Book Review:Wannabe a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones

Wannabe a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones
Specifications
244 x 153 mm
Paperback
288 pages
$A 19.99
ISBN 978 1 905170 81 4

Available October 2010.
Foreword by Katie Fforde
Contributors include:
Writers: Frederick Forsyth, Ian Rankin, Jilly Cooper & Jill Mansell
Publishers: Harper Collins, Hodder Headline, Simon & Schuster
Journalists: Miles Kington, Michael Bywater, Robert Crampton
Agents: Teresa Chris, Simon Trewin, Jonathan Lloyd & Jane Judd
Wannabe a Writer? This hilarious, informative guide to getting into print is a must-have for anyone who's ever thought they've got a book in them.

• Where do you start?
• How do you finish?
• And will anyone ever publish it when you have?

Drawing on her own experiences as a novelist and journalist, Writing Magazine's Agony Aunt Jane Wenham-Jones takes you through the minefield of the writing process, giving advice on everything from how to avoid Writer's Bottom to what to wear to your launch party.

Including hot tips from authors, agents and publishers at the sharp end of the industry, Wannabe a Writer? Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the book world - and a few things you didn't...

About the Author - Jane Wenham-Jones

Jane Wenham-Jones is a well-known author and journalist. She writes for women’s magazines and the national press and has a humorous weekly column in her local newspaper. She is the author of three novels which have received wide acclaim – the latest; One Glass Is Never Enough was in The Bookseller Top Ten Small Publishers chart for three weeks in September 2006.

She lives with her husband and son in Broadstairs, Kent.

Review

Wannabe a Writer is a must have text for new authors. Within the pages of this instructional manual there are many topics that need to be considered if not planned out meticulously if one wants to be successful at their craft.

I found the use of diagrams and examples to be very well constructed and great tools to assist in plotting out a novel and putting together a concise and structured book. There are also many inspirational quotes from famous and successful authors, such as Frederick Forsyth and Jeffrey Archer to provide some down to earth and honest feedback about the craft.

One of the unique things about this book was the humorous style that author, Jane Wenham-Jones has employed. There are plenty of how to write books that are uninspired and dry, leading the reader to wonder how the author ever managed to get their book, or any of their novels published. Not so with Wannabe a Writer, it is witty and well constructed.

Another great aspect of this book are the links provided to online resources that will save a new writer time in tracking down helpful tools, both when they are ready to look for an agent and publisher and along the journey there.

Not a bad book at all.