Writing Book Reviews

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Making Money In Technical Writing, by Peter Kent

Arco, Oct., 1997.
Trade Paperback, 280 pages.
ISBN: 0028618831.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.


Making Money In Technical Writing
by Peter Kent This informative book, by freelance technical writer Peter Kent, takes a welcome dollars and sense approach to what technical writing is and provides all the information needed to become very successful in this field. It covers all the bases, including negotiating, taxes, contracts, incorporating, consulting, working online and lists of additional resources such as associations, seminars, websites and other informational outlets. Each section is covered in-depth with advice on what to do and what not to do as well as advantages and disadvantages of making a specific decision. For example, Kent's section on agencies includes advice on how to get work through agencies, benefits offered by agencies, what to look for in an agency and also a section on unethical agencies and disadvantages in working through one. The last chapters of the book provide advice to the more successful freelancer with specific information on consulting work, making sales and a chapter titled "Should You Incorporate?" that details economic advantages and disadvantages on starting your own corporation.

The book can be used by the novice writer looking to break into technical writing or for those already involved in the field who are looking to improve their knowledge and skills and earn a higher income for their work. An exceedingly valuable resource for the serious writer looking to earn money in the potentially lucrative technical writing industry.


Murder One: A Writer's Guide to Homicide, by Mauro V. Coravasce & Joseph R. Paglino

Writer's Digest Books, Sept., 1997.
Trade Paperback, 216 pages.
ISBN: 089879773X
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.


Cover of Murder One: A Writer's Guide to Homicide
by Mauro V. Coravasce & Joseph R. Paglino Murder One provides the writer with the background details of homicides for use in formulating a murder scene in a story or novel. The book, written by actual investigators, covers all aspects of murder including the steps taken in a homicide investigation, weapons that may be used and types of murder from contract murders to crimes of passion. The book assigns a different chapter to each kind of murder, including business and financial murders, gang murders, familial murders, serial murders and many others. The coverage of the different categories of murder includes motives, methods, case studies, examples, scenarios and fine details. The book also provides a very useful glossary with definitions to murder-related words such as Equivocal Death and Staged Scene.

The book can be used by mystery writers as a resource to check accuracy, to determine how to finish a murder scene or even as a beginning point to get ideas. An excellent resource that can save many trips to the library.


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