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The Writer's Friend, Behind the Scenes with Editors
by Linda Davis Kyle, Joseph Gregg, Nancy McAlary

Book Description: The Writer's Friend is perhaps the first book to show how magazine editors view writers and how editors would like writers to change. More than 40 editors from around the world reveal what writers must know and do to boost their sales. TWF not only puts you in the shoes of an editor, but also it shares a wealth of information from a fistful of authors from Canada, the United States, and Australia to light your way in the sometimes cold and stormy sea of the writing world. It also includes an appendix of leading questions and a user-friendly index. The cumulative power of 20 rapid-read chapters can greatly improve aspiring writers' relationships with editors.

Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: WritingNow.com Publishing; ISBN: 0967365104; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)

 by Billie A. Williams

“The Writer’s Friend” appears, at first glance, to be a small book with limited size and page numbers. I have always heard that ‘dynamite comes in small packages’ and “The Writer’s Friend” proves that statement true as it becomes more than a friend.  As the writer reads and applies the gems of wisdom set forth in the Writer’s Friend, it becomes a confidant, a shoulder to lean on; a blueprint for building a solid foundation to structure your writing according to what the editors want.

Shored up with the skills provided by Kyle, et. al. the writer is prepared to read and study guidelines as the bricks and mortar editors look for as they build and fortify their houses with good writers.

Kyle, et. al. stresses not only studying market guidelines for your target publication, but to also study in depth the periodical you are hoping to write for. She says studying a year’s worth of issues is a good idea because by then you will have figured out: 

1. Who the audience is through advertisements and columns

2. You will know the voice and slant of their articles

3. You will know what they have covered recently

4. You will know if there is columns that are more open to freelancers

The advice and information presented in “The Writer” is supported with examples and detailed instruction. When Kyle suggests presenting both sides of an issue in your article as the stuff of good writing, you will see she takes herself seriously and follows that advice by presenting both sides of the issues the book addresses.  Kyle proves that not all editors need or want the same things from the writer.  They issue guidelines because their needs are very specific and the smart writer will follow those guidelines to the letter.

Through the pages of this mighty little book you will find out editors are no different than a cross section of any group of people and that they are human.

Kyle  et.al. gives you warm up exercises to get your muse in a word building mood.  She provides a blue print for a query letter and lists of questions that will guide you through the process of editing your manuscript.

The Writer’s Friend will become the writer’s best friend. As your manuscript sales soar, you will continue to study and use the wealth of information supplied in this excellent manual that could be dubbed “The Editor’s Friend” as well.  Writers following Kyle’s advice will garner a place in their editors’ hearts and houses of publishable writers.

I would highly recommend this book to any one with hopes of getting their material published.

Copyright © 2002 Billie A. Williams. All Rights Reserved.

Reviewed by Billie A Williams, talacara43@centurytel.net Author of “Death by Candlelight,” a novel published by Wings ePress, Inc., www.wingsepress.com www.wordcrafter.worldbreak.com  

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