Here are 5 books I recommend with helpful tips for those wanting to live the “Writer’s Life”. These books will teach you how to grow as a writer through an MFA or residency, how to find publishers or agents that best suit you and your work, and how to present yourself at important social events that will establish you as a writer.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your writer’s journey or have walked this path for a lifetime, an MFA is useful for any creative writer. An MFA helps build your skill and establish your credibility while connecting you to a larger community that you will undoubtedly access during your career. The challenge of choosing the right program for you can be daunting, but Tom Kealey makes the process easier in this book.
Title:Creative Writing Mfa Handbook A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students
"The Creative Writing MFA Handbook guides prospective graduate students through the difficult process of researching, applying to, and choosing graduate schools in creative writing.
Tom Kealey lists different checklist items you want to make sure to do before applying to creative writing programs.
Inside you will find a wealth of different resources, including profiles of fifty creative writing programs, guidance through the application process, advice from current professors and students including George Saunders, Aimee Bender, Tracy K. Smith, and Geoffrey Wolff, and the most comprehensive listings of graduate writing programs in and outside the United States. The handbook also includes special sections about Low-Residency writing programs, Ph.D. programs, publishing in literary journals, and workshop and teaching advice.
In a remarkably concise, user-friendly fashion, The Creative Writing MFA Handbook answers as many questions as possible, and is packed with information, advice, and experience. This second edition updates and builds upon the first edition, which was published in 2005 to great acclaim and contains a vastly expanded ranking of current creative writing programs."
- Bloomsbury
This is a great starting resource for writers who are interested in pursuing an MFA. MFAs are a great way to hone your craft, learn and expand on the fundamentals of writing, and build connections that you're likely to use in the course of your writing career. This handbook is packed with great advice on how to discern if an MFA is right for you and determine which MFA programs you should focus your attention on. Get the information you need to make an informed decision about a degree that can be very helpful for your career through The Creative Writing MFA Handbook.
If you can’t currently commit to a multi-year MFA program but still want to develop your craft in an environment designed to facilitate your growth, you might consider a writing residency. The Alliance of Artists’ Communities has compiled an international treasure trove of residency programs; many of them are for writers, but this book includes all disciplines if you want to develop your art in other spheres as well.
Title:Artists Communities: A Directory of Residencies that Offer time and Space for Creativity
"The bible of creative residency programs has fresh information and new features for all artists. More than 300 programs worldwide are described, with 95 leading communities featured in two-page spreads with photographs.
Resources are presented in an organized fashion. Here, the scholarships for each residency are noted by category.
The user-friendly layout allows for quick scans of facility descriptions, deadlines, fees, selection processes, odds of acceptance, special programs, and more. For artists seeking to boost their creativity in a fresh and inspiring setting, Artists' Communities is the definitive sourcebook."
- Simon & Schuster
I strongly recommend this complete guide to art residencies in the US, which includes everything from application due dates, residency fees, and scholarships. A residency is a great way to workshop your writing without the extensive time and financial commitment that an MFA might require. If you're looking to sample what an MFA might be like, or just need a short period of focus to hone your craft, a residency may be a great option for you.
The Writer’s Market contains useful information for getting published and paid for your writing, whether you’re on your first or hundredth book. Diving into the world of publishing has never been easier with this in-depth, easy-to-understand handbook.
Title:Writer's Market 2018: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published
"Let Writer's Market guide you with thousands of publishing opportunities--including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents. These listings feature contact and submission information so you can get started right away. Beyond the listings, you'll find all-new material devoted to the business and promotion of writing. Discover the secrets to writing better queries and selling more articles, tips to earn money from blogging, and how to develop a standout author brand. Plus, you'll learn how to create an effective e-mail newsletter, improve organization, and build a solid foundation for long-term writing success.
A table from the Writer's Market shows payment ranges for different types of writing.
The new Writer's Market includes thousands of books, magazines, competitions, literary agencies, online resources from publishers, as well as valuable career funding webinars provided by K. Hope Clark for aspiring writers. It also has the ever-popular pay-rate chart and book publisher subject index. "
- Barnes and Noble
The Writer's Market is definitely a useful reference for amateur and professional writers alike. It aggregates information about publishers, agents, outlets, and more, giving you an abundance of avenues you can explore on the journey of getting your work published. Not only that, but it will tell you useful tidbits like which publishers accept what kinds of work, how you should format a query for each submission, and how much you can get paid for having your work in which publication. The information in The Writer's Market will help you to maximize your chances of publication as well as help you know what standardized pay can look like.
If you specialize in novels or short stories, Writer’s Market has a specific line for you. It has the same meticulous detail of the general edition, but is catered to you with tips and resources you need to get your short stories, novellas, and novels published.
Title:Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2018: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published
"Novel & Short Story Writer's Market features hundreds of listings for book publishers, literary agents, fiction publications, contests, and more, and each listing includes contact information, submission guidelines, and other essential tips."
-Barnes and Noble
Each publisher's acceptable works, submission requirements, and contact information are clearly listed.
Any creative writer would benefit from this fantastic reference. Your work deserves to have the most suitable agents and publishers, and you are bound to find them through Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Discover what genres are accepted by which publications, and get a sense for how much you should be getting paid for your work by comparing what each publication gives.
Not all of the Writer’s Life is simply writing and publishing; social gatherings are extremely important in networking, promoting your book, and establishing yourself as a writer. However, social situations aren’t always the easiest to navigate. Luckily, Jeanne Martinet has developed a cure-a sure-fire system for overcoming fears and having a great time at any type of business or social gathering. This gentle introduction to socialization will help you out of your shell and into the right writer’s circles.
Title:The Art of Mingling: Fun and Proven Techniques for Mastering Any Room
"Fully revised and updated-with Jeanne Martinet's trademark wit and practicality, The Art of Mingling hands you the keys to feeling at ease in any social situation.
Filled with simple techniques, tricks, tips, lines and maneuvers, and illustrated with entertaining examples, The Art of Mingling teaches you:
Martinet guides you on how to recover from common faux pas.
* Basic survival strategies for the Truly Terrified
* Opening lines and gambits that really work
* Tools and rules for keeping the conversation going in the right direction
* The all-important etiquette of escape
* Faux pas recovery techniques
* How to avoid the dumb use of smartphones
* The secret to being a good listener
* The right way to follow up online
* and much, much more!"
-Macmillan Publishing
The Art Of Mingling is easy and fun to read. Martinet writes about the scenes of getting along with various people/strangers in real life. The book has so many simple techniques and lines that will help you out in times of mingling as you live the Writer's Life. From book release events to book signings to publisher events, there will be many times where you're required to mingle as an author. Approach these events with practiced ease and an arsenal of techniques you can use from The Art of Mingling.
After you get through these five books, you’ll be equipped to handle everything as a writer. You’ll know how to get yourself access to education, publishers, and social circles. With these strengths, you can be sure that the Writer’s Life you live is going to be the most successful it can be.
