Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

You can't write a book by yourself.

As I wrote my novel, I counted on a number of writing buddies. Some of them helped me through the messy writing process, some helped me survive various catastrophes, and a couple generous souls helped me with both. 

In the High-School-Yearbook-Of-My-Soul, I would call these people my BLFF--Best Literary Friends Forever.

Last week, two special guests told me about their writing friendship in another one of my lo-fi productions. This week's writer, (Joie Jager-Hyman) met last week's writer (Kate Torgovnick) as part of an ever-growing writers' group in New York City. 

They met at a Crucial Minutiae meeting, and ended up spending a year writing together. Now you can see their books on the shelf--Jager-Hyman's Fat Envelope Frenzy and Torgovnick's Cheer!  Click on the video for the whole story of Best Literary Friends Forever...

In the pinnacle of my literary geekiness, I’ve started reading acknowledgements pages in books.

You can learn a lot—how many people it takes to make a book, how many friends contribute and the professionals who supported the writer.

Today, Joie Jager-Hyman tells us about everybody who helped her book get written--proving once and for all that no book is an island. Fat Envelope Frenzy--a non-fiction look at the college application process.

Welcome to my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
I know your writing group played a large role in writing this book. Can you describe that experience? What was the moment or aspect in your book that your writing partner helped you the most? How can writers find these kinds of relationships?

Joie Jager-Hyman:
My writers group helped me at every step of the process. Continue reading...

From the imaginary libraries of Jorge Luis Borges to the books-inside-of-books that obsess Paul Auster's heroes--I've always loved imaginary texts inside fictional worlds.

Novelist Chuck Palahuniuk's book trailer takes literary fakery into low-brow history--introducing a fake porno movie that features fictional characters from his book. The greasy porn stars that populate his novel get full porno treatment--complete with bad special effects, horrible audio and a cheesy soundtrack.

The trailer isn't exactly safe for work, but it raises the question--what would Borges do if he had a book trailer?

If that trailer isn't your cup of tea, you still have to check out the award-winning book review section at Truthdig. Novelist and blogger Mark Sarvas pointed us towards the no-nonsense, well-edited reviews have given me a week's worth of new reading. It's real book love.

Finally, comics editor and mediabistro scribe Danny Fingeroth has collected six years worth of comic book writing advice in a single tome--Best of Write Now. Don't forget to check out our interview with comic strip writer Woody Wilson. (Thanks to the good folks at GalleyCat for the link.)

Here at The Publishing Spot, we specialize in one thing: practical tips for the working writer.

This site is for writers with dayjobs, families and other commitments. Everytime I meet a published author, I ask them how they managed to write a book with all the distractions that can keep you away from the computer. Today, I asked Joie Jager-Hyman describing how she found time and motivation to write Fat Envelope Frenzy--a non-fiction look at the college application process.

This is my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
While writing this book, your life sounded pretty busy. How did you find time and energy to write your book with such a busy schedule? Any tips for the writers out there with dayjobs and other commitments?

Joie Jager-Hyman:
Unfortunately, there's no magic formula other than to just make the time to write and stick to a schedule. Continue reading...

I'll be the first to admit that there's no correct way to write a novel.

But there's something awe-inspiring about novelist Jeff VanderMeer's compulsive, inspiring method for finishing his most newest book:

"I’ve instituted a strict exercise regime for two hours five-days-a-week of weightlifting and cardio with two days off, and am working on controlling my diet by limiting intake of any bad carbs. All weekday mornings will be spent on the novel. Afternoons will see limited internet connectivity for business communications, but most often be for typing up rough draft material or working on anthology commitments. Evenings will be for reading and relaxing and some blogging–replenishing the mind for the next morning’s work."

After that, check out Jeff VanderMeer's visit to The Publishing Spot, one of the first writer interviews ever conducted on this site. 

If that doesn't completely wear you out, check out 50 Awesome Open Source Resources for Online Writers. Christina Laun's article contains some easy-to-use programs (ranging from word processors to style checkers) that might make your novel-endgame proceed more smoothly.

Write about what you know.

