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capellan's review against another edition
4.0
This book is over a decade old now, so it's already looking rather dated in some places (an inevitability that the author acknowledges in the text), but it's still a solid introduction to all the parts of being a writer that are not about getting words on a page: what editors do; what agents do; how you can build a public persona; how to protect your private persona; how to help promote your work, etc. Well worth a read if you're at all interested in pursuing a writing career.
ecath's review against another edition
3.0
I think I am seven years late to this party! Feels as though this book aged pretty quick in some aspects.
notjustyna's review
3.0
Not necessarily a how-to guide to writing, this book provides valuable and honest advice on a host of topics concerning the life of a writer. I ended up buying a copy after I borrowed this book from the library just to have it to refer to.
tregina's review
4.0
There are times when I think I would like to just let Jeff VanderMeer run my life. That is, if I weren't worried he would let me be devoured by a carnivorous fungus or something. Really, he's always struck me as a guy who has his shit together...which is why I was so interested in reading Booklife.
A lot of the social media information and examples it provides in terms of connection with audience and promotion is dated at this point (myspace, second life), but the book acknowledges that it's not about the specific social media sites, it's about using what's out there now, whenever 'now' is. (The section on Scribd seemed prescient, since I actually read the book on Scribd.)
I'm not in a place where I need this book specifically right now, but the advice is valuable and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of work-life balance, which isn't just applicable to writing.
A lot of the social media information and examples it provides in terms of connection with audience and promotion is dated at this point (myspace, second life), but the book acknowledges that it's not about the specific social media sites, it's about using what's out there now, whenever 'now' is. (The section on Scribd seemed prescient, since I actually read the book on Scribd.)
I'm not in a place where I need this book specifically right now, but the advice is valuable and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of work-life balance, which isn't just applicable to writing.
alexctelander's review
5.0
Jeff VanderMeer is a writer who’s done a little bit of everything, whether it’s publishing compelling fiction, editing his own anthologies (as well as co-editing with his wife, Anne), going on book tours for author appearances, or presenting writer workshops around the country. He’s the sort of guy who has a lot of say about writing and publishing and advice he can offer just about any level of writer. Fortunately, he’s done just that in his new book, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer.
Booklife is a book for any kind of writer whether he’s someone who’s never published anything and is looking to make it in the business, or whether she has a few books under her belt and is looking to make it really big. Booklife has a little something for every type of writer. The book is divided into two parts: Public Booklife, which covers how to present both yourself and your work as a writer, how best to organize and carry out successful signings and book tours, and – most importantly – creating and managing your goals so you can really make it as a writer. The second part, Private Booklife, covers some of the mechanics of writing, how important feedback is – and not just from friends and family, and using some of the lessons from the first part of the book in different and constructive ways to make your writing the best it can be.
And it doesn’t all end when you reach the last page of Booklife, there is the booklifenow.com website, filled with helpful articles, tips and strategies, updated three times a week, and affiliated with Publisher’s Weekly Booklife portal. Booklife is not just a book, but a whole package experience that gives you ideas and suggestions to help you achieve your goals; it’s not necessary to do every thing this book tells you; it’s up to get what you want out of it, which depends on how much work you put into it. But Booklife will certainly help you along the way to becoming that bestselling writer you’ve always dreamed of.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
Booklife is a book for any kind of writer whether he’s someone who’s never published anything and is looking to make it in the business, or whether she has a few books under her belt and is looking to make it really big. Booklife has a little something for every type of writer. The book is divided into two parts: Public Booklife, which covers how to present both yourself and your work as a writer, how best to organize and carry out successful signings and book tours, and – most importantly – creating and managing your goals so you can really make it as a writer. The second part, Private Booklife, covers some of the mechanics of writing, how important feedback is – and not just from friends and family, and using some of the lessons from the first part of the book in different and constructive ways to make your writing the best it can be.
And it doesn’t all end when you reach the last page of Booklife, there is the booklifenow.com website, filled with helpful articles, tips and strategies, updated three times a week, and affiliated with Publisher’s Weekly Booklife portal. Booklife is not just a book, but a whole package experience that gives you ideas and suggestions to help you achieve your goals; it’s not necessary to do every thing this book tells you; it’s up to get what you want out of it, which depends on how much work you put into it. But Booklife will certainly help you along the way to becoming that bestselling writer you’ve always dreamed of.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
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