Veteran writer Jenna Glatzer teams up with publishing attorney Daniel Steven to expose the scams and unsavory deals writers are likely to encounter along their path to publishing success. The Street-Smart Writer is an essential reference for all writers to getting published without getting swindled.

This book will help writers spot an honest agent or manager, determine the value of vanity publishing, and avoid getting conned out of hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars when signing a contract. Sections on writing contests teach writers how to determine which contests are useless; other sections offer tips on avoiding costly conferences and shady seminars. A special focus on copyright ensures that writers protect their work from schemers who want to use creativity without paying for it. Appendices include sample publishing, agent, and manager contracts.

What Are People Saying About It?

"This is a great book for writers looking for no-nonsense, easy-to-understand information about how to discern legitimate opportunities and services from those looking to take advantage of inexperienced writers.

"Jenna Glatzer obviously loves writing—and writers—and offers terrific advice for staying one step ahead of the scammers."
--Kristin D. Godsey, Editor, Writer’s Digest magazine

"While the pen is mightier than the sword, many writers lack a shield. The Street-Smart Writer is that shield."
--Dave Kuzminski, Editor, Preditors & Editors™

"Never get swindled again! The unscrupulous prey on the dreams of writers, but with this book as your guide, scammers will have to look for a new target. You'll learn to tell the legit from the fishy when it comes to contracts, vanity presses, agents, writing contests, and more."
--Linda Formichelli, co-author of The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success

"Street-Smart is a very smart book indeed, full of the sort of wisdom that too-often costs young writers time, money, and manuscripts.  Jenna Glatzer acts as a lifeguard, pointing out the riptides, undertows, and sharks that can turn a day at the beach into more adventure than you'd care to have.  Better than learning by experience is learning by others' experience." 
--James D. Macdonald, Author of The Apocalypse Door, Sysop of SFF.net

"Ms Glatzer's information on publishing and bookselling, particularly paying to be published, is very accurate and describes all the issues related to getting published vs. paying to publish, cagey language on marketing and distribution used by companies to snare unsuspecting writers. She also describes how the legitimate process works with industry standards, marketing and distribution. She dispels the mystery of the basic economics of bookselling and the process bookstores follow to stock their shelves." 
--Anita Zager, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, Duluth MN

"I never thought I'd find a book on avoiding scams and developing street smarts to be heart-warming, thought-provoking and beautifully written.  But this one is.  It's also informative, thorough, eye-opening and entertaining.  I'm giving a copy to every one of my clients."  
--Jennifer Lawler, writing coach and author of Dojo Wisdom for Writers

"These authors get an A+ in the educational value they offer their readers. Not only do they go to great depths to educate you, they provide the tools you need in order to continue working smart. It is obvious that Glatzer and Steven are watching out for your future... If you have ever questioned a contract, felt uneasy about the rules of a contest, distrusted an agent or wondered about the credibility of a publishing house, you must buy this book."
--Patricia Fry, President, SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) (Click here for the full review) 

Click here to read an article about The Street-Smart Writer in the magazine Independent Publisher.

About the Authors

Jenna Glatzer is an award-winning full-time writer who’s written hundreds of articles for magazines and online publications such as Prevention, Woman’s World, Woman’s Own, Physical, Women's Health & Fitness, Salon.com, ePregnancy, and AOL.  She's also a contributing editor at Writer's Digest. She is the editor-in-chief of AbsoluteWrite.com, a produced playwright, optioned screenwriter, and author of hundreds of greeting cards. Her latest books include Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer (Nomad Press, 2004) Fear is No Longer My Reality (McGraw-Hill, 2004), and the authorized biography Celine Dion: For Keeps (Andrews McMeel, 2005). She is also an instructor at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.

Daniel Steven is a publishing, media, and entertainment lawyer and the author of Clinical Trials and Final Remedy. He is the chairman of the Contracts and Grievances Committee of the Mystery Writers of America, Inc. He is a creative writing instructor, former editor and publishing executive. His novels have more than 150,000 copies in print. He also co-wrote a television script and has published legal articles, prize-winning short fiction, and a reference book for health care providers. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area. For further information, see www.danielsteven.com.

So how do I get this book?

Glad you asked!

ORDER HERE from Amazon.com for $11.53 

ORDER HERE straight from the publisher 

ORDER HERE from Amazon.co.uk   

ORDER HERE from Amazon.ca   

...Or, better yet, ask for it at your local bookstore! It's in most chain and independent bookstores.

Book Details: 

Publisher: Nomad Press
Release date: December, 2005
ISBN: 0974934445
Size: 6 x 9, paper
Pages: 244, b&w
Price: $16.95

writing scams, publishing scams, literary agents, book publishers