I can't tell you how many writing teachers told me that, and how long it took me to figure it out. It's even more important to think about while planning a non-fiction book. Readers respond to the enthusiasm and expertise of a writer who has actually lived a story.

That's why I picked Joie Jager-Hyman's new non-fiction book, Fat Envelope Frenzy for The Publishing Spot. This former college-admissions officer followed five students from the application process to the final acceptance and rejection letters.

Today she explains how she turned her work-life into a book, part of my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
You have a pretty impressive academic background. How do you turn the theories, statistics and sometimes dull prose of academia into such readable material? On a very practical level, how did you weave these heady concepts into the gripping, human stories of these high school students?

Joie Jager-Hyman:

Making the transition from writing for an academic to a general audience was probably the hardest part of writing this book. Continue reading...

"If I knew nothing about these students, I could ignore the fact that the vast majority of them (about 80 percent of Dartmouth applicants at the time) would eventually be turned away. Like the students themselves, I focused on the positive. I persuaded every high schooler I met to take a chance at applying to the Ivy League."

That's Joie Jager-Hyman describing how she survived as the Assistant Director of Admissions at a highly competitive college. After that experience, she followed five high schoolers from one end of the country to the other as they struggled to get into school.

She recorded that journey in her new non-fiction book, Fat Envelope Frenzy. Today she explains how she chose her characters, and how these important relationships developed. 

This is my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
As readers, we really get wrapped up in the lives of these characters. How did your subjects feel about the intimate portrait you made of them? How did you build and maintain these relationships? Any tips for journalists looking for deep relationships with their subjects without being too intrusive?

Joie Jager-Hyman:
I interviewed about 20 kids before selecting the 5 for this book and only chose students that I truly respected and thought had a decent chance of getting into a top college. Continue reading...

"[I]t is harder today than ever before to get into a selective college. Harvard College turned down almost 21,000 candidates--including thousands of valedictorians and students with perfect SAT scores--in 2006-2007. That same year, Columbia University denied admission to about 16,500 high-achievers. And Stanford University sent out approximately 21,500 rejection letters." 

Those are a few depressing statistics from Joie Jager-Hyman's new non-fiction book about the mind-numbing struggle to get into an Ivy League school. In Fat Envelope Frenzy, she followed five students from the application process to the final acceptance and rejection letters.

Jager-Hyman is our special guest this week, explaining how she used her experience as a college admissions officer to pitch, research write and promote this captivating book. 

Welcome to my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
How did you go about proposing this book? What did you do to make your idea stand out in the field of college-prep books? Any advice for journalists looking to propose a larger project?

Joie Jager-Hyman:
I hadn't seen any books that talked about the college application process from the students' point of view, so I guess I'd tell other writers to look for something that hasn't been done. Continue reading...
 

So over the weekend, I stopped by the PEN World Voices Festival, catching Jo Nesbo, Rick Moody, John Wesley Harding and the rest of the motley writerly crew at A Believer Night-time Event. 

That's my video, but I totally recommend you check out the individual writers and The World's Best Magazine that sponsored this funny evening out. Once again, I apologize for my lo-fi footage. Check it out the complete event here:

"With Jo Nesbø, Christian Jungersen, Halfdan Freihow, Kristín Ómarsdóttir, John Wesley Harding, and Vladimir; hosted by Todd Barry."

Even though writing is a pretty solitary profession, most writing manuals never mention out the importance of having a writing buddy. 

Today, journalist Kate Torgovnick explains how her writing buddy--and her writing group--helped her write her non-fiction book about the world of championship cheerleading, Cheer!

Welcome to my deceptively simple feature, Five Easy Questions. In the spirit of Jack Nicholson’s mad piano player, I run a weekly set of quality conversations with writing pioneers—delivering some practical, unexpected advice about web writing.

Jason Boog:
When I first met you, you told me that you had a writing pact with a fellow writer, supporting each other as you wrote your books. How did you find your writing support group? Can you describe that relationship, and explain how having a dedicated writing buddy can help you pull off the enormous task of writing a book?

Kate Torgovnick:
I have a writing group that, corny as it sounds, has changed my life. We’re a motley crew of four journalists, three memoirists, two playwrights, a screenwriter and a crime-fiction novelist. Continue reading...