The Nasty Little Writing Book : Longtime New York Publishing Insider Reveals Secrets Only Best-Selling Authors Know

by Madelyne Simone Rovenhauer, D.W. St. John

BOOK BY PUBLISHING INSIDER TOPPLES PUBLISHING FROM PEDESTAL A new satire of how-to-write-books by NY publishing insider Madelyne Simone Rovenhauer has the market all to itself. In a genre rife with deadly serious texts purporting to teach the beginner to write bestselling novels, there is now a deadly satire. Anything but the usual publishing cheerleader, Rovenhauer bites not only the hand that feeds her, but every hand within reach. Her nasty little book topples publishing from its pedestal and into the gutter where it belongs, and anyone who has ever read any of an endless stream of how-to-write books in hopes of being published—and collected rejection slips—will want to read this hilarious spoof. Rovenhauer deals with all aspects of writing a bestselling novel on one’s first try—from awaiting the muse to coping with ensuing fame. Included in her acerbic guide secrets of ‘bonding’ with new york editors, writing about sex, what genre is ripe for ‘breaking in’, why you should not ‘write what you know’, how TV can be your doorway to success, why literary agents want to ‘discover’ you, and much more. Bitingly satirical and choc-a-block with lies as it is—this nasty little tome serves up a bigger dose of truth than any gross of the usual how-to-be-published books. The Nasty Little Writing Book guarantees a contract with a large publishing house and a million dollar advance on the reader’s first attempt. Ms. Rovenhauer is that confident, that filled with sage advice for the novice. Vicious as it is nasty, those familiar with the realities of the publishing world will find Rovenhauer’s nasty little spoof acerbically on target.

Genres: Writing

132 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The snark got to be too much. If she shortened the horrible writing samples then it would've been more tolerable. The formatting was poor so it made it harder to read.

[jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun to read. Being satire, it hit the same note over and over quite a few times, but it was still quick and enjoyable.

[Jonathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great concept rendered as a tedious exercise in smugness. Attempts at humor fall flat, and I gave up on it early.

[Jack Swanzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarcasm! Funny, at times.

[Agustín Fest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro tiene un problema:

Que leí una muy buena sátira justo antes de leerlo.

Cuando lo leí, se me hizo simplón y con sus momentos entretenidos, pero no me arrancó carcajadas... sonrisitas nomás.

El libro seguramente mejora si vives en Nueva York, si eres un lector regular de Best-Sellers, si estás informado de la elite y de la vida de los autores que aparecen en las listas de los mejor vendidos del NYT y si estás desesperado por encontrar la solución que tanto esperabas para escribir esa novela que venderá millones.

Hemingway es un chiste recurrente como el hombre que arruinó a los escritores contemporáneos y habla de los editores, y los agentes literarios, como gente solícita y amable para resolver todas tus dudas. También recomienda la televisión como un método esencial para aprender a escribir.

El capítulo que mejor recuerdo es el de como escribir escenas sexuales: Lo leí con un rictus de horror en la cara. El libro cumplió su cometido.

[Lira · Rating 2 out of 5]

its okay. I eventually got tired of deciphering the jokes from the actual advice. I rarely give up on a book, but I let this one go by the wayside.

[Sarah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This satire is a must for anyone who has ever wanted to be published. It demolishes the popular myths of publishing in a way that made me laugh. It must have been a riot to write.