Getting Published: The Writer in the Combat Zone

From Publishers Weekly Bernstein, author of The Official Guide to Wine Snobbery, constructs his book as, perhaps, he conducts the writing seminars he has taught in New York City for some 10 years. First he shocks his student/reader by observing that the "creative combat zone is as tense and frustrating as anything found in the business community . . . the shrapnel is flying." Then he soothes with ongoing jollying: neophyte writers mustn't become discouraged about inconsistency in the quality of the work they produce; they might, rather than attempt the great American novel, write a how-to piece"it's the easiest article to write." Itself more a how-to-write manual than a publishing guideexcept for Bernstein's silly theory of the probabilities of connecting in the marketplacethis merely repeats the standard fare of its type. About the only facet neglected is advice on pencil sharpening. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Made up of short segments likely to spur aspiring writers to productivity and active marketing efforts, this slim volume is pleasant to read. Bernstein, a businessman and published author, scrutinizes the ploys and self-deceptions by which professed "writers" avoid doing much actual writing. He stresses that work must be completed and mailed to any potential markets; "almost all manuscripts, competently written, are publishable," he avers. He suggests "how to" articles as one readily marketable form to try. Writers in the doldrums or wilting under discouragement will relate to this witty supplement to the basic how-to-write books. Recommended. William A. Donovan, Chicago P.L.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.