The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Red Engine Press (2007)
ISBN 9780978515874
Reviewed by Reina Santana for Reader Views (7/07)


Like many writers, you have probably experienced the horror of finding a dangling participle, or other hideous grammatical error, in a cover letter that you thought was perfect.  Where did it come from?  According to Howard-Johnson, author of “The Frugal Editor,” these errors are caused by gremlins “determined to keep authors’ works from being published.”  Do gremlins really exist?  If you are a writer, you may bet your life on it.  The good news is there is hope.  Writers can beat the gremlins at their own game.

“The Frugal Editor” is a wonderful resource for writers on a tight budget.  It is also a practical guide for anyone writing marketing and publicity copy.  Novice writers will be eternally grateful for the humiliation they will avoid, and experienced writers will keep it on hand as a refresher course.  The book teaches readers how to review their work and find those grammatical errors that discredit their work.  Howard-Johnson does a great job of explaining the role and importance of an editor.  She equips readers with the knowledge they need to dig out copy errors and make the editing process easier.  She provides writing guidelines, techniques, and handy sidebar tips that will make a better writer out of anyone putting them into practice.  If you are like me, you will learn how to identify, and remedy, your writing weaknesses.  I earmarked my copy within the first couple of pages.  I liked “The Frugal Editor” so much I purchased Howard-Johnson’s other book “The Frugal Book Promoter.”

Make comment on weblog