Reviews of Writing Books
Page One of TwoThe First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman
Fireside, January 2000.Paperback, 207 pages.
ISBN: 068485743X
Ordering information
Amazon.com.
Noah Lukeman, a former editor and now a
literary agent, offers this new reference
for writers. The title of the book refers to
the fact that many manuscripts are rejected
by editors and agents after they have read only
the first five pages, or less.
"It is like a first reader who has been hired to make
two piles of manuscripts, one that should be read
beyond the first five pages and one that shouldn't.
Ninety-nine percent of today's unsolicited manuscripts
will go into the latter."
Lukeman focuses on common problems
found in submitted manuscripts, including
grammar and style errors such as the misuse of
adjectives and adverbs, as well as comparison and stylistic errors.
Dialogue problems are also covered, including problems
with identifiers, commonplace dialogue, hard
to follow dialogue and dialogue that is too informative
or melodramatic.
Lukeman also covers "showing versus telling,"
viewpoint, characterization, hooks, tone, focus,
setting and pacing.
Lukeman illustrates each common
mistake with examples
and gives solutions and exercises for writers to overcome them.
Lukeman says that focusing on errors and problems in the beginning
of the manuscript will
lessen the likelihood of a quick rejection, and help the
writer locate other problems in the work.
"Despite its title, this book is not just about the
first five pages of your manuscript; rather, it assumes
that by scrutinizing a few pages closely enough -- particularly
the first few -- you can make a determination for the whole.
It assumes that if you find one line of extraneous dialogue
on page 1, you will likely find one line of extraneous dialogue
on each page to come."
Noah Lukeman has great insight into what it takes to keep an editor reading your manuscript. Writers will definitely benefit from a thorough study of Lukeman's many suggestions which can help them get past the first hurdle to getting published.
Untechnical Writing by Michael Bremer
UnTechnical Press, September 1999.Trade Paperback, 227 pages.
ISBN: 0966994906
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
This reference provides advice and
instruction about writing technical
manuals and content for consumers,
or a nontechnical audience.
This is becoming a very large
market for writers, as companies
launching websites need explanations
and instructions that their customers
will understand. Also, new electronic
gadgets are available to consumers
everyday, which need easy to read
instruction manuals so the company won't
be swamped with calls from confused
consumers. The reference covers
many technical writing topics, including
writer's duties, skills needed, what the audience
needs, technical writing basics, tips and tricks,
editing, office politics, graphic arts, interface design,
careers and other topics.
The exhibits chapter in the
book contains sample documents commonly
used by technical writers, including
a generic deliverables list, writing request
form, customer fact sheet, checklists for
technical writers, a content-editing cover
letter and other worksheets.
Michael Bremer, a twenty-year veteran of technical writing, breaks down the business, politics and style of writing about technical subjects, so you can manage your time, get work and write material that lay people can understand. UnTechnical Writing is a must-read for beginning technical writers and creative professionals who work for high-tech and software companies.
Writing Book Reviews
Page One | Page Two
Return to the February 2000 issue of The IWJ.
More from Writers Write