning and the more advanced writer today. As a freelance book editor, I will be recommending this book to my clients. Be prepared to read it more than once to glean everything you need from it (the picture above shows all the post-it notes one reader put in his). In fact, the author even recommends reading the book twice in the beginning of this book.
Because of the wealth of information presented in this book and the clear and concise manner in which Whalin relays it, I give this book 5 stars!
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He encourages people to pursue traditional publishing, mainly because according to him your books have little to no chance of getting into retail stores if you self-publish. One exception to this might be if you are a speaker and can generate a lot of backroom sales. He includes a short overview of what should go into a proposal to assist the reader in finding a publisher for their book.
Even if you do find a traditional publisher, but especially if you self-publish, he says that you are going to need to learn how to build a platform and market your book to your specific target market in order for your book to have any chance of success. He quotes from a best-selling author who says, “The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out.”
He shares how-to information along with stories, experience and statistics to back up his advice. For example, he says if you ask 50 people to write and post a review of your book along with giving them a review copy, expect to get 25 reviews in return. I also like the fact that he also recommends other books on specific areas of publishing.
According to Whalin, being successful in the field of publishing has a lot to do with talent, craft and skill, but that’s not all that there is to it. He asserts that being successful in publishing depends to a large degree on cultivating relationships with other people in the field. Sometimes, he says, who you know is as important as what you know.
Even though this book is a few years old, it nonetheless contains much information that can be helpful to both the beginning and the more advanced writer today. As a freelance book editor, I will be recommending this book to my clients. Be prepared to read it more than once to glean everything you need from it (the picture above shows all the post-it notes one reader put in his). In fact, the author even recommends reading the book twice in the beginning of this book.
Because of the wealth of information presented in this book and the clear and concise manner in which Whalin relays it, I give this book 5 stars!
_____________________________________________________________________________
June 10, 2023
Before you write your book, you need to read this one. Terry Whalin draws on decades of experience in publishing and writing to give you a map to publication. And if you follow his plan, you won't just publish a single work; you'll build a career as a full-time writer.
Whalin takes you from the writing process through publication to success as a writer. If you dream of becoming a published author, this book will wake you up, fire you up, and ignite your future.
Whalin takes you from the writing process through publication to success as a writer. If you dream of becoming a published author, this book will wake you up, fire you up, and ignite your future.
January 1, 2023
I can tell the author really works hard on his goals/writing. He also recommends a lot of books in the book which is cool-io, and there were a lot of tips.
I feel like the book was a little older than when I read it, and possibly also some stuff I knew from other things I have heard, but I did learn things too. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter were pretty lit.👍👍
I feel like the book was a little older than when I read it, and possibly also some stuff I knew from other things I have heard, but I did learn things too. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter were pretty lit.👍👍
December 30, 2014
W. Terry Whalin's "Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams" is a truly useful book. When I was in high school, I used to write non-fiction articles regularly for a couple of magazines that have ceased publication. When they stopped, I pretty much stopped writing, but always wondered in the back of my head if I shouldn't start writing again. Also, colleges look favorably upon having articles published in peer-review journals. I've considered it, but not really known how to go about it. Mr. Whalin's book brings up a lot of useful information and pointers I should consider before proceeding to the next level. There is definitely an abundance of useful advice to consider when pursuing publication opportunities. I also liked his idea about re-purposing content for multiple platforms. It makes me wonder if some of my old research projects can be re-purposed....
This is definitely an excellent guide for those aspiring to be published and I am truly appreciative of having a copy for future reference. This book was won from the Goodreads.com website in exchange for a review.
This is definitely an excellent guide for those aspiring to be published and I am truly appreciative of having a copy for future reference. This book was won from the Goodreads.com website in exchange for a review.
November 11, 2015
Whalin has written an engaging, thoughtful primer for anyone who wants to be a published author. From books to magazines, he covers the basics of how to break in and get started. He also includes additional resources at the end of each chapter where you can go and dig deeper into the subject matter. As a professional writer of more than 20 years, I wish this book had been available when I started!
December 15, 2015
An excellent resource if you are willing to step outside your comfort zone. The author lists several alternate routes you can take if your publishing dreams have stalled but be forewarned, none of them are an easy fix nor can they be accomplished without serious effort from you.
April 6, 2017
this book is insider information on the field of publishing written by an expert. not only is Terry an expert, but he's passionate about helping others. what a wonderful combination. thank you Terry Whalin!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews