(Please note that any recommendations made are mine alone and are not affiliated with any other person or organization)
For the past two months, I’ve been featuring Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, a book that talks a lot about the sensitive, artistic side of being a writer. But for writers who intend to make a career out of the written word, we also need books that talk about the business side, and Jane Friedman’s The Business of Being a Writer is THE place to start.
If you’re not already familiar with Jane Friedman’s work, I highly encourage you to hop over to her website, learn a bit about her, and take in the truly staggering library of information and resources she has built for writers at every level of their careers. She is a true publishing guru, and this treasure trove of a book will help anyone thinking about getting into the business of writing and publishing figure out how to find their way to a fulfilling and profitable career.
Here’s a bit about the book from its companion website, businessofwriting.org:
“Writers talk about their work in many ways: as an art, as a calling, as a lifestyle. Too often missing from these conversations is the fact that writing is also a business. The reality is, those who want to make a full- or part-time job out of writing are going to have a more positive and productive career if they understand the basic business principles underlying the industry.
"The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman, published by The University of Chicago Press, offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works—from queries and agents to blogging and advertising—and learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term.”
The main reason I decided to feature this book is not just because I’m passionate about equipping authors with the knowledge they need to navigate this industry (although I am)—it’s because of the attitude that Friedman encourages writers to cultivate toward the industry and toward their place in it. She wants us to be clear-eyed and ready for all the hard parts of “making it” as a writer, to be willing to bring the same patience, creativity, and problem-solving skills to our business efforts as we bring to our writing. Many of the quotes and thoughts I'll be sharing in this series will center on cultivating that mindset.
I’m so looking forward to sharing my favorite tidbits from Friedman’s book over the next two months, and I hope they inspire you to add it to your reading list this year!
Happy writing!
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