The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner (2001)

Provides sometimes hilarious, sometimes brutal mental preparation for anybody who is thinking about writing a book. Should be read before even thinking about doing such a thing. ( )

A professional editor offers her advice to writers, not so much how to write, but rather how to deal with being a writer and getting yourself published. Divided into two parts, the first lists the five types of writers and their psychology: the Ambivalent Writer, the Natural, the Wicked Child, the Self-Promoter and the Neurotic. She also deals with the issue of addiction and substance abuse, nearly occupational hazards for the writer.

In part two she looks at the publishing side of writing: dealing with rejection, "What Editors Want," "What Writers Want," and what to expect as the date of publication draws near. Reading this for the second time, I still think this in one of the best books of advice for writers, if not THE best. I see a little bit of myself in all the different kinds of writers, and I take great comfort in her chapter on rejection. If I ever am lucky enough to be published, then I feel as if I've gotten a pretty good idea of what to expect from this book. Her best insight though is on the subject of why writers write: it's not for money, because those who write for fame and fortune get discouraged pretty quickly. Writers write because the want to be loved. ( )

Tips on writing from the point of view of a publisher. Its pretty good advice. ( )

Betsy Lerner (an editor, poet, and non-fiction author herself) offers some wonderfully practical and psychologically astute advice to would-be authors. You'll either be squirming in your seat or kissing her feet.