The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer: Everything You Need to Know About Craft, Inspiration, Agents, Editors, Publishing, and the Business of Building a Sustainable Writing Career

by Kevin Larimer, Mary Gannon

The definitive source of information, insight, and advice for creative writers, from the nation’s largest and most trusted organization for writers, Poets & Writers.

For half a century, writers at every stage of their careers have turned to the literary nonprofit organization Poets & Writers and its award-winning magazine for resources to foster their professional development, from writing prompts and tips on technique to informative interviews with published authors, literary agents, and editors. But never before has Poets & Writers marshaled its fifty years’ worth of knowledge to create an authoritative guide for writers that answers every imaginable question about craft and career—until now. Here is the writing bible for authors of all genres and forms, covering topics such as how to:

-Harness your imagination and jump-start your creativity
-Develop your work from initial idea to final draft
-Find a supportive and inspiring writing community to sustain your career
-Find the best MFA program for you
-Publish your work in literary magazines and develop a platform
-Research writing contests and other opportunities to support your writing life
-Decide between traditional publishing and self-publishing
-Find the right literary agent
-Anticipate what agents look for in queries and proposals
-Work successfully with an editor and your publishing team
-Market yourself and your work in a digital world
-Approach financial planning and taxes as a writer
-And much more

Written by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon, the two most recent editors of Poets & Writers Magazine, this book brings an unrivaled understanding of the areas in which writers seek guidance and support. Filled with insider information like sample query letters, pitch letters, lists of resources, and worksheets for calculating freelance rates, tracking submissions, and managing your taxes, the guide does more than demystify the writing life—it also provides an array of powerful tools for building a sustainable career as a writer. In addition to the wealth of insights into creativity, publishing, and promotion are first-person essays from bestselling authors, including George Saunders, Christina Baker Kline, and Ocean Vuong, as well as reading lists from award-winning writers such as Anthony Doerr, Cheryl Strayed, and Natalie Diaz. Here, at last, is the ultimate comprehensive resource that belongs on every writer’s desk.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Poetry, Unfinished, Crafts

496 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2020

About the author

Kevin Larimer is the editor in chief of Poets & Writers, where he edits Poets & Writers Magazine; oversees the website, pw.org; and directs the organization’s program of live events, Poets & Writers Live. He is the coauthor of The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer. He received his MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he served as the poetry editor of the Iowa Review, and holds a BA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He is a member of the board of directors of the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation. He has lectured and served on panels about publishing at events such as the Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Sozopol Fiction Seminars, the Anguilla Lit Fest, the Kauai Writers Conference, the Slice Literary Writer’s Conference, the Iceland Writers Retreat, the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, Poets Forum, the Bronx Book Fair, and the Writer’s Hotel.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my weekly broadcast about the writing life and writer's craft, "Writing Wednesday" (now available on youtube), whenever a viewer asks a question about the 'business' of writing--how to get an agent, what it's like working with an editor, etc.--I immediately refer that person to Poets&Writers, the writers organization. This essential resource, including their magazine and their website pw.org--regularly provides up to the minute information, articles and guidance of all kinds for the emerging and established writer.

Now there's the Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being A Writer--and it is EVERYTHING you need to know, not only about the business, but also the craft and the inner game of the writing life. This would have been my bible as an emerging--I hate to say 'struggling', though I was struggling most of the time-- writer. And it still has piles of incredibly useful information and thought-provoking perspectives-- even at this hoary stage in the game.

Chapters include such wide ranging topics as: 'Writing and Money', 'Writing and Family,' 'Writing and Time,' (and what writer doesn't struggle with this?), 'Writing Contests' with how to approach them, how to choose, and a submission tracker, ''Independent Publishers', 'Surviving Success and Failure,' 'Literary Agents,' 'Writing and Respect," 'Publicity and Promotion,' 'Literary Magazines', 'A Writer's Education'--pros and cons of the MFA--beginnings and endings, even a respectful, open minded approach to self-publishing.

I especially loved how the Success/Failure chapter explores the concepts, so obessive among writers-- "Both of these empires are built on shifting sands. Success, as they say, is fleeting, but so is failure." And how the definition of failure is different depending upon the degree to which you're depending upon 'success' to pay the bills...

It uses 'case studies' of specific writers' experiences, such as the pitch letter from Anan Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to an agency, the agent's reply, and the agent's query letter to the editor who eventually took her book.

And it is full of action items in each chapter, specifics to help you move towards your goals.

