Sixty candles
Cindy on June 23rd, 2008
I’m always on the lookout for books on the craft of writing to recommend to new writers in my workshops. My shelves are crammed with old favorites like Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Brenda Ueland’s If You Want to Write. But it’s not easy to find helpful books for those who want to learn what it’s really like to be a freelancer typing alone at home, maybe in a terrycloth bathrobe…. So I’m happy to share a new title, Sixty Candles: Reflections on the Writing Life, which was published this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the nation’s leading organization for professional freelancers.
Written by ASJA members, Sixty Candles lights the way with dozens of short essays — some reflective, some informative — on the ups and downs of the freelance writing life. Everything a new writer needs to know, from how to cope with isolation to the thrill of breaking into that first glossy magazine, is shared between these covers. (The book includes a short essay of mine on dealing with rejection.)
“Never lose faith in freelancing,” writes Norman M. Lobsenz, an ASJA founding member. “It is a tough business, and not getting easier to survive in electronic times. Yet somewhere along the way each of us has learned to have faith in our skills and in our selves.” Â If you’re serious about writing for top newspapers and magazines, this book is worth your time and $14.95. -- Cindy La Ferle
