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Write to Be Published
You want to make a publisher say yes? First, understand why they say no; then apply that knowledge to your book. Nicola Morgan – the Crabbit Old Bat of the renowned blog, Help! I Need a Publisher! – has made publishers say yes around ninety times. Now she reveals the workings of publishers’ minds and whips your work into shape with humour, honesty, grumpiness and chocolate. “A punchy and practical guide - fluent and informative.” Mark Le Fanu, General Secretary, Society of Authors.“The tutor I wish I’d had when I was starting out. Nicola Morgan is made of crabbit – but she is also made of awesome.” Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat.
- GenresNonfictionWritingCrafts
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 7, 2011
If you're thinking of sending out a manuscript to either an agent or publisher, I'd pick up a copy of this book first. It explains common mistakes made by novice writers who haven't been through submissions before and points them in the right direction. It also runs through things to consider before you get to that stage. The stage where you're putting it all together.
Very clearly set out and very readable. A book I will keep on my desk for future reference as I continue on my own journey.
Very clearly set out and very readable. A book I will keep on my desk for future reference as I continue on my own journey.
January 23, 2018
Wonderful chatty style- refreshing textbook anchored by personal story at end
February 20, 2020
Easy read with good insights on what publishers look for.
Other than that, not much takeaways. The author said in her intro, this book focuses on breadth rather on depth.
Other than that, not much takeaways. The author said in her intro, this book focuses on breadth rather on depth.
November 13, 2013
Nicola Morgan spent many years being rejected as a writer until she finally cracked it, but the engaging way she passes on what she's learned makes that hard to believe. This isn't just a shared insight into how publishers and agents think, and what they want, it's also a guide to producing a book to be proud of.
October 28, 2015
The best book I have read on publishing from a writers perspective. Essential reading for any writer interested in getting their work published. Nicola's informative, concise and approachable style will assist any writer in becoming familiar with the end-to-end publishing process.
November 10, 2012
There are one or two other excellent books on being published; this one is as concise as it is uncommonly generous in its advice. I read this before submitting to agents. It helped me to tie up some loose ends in my own writing before clinching a deal.
August 5, 2014
Libro completo, pratico e ben fatto che raduna molti argomenti utili all'aspirante scrittore, tutto con un piglio schietto e spesso umoristico. Di piacevole lettura, ma niente affatto banale nella sostanza!
February 26, 2012
Probably the best book on writing I've read yet and essantial for any writer aspiring to be published!
July 13, 2012
An excellent book. Very readable and so useful for a newbie writer.
January 23, 2015
It never hurts to go pack over the information in this book. Endlessly helpful.
February 16, 2017
A comprehensive self-help guide to writing and submitting your novel to an agent or publisher. I found this book easy to read, entertaining and informative, full of useful tips and brilliant advice about writing technique. I would recommend Write to be Published to anyone who is looking for the best approach to get their book published.
April 18, 2020
I’d give this book 3.5* on the grounds that it was actually had quite a negative tone. I will hold onto some of the writing advice given, but overall, I feel more deflated and discouraged than inspired. Instead, I will refer back to ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King.
April 7, 2018
From writing to publishing and everything in between, this book is jam-packed with essential info, all presented in a clear yet chatty way. I'm sure I'll be referring to it many times from here on.
September 12, 2011
This is easily the best overview on writing and the publishing business I've read, with tons of specific advice despite its extremely broad range. Recommended for those interested in publication: this and The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook could well be all you need.
Like many beginning writers, I've read a fair selection of 'how-to' books on writing and publishing: books on plotting, characterisation, setting, pitching to agents, specific markets (e.g. writing for children) etc. What I find most impressive about this book is that it gave me more specific advice on some aspects of writing than whole books devoted to that area have done in the past. This book really is gold dust. It considers both non-fiction and fiction writing, both of which Morgan has experience in. The fiction section has invaluable advice on plotting, characters and the elusive 'voice' which is more practical and usable than much I've seen elsewhere, and includes excellent nitty-gritty comments on genres and age categories which again really hit the mark although these are by necessity short sections in this comprehensive book.