I especially enjoyed the wonderful short essays from various authors which marble the book, pieces written specifically for it (Poet & Writers has an army of famous and loyal members who were more than happy to support the book such as Luis Alberto Urrea on Trust and Power and George Saunders on Motivatio,) and book lists suggested by favorite writers for as remedies for specific issues such as Nafissa Thomson-Spires's "Five Books to Remind You Why You Started Writing when the World is Too Much and Not Enough and Expatriation or Giving Up Isn't an Option."

Which of us doesn't lose motivation in the cycle of writing a novel? Which of us couldn't learn to use our time better? This is an essential book which every writer, emerging or established, should have on his or her bookshelf, right next to a good thesaurus (Roget's International, with the finger tabs), a basic comp or grammar book and a collegiate dictionary.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding resource. Both inspiring and informative.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally believe that you should get college credit if you manage to read this entire book cover to cover. It is big! It's also incredibly thorough and is immensely helpful for both beginning and experienced writers. It's compiled of advice from a wide pool of published authors on everything you could possibly think to ask about. A must-have for authors.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review (though I have my own older version at home).

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

It includes goal-setting, writing prompts, apps for inspiration and encouragement, checklists, time management and many more. It is an updated book that keeps up with the times that should be useful for the here and now.

Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[John McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poets & Writers provides information on all facets on the writing process, from beginning to publication and beyond in this excellent guide to being a writer. There are chapters on inspiration, craft, the business of writing, and writing as a career, among many others. The book contains action plans and writing prompts. I particularly enjoyed the One Hundred Notes on the Craft chapter. My favorite parts of this Poets & Writers publication were the discussions on what it means to be a writer, what it means to deal with rejection (and how to learn from it), what it means to be a failure (and what it does not mean) Ultimately, this IS a complete guide to being a writer, a creative force, This is a book about the essence of what being such a creative force really means, and it's not just Twitter followers and hardcover book sales. On a personal note, I received a MA in Writing Studies from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia in 2015, and have been a songwriter since 1996. This guide greatly informed my creative process, and I will be recommending it not only to fellow writers, but also the faculty at SJU. Highly recommended, highly readable, and highly informative.

[Willow (Taylor's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I got this as a gift last Christmas!

This was very different from most writing books I've read, as it doesn't just give advice and specific tips for how to write well. Instead, the two authors discuss the writing process, how to become a professional author, and navigating the publishing industry.

The only real flaw I thought of was that the chapter with the famous authors' quotes seemed a bit like filler, but I enjoyed it enough where it didn't detract from the rest of the book.

I didn't know much about Poets & Writers beforehand, but I check their website a lot now, thanks to this book.

Highly recommended to anyone who wants to get their writing out into the world. :)

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was required reading for one of my editing and publishing courses at UCLA, which is to say, it’s as thick as a textbook and about as engaging as a textbook too.

The subtitle promises that this book contains everything you need to know about writing, but it fails to deliver on that promise. It does cover pretty much every topic in writing, but far from everything you need to know about those topics. It just skims along the surface level and provides next to no detail.

If you’re someone who is just starting out, this could be a great introduction to the writing world. But if you’re someone who is already familiar with the craft and with the industry, I don’t think you’ll find anything new here.

In fact, large portions of the text are nothing new simply because a significant amount of the book is compiled of quotations from other writers/resources. I think these quotes are meant to lend an inspirational tone to the book, but I personally found it off-putting how much of the book’s material wasn’t original.

I much preferred the straight-shooting tone and the detailed information in Jane Friedman’s The Business of Being a Writer.

The Poet’s & Writer’s website, however, is chock full of useful information.

[Catherine Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of insight & knowledge packed into this guy, from offering suggestions on getting started with your writing to the nitty-gritty of all the different elements that go into a book being published. I see this being less of a “sit down and read from cover to cover” (though that is what I just did) and more a “use as a reference as specific chapters become relevant to you.” There were a few spots, in the second half, where they repeated themselves a little, but overall this was a thorough and helpful read. I appreciate their examination of the pros and cons of both publication paths (traditional vs. self) and how they considered the contributions of indie presses.

[Amanda Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive treatise on the writing life, with inspiring quotations and resources galore.

[Bud Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb resource; will be useful going forward

[Mark Danowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely valuable text for writers, editors, and publishers. I will be frequently recommending this resource in the years to come!

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding reference source. A safe space to understand the workings of the writing profession.

