After the Workshop

Stars: 3/5
Author: John McNally
Subjects: Authors, Publishing and Publishers, Iowa City
ISBN: 9781582435602 
Copyright Year: 2010
Other Comments: The main character, Jack Hercules Sheahan, is a broke media escort living in Iowa City, struggling to finish a novel that never seems to be done.  His world is filled with wacky characters such as a goofy pothead neighbor, an insane stalker publicist from New York, crazy writers, and the run-of-the-mill ex girlfriend.  The setting is so dismal and the character's self loathing is so great, I began to hate the setting and the character.  I wasn't satisfied with the ending either, although I understand the point.  Otherwise, this novel is filled with enjoyable haphazard events and humor.

The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers

Stars: 5/5
Author: Betsy Lerner
Subjects: Authorship, Authors and Publishers
ISBN: 157322152X (alk. paper)
Copyright Year: 2000
Other Comments: Betsy Lerner's The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers is a book for writers/authors.  The first half of the book is split up into different types of writers and what makes or breaks them in the business.  The second half is about all the different loop holes writers have to jump through to become successful.  In this half, Lerner touches on publication, editors, agents, publicists, author loyalty, and much more.  As an aspiring author, I found this book to be an invaluable tool in my journey to becoming a successful writer.  I would argue the best part about this book is Lerner's encouraging tone and her will to help the writer audience of her book succeed.