I follow Nicola Morgan's blog and also follow her on Twitter and would strongly recommend you do the same, if you're a writer. This book grew from the blog, which has a large following and regularly dispenses no-nonsense advice and the occasional crabbitly rant about publishing and the world of books. Although her reputation is built on her 'crabbitness', this seems to me to take the form of a lack of patience with people who say stupid things, are unwilling to learn and quick to blame others (e.g. the type who bleat about agents' narrow-mindedness in rejecting their unsaleable book). I personally enjoy her writing persona. She's like a well-meaning (but not necessarily tactful) aunt with masses of knowledge and expertise who doesn't mind sharing that with you as long as you realise you'll have to do the work yourself.
But back to the book. It is very well-organised, breaking down Morgan's simple theory that publication is a matter of submitting the right book which is written in the right way to the right person at the right time. The book is then divided into 'before the writing', 'the right book', 'written in the right way' and 'submitting in the right way', along with a detailed 'further resources' section. Each of these sections have many clearly labelled subsections, making it a very easy book to navigate. I read it cover to cover a few weeks ago, and have since returned to several sections as I was working. I would say that the book's strongest point is its practicality. Could I say anything better of a reference book?
I am aware that some people baulk at the 'functional' or market-centred nature of her advice, but I don't think that's fair. Her focus is on helping people get published, not write as therapy (which is a valuable activity, but a quite different one from seeking publication). And, influential as she is, she is not (I believe) single-handedly responsible for the state of the publishing market. Publishers seek to sell books. We should probably not see that as an inherently evil endeavour.
Like many beginning writers, I've read a fair selection of 'how-to' books on writing and publishing: books on plotting, characterisation, setting, pitching to agents, specific markets (e.g. writing for children) etc. What I find most impressive about this book is that it gave me more specific advice on some aspects of writing than whole books devoted to that area have done in the past. This book really is gold dust. It considers both non-fiction and fiction writing, both of which Morgan has experience in. The fiction section has invaluable advice on plotting, characters and the elusive 'voice' which is more practical and usable than much I've seen elsewhere, and includes excellent nitty-gritty comments on genres and age categories which again really hit the mark although these are by necessity short sections in this comprehensive book.
I follow Nicola Morgan's blog and also follow her on Twitter and would strongly recommend you do the same, if you're a writer. This book grew from the blog, which has a large following and regularly dispenses no-nonsense advice and the occasional crabbitly rant about publishing and the world of books. Although her reputation is built on her 'crabbitness', this seems to me to take the form of a lack of patience with people who say stupid things, are unwilling to learn and quick to blame others (e.g. the type who bleat about agents' narrow-mindedness in rejecting their unsaleable book). I personally enjoy her writing persona. She's like a well-meaning (but not necessarily tactful) aunt with masses of knowledge and expertise who doesn't mind sharing that with you as long as you realise you'll have to do the work yourself.
But back to the book. It is very well-organised, breaking down Morgan's simple theory that publication is a matter of submitting the right book which is written in the right way to the right person at the right time. The book is then divided into 'before the writing', 'the right book', 'written in the right way' and 'submitting in the right way', along with a detailed 'further resources' section. Each of these sections have many clearly labelled subsections, making it a very easy book to navigate. I read it cover to cover a few weeks ago, and have since returned to several sections as I was working. I would say that the book's strongest point is its practicality. Could I say anything better of a reference book?
I am aware that some people baulk at the 'functional' or market-centred nature of her advice, but I don't think that's fair. Her focus is on helping people get published, not write as therapy (which is a valuable activity, but a quite different one from seeking publication). And, influential as she is, she is not (I believe) single-handedly responsible for the state of the publishing market. Publishers seek to sell books. We should probably not see that as an inherently evil endeavour.
July 12, 2012
‘Write to be Published’ by Nicola Morgan is a ‘How to ...’ book like no other I’ve read. It’s not written in the accepted format of telling the writer what makes the recipient say ‘yes’. It helps the writer leap over the hurdles by presenting what provokes the recipient to say ‘no’. When I say recipient I mean agent, editor or publisher.