[alexander shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are brand new to writing, particularly to long-form publication but also to short form and literary magazines, this book is a good all-in-one starter. It goes over the process of writing, finding inspiration, what submitting to literary magazines and publishers is like, how to self-publish, doing writing as a career, what freelancing can look like, and more. As someone who has already read many, many books on both the craft of writing and the business of writing, I would say only the details included in the freelance section were really new to me. This book is also specific to the US; while it does mention a handful of international contests and retreats, most of these as well as the literary agents, publishing houses, literary magazines, MFA programs, etc, that are listed in this book as well as on the P&W website are American-based. As someone based in Canada who wants to take advantage of the Canadian writing scene, this book is therefore much less helpful on a practical level than it would be to someone in the US, but in regards to the general process of how things in the writing world work it is still applicable.

[Robert Nolin · Rating 2 out of 5]

We have lost the perennial series from Writer's Digest (Guide to Literary Agents), no longer being published. I bought this instead, hoping it would fill the void. After all, it promises to contain "everything" I need to know. Of course, it doesn't. In trying to do everything for everyone, from fiction writers to poets to nonfiction writers, they end up with a high-level introduction to everything in the publishing world. If that's what you're looking for, here it is. Just know that details are to be found elsewhere. Looking for information on how to craft a synopsis for an agent query? Not here. That's a pretty basic element. What you will find are lots of quotes and other "inspirational" bits that serve no practical purpose. This is not a nuts and bolts book. It's...pretty useless, actually.

What really turned me off, though, was the authors' insistence upon joining the writing community. You must join their club, if you want to be considered a writer. Please. Recommended only if you have bought into the whole MFA scam. If not, the 2017 edition of "Guide to Literary Agents" has excellent information, and using it I found an agent. Of course the listing is out of date now, and for that there are online resources, such as agentquery.com. Good luck!

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-own for any aspiring author or poet. It covers everything from the basics of craft to the details of the publishing industry (though that part seems like it's changing these days). This book is (unsurprisingly) well-written and easy to understand, and packed with useful advice and tips. I especially appreciate the sections on agents and editors, which would-be writers need to understand. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make a career out of writing, and great gift idea for someone you know who wants to get started.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Patricia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this text in my Literary Publishing graduate course at Arizona State University. The students are superlative in their discussions, which is well deserved. There is so much institutional knowledge among these pages gathered and gifted in a clear, inspirational way. Truly a must read for anyone who aspires to a career in writing and publishing.

[AK Alder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and invaluable to any writer. It took me a good year and a half to get through the whole thing, which I mostly read cover-to-cover, except for a few sections I needed at the time.

In particular, this resource has given me a much clearer picture of the book deal and all the moving parts associated with publishing, refining, and promoting a manuscript.

[Cat B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to very helpful in reviewing important aspects of the writing process. I took the author's advice and focused on the chapters that I wanted. I have my MFA so much is a repeat of information I already know. Regardless, it was good to hear it again and I found the actual examples very useful.

[R.J.]

Very good resource, though intended more for novices than seasoned writers. Features some excellent pro-advice to stay in the game, comprehensive lists, on-line resources, and reading recommendations. A solid offering from a trusted brand.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A broad and multi faceted look at the life and business of a writer. Depending on the experience level of the writer, this book could be a wealth of knowledge or too simplistic with a handful of handy tips.

[Alexis Collazo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pack with information that I didn't quite finish reading the whole thing. Borrowed this copy from the library, but this is more a book you might want to own. It's something to keep on the shelf and go back to reference over and over again.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tabbed so many pages in this book that it took me hours to later go back and type up all of my notes! This book was full of great ideas, tips, and strategies - everything from writing prompts to where to find agents on twitter to where to find the best writing competitions and writing challenges. A must-read for any author or aspiring author.

[Ham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now I see why this has been published for a few years and still only has 33 reviews. It’s booooring. I made it to part 2 (of 16) but was tired of the random quotes from random authors about what they think about writing (in the most poetic, self-important way possible.)

[Wendy Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enormously helpful and thorough book ~about navigating the many avenues involved with being a writer.
Chapters devoted to writing, publishing, submissions, literary agents, publicists, etc.

A well-researched guide.

[Vovka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly excellent reference work. Does what it says on the cover. Will need to be updated regularly to keep up with changes in the publishing business. This version, for example, doesn’t address AI writing at all, which is a problem given AI’s impact on some professional writing paths.

[Jennifer Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly helpful for all of the steps leading up to a book publication. I'm taking notes on each page and have already learned so much! Thank you, Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon, for the guide I didn't know I needed, and now can't live without!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely useful reference guide to the business of writing and publishing a novel, from the first idea all the way to navigating the publishing world.

[Rebecca Ann Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio and had to order a hard copy - a must book for writers to have in their library.

[Teresa Burns Gunther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, a nice refresher; good for beginning writers.

[Nina Lisitsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough explanations of the writers path to becoming an author.