The African American Writer's Handbook
How to Get in Print and Stay in Print
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
With African Americans writing and buying books in record numbers, the time is ripe for a comprehensive publishing guide tailored expressly to the needs of this vibrant, creative community. The African American Writers Handbook meets this challenge perfectly. Written by veteran journalist and published author Robert Fleming, this book gives writers the heart, the determination, and above all the crucial information to publish successfully in this highly competitive field. Knowing the inner workings of the publishing industry provides any writer, novice or veteran, with a much needed advantage in the quest to get into print. Inside you'll find
- A complete, step-by-step guide to every aspect of the publishing process, from the germination of a winning idea to the nuts and bolts of book production
- Tips on submitting proposals, query letters, and preparing manuscripts for submission
- Advice on negotiating contracts that extend careers
- How to use on-line resources for research and profit
- Interviews with top editors, agents, publishing executives, and bookstore owners
- Updated information on copyrights, subsidiary rights, sales and marketing
- The trials and triumphs of self-publishing
- The art of promoting your work and yourself to a wider audience
- An insider's look at the economic realities of the book business
- And much more!
Here, too, are scores of inspiring interviews and capsule biographies of leading African American writers both past and present. How did Richard Wright become America's first bestselling black writer? How did Zora Neale Hurston break through the artistic boundaries of the Harlem Renaissance long after her death? What was Toni Cade Bambara doing before she sold her first book? Why should Ann Petry, William Gardner Smith, Nella Larson, and William Melvin Kelley be revered wherever African American literature is read? Blending practical information and fascinating anecdotes with a mini literary history of African American writing, this upbeat, savvy, essential guide is a publishing primer with soul.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With publishing house conglomeration, bestsellers and the bottom line occupying agents, editors and others who used to have more time to shepherd writers through the publication process, handbooks increasingly fill the gaps. In one of the first targeted specifically to the burgeoning numbers of African-American writers, Fleming provides not only basic information but also the historical context surrounding the publication of books by black authors, profiles and interviews with writers and industry veterans, and genre specifications. During the 1990s, African-American publishing shifted from an emphasis on literary fiction and nonfiction to commercial fiction (e.g., Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale) and inspirational nonfiction (e.g., Iyanla Vanzant's spiritual self-improvement books). Journalist, critic and author Fleming (Wisdom of the Elders) succeeds in his goal of arming new writers with tips about effective query letters and proposals, dealing with agents and editors (including working with black and white professionals), self-publishing and electronic rights. Ranging capably over a wide field, he gives advice about self-promotion that will educate even a seasoned author, although he doesn't clearly discuss how to work with a public relations consultant, nor does he mention independent editors as an option for writers in need of extra attention. Surprisingly, he refers to the Internet mainly as a research tool, giving less attention to its potential as a vehicle for publicity or electronic publication. Despite these quibbles, the rich context and down-to-earth advice he brings to the publication of books by black authors is well worth the price of this comprehensive guide.
