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lesbiangrandpa's review against another edition
3.0
I really appreciated the advice and language that Lerner provides about the industry but found some of her writer depictions, especially on mental illness, problematic.
athenaowl's review against another edition
4.0
This book has a lot of helpful insight and suggestions for new or hopefully writers. It’s a nice change to get the perspective from a literary agent rather than just an author. There are some things that I disagree with, but to be fair they are sentiments that are expressed in a lot of books about writing. The idea that writers can’t leave balanced lives, the subtle jokes about drinking dependencies, and other similar comments. Overall I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to start writing or is just interested in the process. I love how this also has sections about editing, publishing, and publicity. It really covers all parts of the authors journey from plot conception to publishing and beyond.
audryt's review against another edition
5.0
An insider's look at publishing, this book covers every aspect of getting a book published, from the torturous process of writing one to all the behind-the-scenes drama that leads to a book's first appearance on the bookstore shelf. While slightly out-dated (it was published in 2000), it still manages to touch on many of today's pressing issues, such as the fairness of e-book contracts and the influence of the internet on the publishing industry.
This book is NOT a how-to manual or a guide to grammar, and it will NOT teach you HOW to write a book. What it will do is show your how much sweat, tears, joy, and sorrow goes into turning a manuscript into a finished work accessible to millions of readers. This book is worth reading if you see yourself as an author, poet, editor, agent, publicist, bookstore clerk, or any role related in any way whatsover to putting out and reading books -- because, as they say, "knowledge is power," and this slender volume is loaded with it.
This book is NOT a how-to manual or a guide to grammar, and it will NOT teach you HOW to write a book. What it will do is show your how much sweat, tears, joy, and sorrow goes into turning a manuscript into a finished work accessible to millions of readers. This book is worth reading if you see yourself as an author, poet, editor, agent, publicist, bookstore clerk, or any role related in any way whatsover to putting out and reading books -- because, as they say, "knowledge is power," and this slender volume is loaded with it.
anyacrittenton's review against another edition
1.0
DNF Part I several pages into the first chapter for casual, tone-deaf jokes about mental health (specificially bipolar), alcoholism, and cross-dressing.
I skimmed the rest of Part I, which is just Lerner categorizing writers into random and baseless categories like "The Natural" or the writer who cares about writing something that sells, SEVERAL pages dedicated to the alcoholic writer, etc. It all reads as incredibly condescending and self-aggrandizing.
Then I got to Part II and DNF'd early into the second chapter.
I was hoping Part II would be more fruitful as it was supposed to contain the actual advice of the book. Lerner's off-color jokes continue and her advice is... incredibly basic and nothing people who have even a moderate interest in writing and publishing don't already know.
So this book is a hard, hard pass.
I skimmed the rest of Part I, which is just Lerner categorizing writers into random and baseless categories like "The Natural" or the writer who cares about writing something that sells, SEVERAL pages dedicated to the alcoholic writer, etc. It all reads as incredibly condescending and self-aggrandizing.
Then I got to Part II and DNF'd early into the second chapter.
I was hoping Part II would be more fruitful as it was supposed to contain the actual advice of the book. Lerner's off-color jokes continue and her advice is... incredibly basic and nothing people who have even a moderate interest in writing and publishing don't already know.
So this book is a hard, hard pass.
carriethis's review against another edition
2.0
Not as helpful as I had hoped. Skip it and read Bird by Bird.
noahhawthorne's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
irishlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Should be required reading for every writer who hopes to publish. Wonderful anecdotal publishing stories about famous authors.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
I just wrapped up my fall quarter writing classes and Betsy Lerner's The Forest for the Trees was recommended to me by my memoir professor. I'm eager to absorb all of the writing advice that I can, so I placed this book recommendation at the top of my winter reading list.
PLOT - In The Forest for the Trees, Betsy Lerner brings her years of knowledge as an editor to the table and dispenses advice on a variety of subjects for the aspiring ( or even seasoned) writer. Lerner does not give advice about how to write a story. This is not a creative guide. Lerner's book is focused on giving a writer solid information on the publishing process. She explains the business side of books and gives tips on moves a writer can make to work within this ever-changing system.
The first half of the book deals with different types of writer personalities that Lerner has encountered. She explains things that she suspects hinders these different personality types from achieving their writing goals and how these types of writers can maintain their focus. The second half of the book deals with the nuts and bolts of the publishing world.
LIKE - I appreciate and respect that Lerner has shared her experiences in her field. There is a lot to be learned in this book and I suspect that it will be a frequent reference over the years. As a beginning writer, there was so much that I learned about publishing. I felt like I gained a completely new perspective on the process. When I finished reading, I felt like my mind was exploding from all of the info!
My biggest take-aways are to have patience, work hard and follow my gut. It seems that the world of publishing moves slowly and that might be hard to swallow in our society that demands immediate gratification. I was heartened by the examples of known authors who have faced multiple rejections and failures, before finding success. Lerner's book is filled with useful information that she dispenses with wit, sarcasm and kindness. I felt like on a whole, the publishing industry is filled with book lovers, who really want to discover that next book that they will fall in love with...and then sell it and make a huge profit!
DISLIKE - Does not long enough count? Seriously, this book is an invaluable tool. I couldn't put it down, because I was just absorbing all of the new information. This book was a revelation.
RECOMMEND - A must for aspiring writers, even those who are considering self-publishing. I'm sure that even the established writer could find wisdom in The Forest for the Trees. Read this book sooner, rather than later.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT - In The Forest for the Trees, Betsy Lerner brings her years of knowledge as an editor to the table and dispenses advice on a variety of subjects for the aspiring ( or even seasoned) writer. Lerner does not give advice about how to write a story. This is not a creative guide. Lerner's book is focused on giving a writer solid information on the publishing process. She explains the business side of books and gives tips on moves a writer can make to work within this ever-changing system.
The first half of the book deals with different types of writer personalities that Lerner has encountered. She explains things that she suspects hinders these different personality types from achieving their writing goals and how these types of writers can maintain their focus. The second half of the book deals with the nuts and bolts of the publishing world.
LIKE - I appreciate and respect that Lerner has shared her experiences in her field. There is a lot to be learned in this book and I suspect that it will be a frequent reference over the years. As a beginning writer, there was so much that I learned about publishing. I felt like I gained a completely new perspective on the process. When I finished reading, I felt like my mind was exploding from all of the info!
My biggest take-aways are to have patience, work hard and follow my gut. It seems that the world of publishing moves slowly and that might be hard to swallow in our society that demands immediate gratification. I was heartened by the examples of known authors who have faced multiple rejections and failures, before finding success. Lerner's book is filled with useful information that she dispenses with wit, sarcasm and kindness. I felt like on a whole, the publishing industry is filled with book lovers, who really want to discover that next book that they will fall in love with...and then sell it and make a huge profit!
DISLIKE - Does not long enough count? Seriously, this book is an invaluable tool. I couldn't put it down, because I was just absorbing all of the new information. This book was a revelation.
RECOMMEND - A must for aspiring writers, even those who are considering self-publishing. I'm sure that even the established writer could find wisdom in The Forest for the Trees. Read this book sooner, rather than later.
Like my review? Check out my blog!