A Good Writer's Guide

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A writing professor for the last two decades, Susan Shapiro has taught more than 25,000 students at NYU, Columbia, and Harvard, to name a few. This book includes her techniques of how to craft and sell short nonfiction pieces to a variety of publications. The Byline Bible takes the reader through all of the necessary steps, virtually guaranteeing success to all that follow her instructions.

The Byline Bible was interesting, detailing exactly what aspiring writers should do to get published. Although I might never throw my hat into this particular ring, I found the advice given by author Susan Shapiro to be practical for many applications. After reading her method, I believe that those who embrace The Byline Bible, and all that it has to offer, will become better writers. The biggest pieces of advice are to never underestimate the power of a great cover letter and write what is timely, not unique. Unique sells some of the time, but timely sells most often.

Shapiro uses many examples of works from her students, showing what sells. The book reminded me a little of an infomercial, but I cannot deny that the author's method produces results. The overview of the book, located towards the end, contains a self-professed "ClifNotes" version breakdown, giving readers a good reference for memory refreshment. Readers who are looking to break into the short story nonfiction market, or those looking to hone their craft and build up a resume of published articles, should definitely take a look at The Byline Bible.