Even in this day and age of instant communication, there’s a great deal of highly valuable information to be found in books. Books about writing can be particularly helpful. Here are 5 of those I think every freelance writer must have:
- 2011 Writer’s Market Deluxe – the deluxe edition includes Writer’s Market online which is updated frequently during the year. If you want to find a place to market that article or book, if you have questions about how to format a query or questions about how much you should be charging, this is a must-have book. Read my review.
- The Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds – Peter Bowerman’s sequel to the original Well-Fed Writer. The great thing about this edition is it contains all the info that the first did, plus wonderful new stuff. Peter advocates corporate writing, which can be lucrative. The reason, however, I make this a must-have book for freelance writers is because he demystifies marketing and makes even cold calling the right people a reasonable and possible thing for you and me to do.
- The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living – another classic by Peter Bowerman. Not only does this book show you exactly what you need to do to win at self-publishing your book, he also offers the most lucid comparison between trade publishing and self-publishing I’ve ever read – worth it for that comparison alone. I’ve reviewed it.
- Bird by Bird : Some Instructions on Writing and Life – Anne Lamott’s charming and accurate description of her life and how she gets her writing done. Her struggle with her view of herself will be familiar to many writers.
- The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources – not a book about writing at all, but a way of looking and being with money that has enhanced many lives – including mine. Lynn Twist sees money in a way that is inspiring and hopeful. I’ve also reviewed this book.
What books would you include on this list?
Write well and often,
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
This list is great. I checked Robert W. Bly’s Secrets of a Freelance Writer out of the library a while back, thinking I’d skim the good parts, and I ended up reading it cover to cover. It was very inspiring, and gave me a good framework for understanding how to set prices, what kinds of writing pay well, how to manage my time, etc.
For writers who are trying to juggle professional writing with creative writing (not that those can’t overlap), Poets and Writers magazine and Writer’s Digest magazine are also good resources.
Virginia C. McGuire recently posted..House built with local materials in Uruguay
Thanks Virginia, yes, Bly does a good job.
I’ve been loving the online version of Writer’s Market. They have new features this year where you can save and make notes on your listings. The Well-Fed series is also great. I often reference some of the resources Peter highlights in his books and toolkit.
Yes, it’s excellent. Glad you like it.
I’m very interested in this year’s Writer’s Market, especially the deluxe edition, that I wasn’t aware of. I have the 2007 edition, and it’s time for an update. I’m also interested in The Well-Fed Writer. As a beginning freelancer, I’m interested in all the advice I can get.
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I LOVE the book Bird by Bird. Sheer brilliance. Anything by Natalie Goldberg will inspire any writer…she is my all time favorite!!
Love it when folks agree with me.
Thanks for this list! I thought The Wealthy Writer by Michael Meanwell wasn’t too bad.
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All of the books look great. I’ve read The Well-Fed Writer–first edition and
Bird-by-Bird looks quite intriguing.
Thanks, Anne….
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Good list — I’d add Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Could help a lot of writers figure out how to cut their expenses to where they can live off their writing income!
I just bought the Well-Fed Self Publisher in a Box to help me learn how to market my upcoming Make a Living Writing e-book…and now that the book is to the designer, I’m ready to dig into it!
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I like the wealthy freelancer just released this year by Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage and Ed Gandia.
I love Peter Bowerman, but I have not checked out his Self-Publisher. I’ll have to do that. I also don’t know the last two. Thanks for the list, Anne.
P.S. I have the 2009 Writer’s Market Deluxe. Do you think it’s worth the investment to get the new one?
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