Do the Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success. . - nonfiction reviews - book review

Black Issues Book Review, March-April, 2002 by Tracy Grant

Do the Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success Kwame Alexander with Nina Foxx Manisy Willows Books LLC, September $17.95, ISBN 0-967-89596-0

Book enthusiasts and writers at every level will find Do the Write Thing a useful tool. The book is particularly good for beginning writers, and those who have recently decided to commit to becoming a writer no matter what it takes.

Do the Write Thing provides solid, nuts-and-bolts information for independent and self-publishers. With contributions from author Nina Foxx, publisher and author Kwame Alexander provides a practical approach to writing, both on the creative side and the business side. He outlines seven basic steps: writing, editing, a publishing how-to, design, printing (if applicable), promotion and sales. The book also features a section that until now had been almost unheard of--writing and selling of poetry.

In publishing, poetry is often seen as peripheral at best, lacking the economic impact of commercial fiction, self-help or business books. Yet the audience for poetry is alive and growing, as evidenced by the popularity of spoken-word venues and programs like HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. Alexander offers encouragement and hope to would-be poets who seek to have an impact on the page as well as the microphone.

The strength of Do the Write Thing lies in Alexander's positive, lighthearted style. Readers are taken through the entire publishing process firsthand, using a previous book release as an example. While the author presents the case as hypothetical, be assured that what takes place actually happened. It's the best way for the novice to learn from someone else's mistakes. Alexander lets you know in clear terms what to do, what not to do and why, making the information accessible and the reading easy.

The book is not without its shortcomings. There are appendices in the book that list printers and distributors among other things. Many of these outlets have websites, which make them easy to find. But for those that do not, some are absent complete information.

To his credit, Alexander directs readers to other sources he himself doesn't provide. But this may not be sufficient for the most anxious new writers. However, with this book, new writers can accelerate their creative process as well as their career in publishing.

--Tracy Grant is an author, journalist and adjunct English professor.