Book Review - Get Your Book off the Ground - The Australian Writer

By Daan Spijer
From: The Australian Writer Magazine
Issue #364

As writers, we are (or should be) avid readers of others’ work. This gives us insights into howother (good) writers write. It does not, however, tell us much about the craft itself: what, apart from sweat and tears, went into creating this eminently readable piece of
composition.

We could, of course, attend writing groups and classes, listen to writers on the radio or on stage and read books about the craft. Many of us do. Get Your Book off the Ground is a welcome addition to the last of these options. It is written by two experienced and accomplished
practitioners of the craft.

Anthony Santoro is a professional writer with a number of crime novels and a ‘serious’ book under his belt, as well as experience in editing and, critically, experience in selling what he has written.

Suzanne Male is a journalist, writer, editor, publisher and marketing professional. She is the founder of Smink Works Books (publisher) and has written a number of books, including for children.

Together, they have put into this book (the first of a series) a wealth of advice and supportive information for all writers, whether starting out or already accomplished. They cover such topics as story planning, making characters believable, dealing with writer’s block, surviving rejection, and ‘The sure-fire way to get published’.

In total, there are seventeen very readable chapters and a comprehensive index for finding your way around the book, or returning to something you read earlier. Often in co-authored books, there is no indication of who wrote what. In Get Your Book off the Ground each author’s contribution is clearly identified, making digestion of the information and advice easier. The book is well organised, making it possible to read it from start to finish, or delve into individual chapters, or even in to well-identified parts of chapters. In this, it is in itself a prime example of how to write and construct a book aimed at assisting others to work towards all they are capable of.

The publisher, The Writers’ Resource Centre, is an Internet portal to link writers and writers’ resources. It also publishes books and articles on writing and runs a short story competition; .

The Australian Writer Magazine is a publication of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (www.writers.asn.au). We recommended you visit this site and read about their aims, which include bringing "together all those interested in writing for their mutual professional, cultural and social benefit, and to provide information and advice to them".

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