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Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction
written by Cory Doctorow, Karl Schroeder
Studio : Alpha
by Alpha
Publisher : Alpha
Released : 2000-07-14
Availability : This Item is currently Not Available
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780028639185
UPC : 021898639189
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 10 reviews)
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Product Description |
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If you love science fiction and would like to write some of your own, this book will give you practical advice. Describing the different types of science fiction and fantasy genres and subgenres, it explains everything from how putting your manuscript together to getting it picked up by a publisher, and suggests relevant resources to put you ahead of the pack. |
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Definitely For Novices |
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This book has such basic information that it's only useful for real beginners. Also, the authors are not the most highly rated sci fi writers in the industry. In fact, Van De Meer bores one silly. |
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Low on advice, High on marketing hints |
Out of 26 chapters, This book contains five highly developed chapters of advice to the specific needs of the writer of SF books and short stories (First Steps on the Road, The Varieties of SF, Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
The Short Story and Innovation in Science Fiction)
The rest of the book consists of general information that could be applied to any form of writing and actually . The passages on how to deal with taxes, business and publishing markets are especially good. Since many writers may feel that they are artists first and businessmen or women later, This book may be a slight disappointment because of its focus on the money aspects of the profession more than actual writing. and later on the pure craft of writing.
Thus, this book is neither about SF writing nor about publishing of the same. Instead, it seems to be a smattering of the two. In my own writing this is just a "creativity-killer" For me, I would recommend the trade books by Orson Scott Card and Frederick Pohl. They are easier to read and they focus their purpose on science fiction writing and how to make it well.
I think that writing should come first and publishing know-how later. This book admits to that in the first few pages and does save the market info until the last part (3) of the book.
Alpha Books (Penguin Group) has shot themselves in the foot here. Doctorow and his great talents are wasted in a book about money, agents and markets. A true study of the works of Doctorow will show this to be true. He is a remarkable writer and has done many things to advance the cause of the young SF writer as well as writers in general. This kind of book applies his skills in a way that hamper his ability as a teacher. or, as I said, an artist.
Meanwhile, a new writer should shun this book and start with something more easily accessible and profound like the trade books by Orson Scott Card and Frederick Pohl.
For the best info on how to submit a work, try talking to the editor first and then send your work into a market where it will be most appreciated. Those are just my ideas about how the book doesn't measure up.
Try reading manuscript guidelines by editors like Gardner Dozois, Gordon van Gelder or Stanley Schmidt to get ths. All of the above editors will teach you what makes a good SF or Fantasy story. That said, ignore this book and buy something of more lasting value.
I gave a 1 because I believe it is useful as a beginning but is by no means profound as are other books. You can get better advice by talking directly to an than you ever will by reading a trade book. |
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Incredibly Practical, and Fun to Read! |
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"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction & Fantasy" provides practical, solid advice, and it does it with the help of some very funny stories. It's at once sobering and hopeful; it doesn't get you worked up with a lot of false hopes, yet doesn't leave you depressed and suicidal about your chances of getting published either. This book debunks popular myths and legends about writing. It covers the varieties of science fiction, as well as fantasy, including "dark fantasy" or horror. It briefly touches on fans and conventions, including how to handle your fans (the good and the bad). It discusses the importance (or not) of having "new" ideas for your stories, and of knowing your subject. It'll also point out some of the mistakes and problems that knowing your subject can push you into. It goes into writing as a job. It covers the usual "you have to make time for it" idea that every book trots out, but it also provides useful suggestions for how to go about this. It goes over the good and bad methods SF authors use to convey information in their stories. Instead of simply trotting out the old "show don't tell" advice, it provides practical structuring suggestions, as well as examples of those suggestions. It also goes into such genre topics as world-building. One of the invaluable aspects of this part of the book is the insider's perspective. These authors haven't just summed up their own experiences submitting things--they've talked to lots of editors and networked with everyone. They tell you what editors like, don't like, and dread. This book gives practical advice on self-promotion, without pushing you to use the sleazy, shady, or just plain rude self-promotion practices I've seen advocated in many articles. You'll find all sorts of tips in here on readings and signings, conventions, cards and fliers, press releases, interviews, reviews, and book launches. The book even covers web sites, newsgroups and netiquette, mailing lists and awards. There's also a section on agents, electronic rights and publishing, contracts, taxes, and writers' associations. This is an immensely practical book for genre authors, and well worth reading several times over. It includes information on everything from idea generation through publication and promotion, in as much detail as possible! |
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An easy read that explains it all! |
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Ok, so I'm a bit of a fanatic when it comes to "How to Write" books. I buy pretty much all of them that I run across. Some good, some not so good. This one is definitely one to get! I find that the "Complete Idiot" guides are usually written in an easy to read and entertaining format, and this one certainly didn't disappoint me. Written from two authors in the field that, admittedly, I've never heard of, but it wasn't a disappointment in the slightest. They draw from several different viewpoints, research their facts, and even poke fun at themselves through it all. Nor does this book a bit of fluff to encourage you on. They lay out the hard facts (not everyone can make a living at writing, sometimes your books don't sell, sometimes you get rejected after 8 years of waiting, etc) without sugarcoating them, and I really appreciate a book that doesn't talk down to me. If you are looking for a book that will tell you how to go from Chapter 1 to the Epilogue and hold your hand the whole way, well, keep on looking. This book does not particularly focus on HOW to write, but basically what the Sci-Fi/Fantasy world of writers is like. Hence the title is "Publishing" not "Writing" Science Fiction. Fantasy authors, don't be scared away by just Sci-Fi being listed on the cover. This is for anyone that's contemplating writing speculative fiction. This book is going to stay in my "keepers" pile! Close at hand! |
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I followed their advice and got published! |
My original review is below, but I have things to add. Two books made all the difference for me. Now I have an agent, and he has sold my military sci-fi adventures to Ace Book. The books that made the difference for me were "On Writing," by Stephen King, and "Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction."
King furnished the best advice for writing... the best advice I have gotten anywhere, in his tidy little book. My professors at school were patient and gifted mentors and I was lucky to have such generous men assisting me as I started out; but they were about literature, my desire to publish potboilers confused them and placed them in unfamiliar territory.
Doctrow and Schroeder provided current (for the time) and shrewd advice for how to work in the sci-fi market. I followed their advice carefully, including going to the agents they suggested. In the end, I got one of the agents they mentioned, and my agent got me a deal with a good publisher.
The following is what I had to say about "The Complete Idiot's Guide" two years ago, as I was still writing my book. I hope it is of value.
I almost returned this book when it first arrived in the mail. I took a look at the back and saw that Cory Doctrow had published all of 15 short stories--no novels, no books, no anthologies... He publishes 15 short stories and off he goes to write a book about getting published.
I did not return the book. Instead, I scanned the pages and found that the chapter headings seemed quite sensible, even practical. So I gave the book a try.
Doctrow and Schroeder may not have all of publishing credentials of an Asimov or a Card, but they have a lot of solid practical advise to offer any fledgling writer. They have put a lot of work into creating a solid, readable guide with good information about the benefits of agents, methods of editing, places to publish, definitions of genres, and the state of Science Fiction as a whole.
I almost judged this book by its cover and it would have been a terrible mistake. Having read this reference cover-to-cover, I believe it is invaluable for the BEGINNER, the new writer or the writer who is new to SF and Fantasy. |
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