July 2023 MBR The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Thriving as a Graduate Writer
Rachel Cayley
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
www.press.umich.edu
9780472039128, $29.95, PB, 236pp

https://www.amazon.com/Thriving-Graduate-Writer-Principles-Strategies/dp/0472039121

Synopsis: With the publication of "Thriving as a Graduate Writer: Principles, Strategies, and Habits for Effective Academic Writing", Professor Rachel Cayley offers a comprehensive guide to the multifaceted challenges of writing in graduate school.

Professor Cayley shows readers how to think about academic writing, how to manage an academic text, and how to establish an effective writing practice. Graduate students from all disciplines will find concrete strategies and motivation for the enterprise of academic writing.

Intended for both multilingual writers and those for whom English is a first language, "Thriving as a Graduate Writer: offers essential writing support in quick, easily digestible chunks.

Readers of Thriving as a Graduate Writer will: Learn how to establish an effective writing practice; Discover how to position themselves as competent and engaged writers; Learn how to structure their writing, craft effective sentences, and create movement with a text; Develop processes for draft revisions; Create individual writing strategies that will last throughout their careers.

Critique: In addition to graduate students there is another readership that will greatly benefit from the information, instructions, tips, tricks and techniques that comprise "Thriving as a Graduate Writer: Principles, Strategies, and Habits for Effective Academic Writing". Its authors of academic and non-fiction books involving any and all subjects. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Thriving as a Graduate Writer" will also have an immense value to anyone with an interest in Foreign Language Instruction, English as a Second Language, and Writer/Author Technical Education. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections and supplemental Writer's Workshop curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Thriving as A graduate Writer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.95).

Editorial Note: Rachael Cayley (https://explorationsofstyle.com/author-bio) is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication at the University of Toronto. She also writes Explorations of Style, a blog on academic writing for graduate students.

Writing That Gets Noticed
Estelle Erasmus
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608688364, $19.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Writing-That-Gets-Noticed-Storyteller/dp/1608688364

Synopsis: With the publication of "Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published" by successful essayist, columnist, published author, writing instructor, and magazine editor Estelle Erasmus will show you how to find your voice, how to write stellar pieces, and how to get them published.

In 'real-world practical' and experience based chapters, "Writing That Gets Noticed" covers: Mining your life for ideas and incubating those ideas; Choose the perfect format (essay, op-ed, feature article, and more); Research publications and following editor etiquette; Crafting a perfect pitch; Protecting your psyche from inevitable rejections; Revising your work for maximum impact; Delivering what you promise, protecting your work, and get paid!!

Critique: An ideal and comprehensive DIY instructional guide and manual, "Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published" is informatively enhanced for the aspiring writer with the inclusion of a three page listing of Resources for Writers, a three page Glossary of Publishing Terms, fifteen pages of Notes, and a twenty-two page Index. Throughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published" is an invaluable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing collections. It should be oted that "Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Estelle Erasmus (EstelleSErasmus.com) is an award-winning journalist, a writing coach, and an in-demand speaker who has written for more than 150 publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, HuffPost Personal, Good Housekeeping, and Writer's Digest. She has been the editor-in-chief of five national magazines and hosts the Freelance Writing Direct podcast. She is also an adjunct instructor at NYU and frequent panelist for professional writing organizations.

How to Create Snappy Sassy Salty Success for Authors and Writers
Dr. Judith Briles
MileHighPress
https://thebookshepherd.com
9781885331984, $20.00, PB, 174pp

https://www.amazon.com/Create-Snappy-Success-Authors-Writers/dp/1885331983

Synopsis: Being a writer and trying to get published can (and often is) a lonely occupation. That's why "How to Create Snappy Sassy Salty Success for Authors and Writers" by Dr. Judith Briles (a successful author who is known throughout the publishing industry as 'The Book Shepherd" can be inspiring and useful in get an author through the inevitable 'writer's block', writer fatigue, or those isolation blues.

Briles' favorite advice over the years to her many author clients is repeated in "How to Create Snappy Sassy Salty Success for Authors and Writers" as it is comprised of some 400 of her favorite quotes that over the years she has created and shared with her clients and followers.

Divided into six sections, read them one at time and highlight what talks to or inspires you. Open it randomly or start at the beginning. This is a collection of quotes that writers and authors (and bibliophiles!) will go to over and over again.

Critique: A fun read that is also a seriously useful resource for inspiration, motivation, and encouragement, "How to Create Snappy Sassy Salty Success for Authors and Writers" by Dr. Judith Briles is an impressive compendium of memorable and thought-provoking quotations that is especially and unreservedly recommended for anyone aspiring to, or in the business of, writing for a living -- or are engaged in a writing project just for personal satisfaction. While also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.31), "How to Create Snappy Sassy Salty Success for Authors and Writers" fully lives up to the promise of its title and highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Literary Humor and Writing/Publishing collections.

Editorial Note: Dr. Judith Briles (http://www.milehighpress.com) is the author of 43 books and known as The Book Shepherd, working with authors globally to create and publish books in all subject categories and genres. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Briles) A number of her titles have been previously reviewed and archived by the Midwest Book Review website at https://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=8779737&pid=r&mode=ALL&n=0&query=%22Judith+Briles%22

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review