Only as Good as Your Word: Writing Lessons from My Favorite Literary Gurus

In this funny, moving, and revealing book, Susan Shapiro recounts her obsessive quest for success as a professional writer and the beloved mentors who saved her life--and career--along the way.

Growing up in the Midwest, Susan Shapiro knew at a young age that all she wanted in life was to become a writer. And so, as soon as she graduated from college, she headed straight to New York City, determined to break into the biz. A few hard knocks later, she learned that it takes more than being a good writer to make a living at it--the most successful professional writers, she discovered, have great mentors to support, promote, advise, admonish, inform, infuriate, and sometimes give them a good kick in the pants along the way.

Only As Good As Your Word is a rollicking chronicle of Shapiro's coming of age as a journalist and author. It's also a revealing memoir that proves what Shapiro's been saying all along: The most important lessons about writing really are, at heart, important lessons about life.

A must-read for all writers in the publishing trenches, from the very green to the veterans.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Seal Press (CA)
Published: 09/01/2007
ISBN: 9781580052207
Pages: 410
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.60w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 07/09/2007 pg. 39
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2007 pg. 845
Library Journal 09/15/2007 pg. 70
Library Journal 10/15/2007 pg. 68