This book is written with a real sense of ‘been there, done that,’ and Nicola’s humour shines through page after page as she makes many relevant points. I’m sure she’d agree that so much of the information is logical or common sense, but she presents it so clearly.
I read it in three days if I include the time I spent going back in to make notes whilst certain things preyed on my mind. This will join my small shelf of ‘must have’ books for writing reference.
Nicola takes the writer from the point before writing, through the various stages of writing and editing and on to submission. Four main sections followed by a resources list make it easy to return to an area of particular interest. The language and tone are aimed at writers of all abilities which is always a positive step and there is no preaching to the newer writers.
I’ve already made changes to my new novel purely by heeding advice given in this book and I thoroughly recommend ‘Write to be Published’ to writers, no matter how much you think you know about the writing process. Thank you Nicola.
This book is written with a real sense of ‘been there, done that,’ and Nicola’s humour shines through page after page as she makes many relevant points. I’m sure she’d agree that so much of the information is logical or common sense, but she presents it so clearly.
I read it in three days if I include the time I spent going back in to make notes whilst certain things preyed on my mind. This will join my small shelf of ‘must have’ books for writing reference.
Nicola takes the writer from the point before writing, through the various stages of writing and editing and on to submission. Four main sections followed by a resources list make it easy to return to an area of particular interest. The language and tone are aimed at writers of all abilities which is always a positive step and there is no preaching to the newer writers.
I’ve already made changes to my new novel purely by heeding advice given in this book and I thoroughly recommend ‘Write to be Published’ to writers, no matter how much you think you know about the writing process. Thank you Nicola.
June 23, 2011
A really really useful book that covers everything that you need to get right in order to be published. It was particularly nice that it was from a UK angle; so many How To books are US-centred. Of course most things apply wherever you are based, but it was just refreshing to see a British perspective.
It's not actually a How To book in that it doesn't claim to teach you how to write. As Nicola Morgan says, you should regard her as a GP rather than a specialist. Reading the book will point you in the direction of what you might need to work on, then you need more focused guidance.
But as an overall book on what you need to know in order to be a professional writer, I thought it worked really well.
It's not actually a How To book in that it doesn't claim to teach you how to write. As Nicola Morgan says, you should regard her as a GP rather than a specialist. Reading the book will point you in the direction of what you might need to work on, then you need more focused guidance.
But as an overall book on what you need to know in order to be a professional writer, I thought it worked really well.
June 1, 2011
An absolutely essential bit of kit for any beginning writer. Nicola's advice is straight to the point, honest and practical. Everything is backed up by her experience in having over 90 books published and is bang up to date.
The book is written with a brilliantly dry wit and I can't recommend it highly enough.
The book is written with a brilliantly dry wit and I can't recommend it highly enough.
April 25, 2012
This honest and straight-talking book includes advice that will help any aspiring author. Nicola has published over 50 books, so her commentary is backed by many years of dealing with agents, publishers, and readers. She also spent many years as an unpublished writer, so understands the mistakes writers make that keeps them from success. Highly recommended.
August 17, 2011
I love reading about the writing craft, but normally I have to tread slowly through books because they are tough reading.
Nicola Morgan's book is filled with valuable advice, but it's set up in short sections, like the blog posts it's built from which makes it a super fast and accessible read.
Nicola Morgan's book is filled with valuable advice, but it's set up in short sections, like the blog posts it's built from which makes it a super fast and accessible read.
April 1, 2012
I found this book really helpful as I write and edit my second novel. It's incisive, it's witty, it's well organized. I've recommended it to other writers. It cut to the chase in a way that I found very helpful.
May 28, 2015
Write to be Published is an accessible and practical guide from a published writer. The title sums it up pretty well and although I have no experience in the subject, it would appear to be a useful guide.
April 28, 2015
A great how-to writing guide to publication. I like Nicola's humourous style. The conversation with the taxi driver will be long remembered. Some good, no nonsense advice on being published.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews