Editor: Edited by Angel Brown and Sheri" McConnell

National Association of Women Writers, 2005

ISBN: 0971477531

Adult/Nonfiction/Writing

Publisher's Website: www.naww.org

                        Learning from Those Who've Been There

A Dear Abby for Writers: Experience Writers Tell All

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to do What Your Publisher Won’t 

A compilation of the questions thewriters who belong to the National Association of Women Writers have asked, Over 100 FAQs Women Asked About Writing is a good book for beginning writers to brush up on publishing, promoting and writing questions.

It is meant to give an over-view of the basics of writing like defining genres and choosing a point of view. The chapter that covers making money as a writer offers hope and practical advice. I found the chapter on the business side of writing one that addresses subjects seldom seen in articles on the web or in books for writers. As you would expect from an author who has a book on promotion of her own, I found the answers to questions in that section sketchy and suspect that will not satisfy readers. What they will do, at least, is introduce new authors to the fact that she must learn to promote if she expects her book to be successful. In fact, she must learn to market, if she is to make that first sale to an agent or publisher.

This question and answer format a la Dear Abby is a fat 200 pages. It may be ordered for $12.95 from the association and this fine group benefits from the sales. Call toll free at 866 21 5829 or send an e-mail to naww@onebox.com for ordering information.

Think of this book as the perfect gift for the beginning writer. The advice provided by NAWW regulars, Patricia Fry and Shirley Jump will give beginners the jolt that they need to succeed. From there they will want to explore the big, wide universe of publishing with books that go into more depth; they may also decide to join this organization for the support they need on the new path they have chosen.