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ABAW: How to Read/Write a Dirty Story by Susie Bright
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 9:08AM A. Book. A. Week. (Approximately.)
How to Read/Write a Dirty Story by Susie Bright, Venus Book Club 2001
This book found me, not the other way around. Among other things, I always browse the writing books when I’m in a used book store, then curse myself for not keeping a list of the books I’ve been hunting for. I don’t remember this book being on any of my lists, but when I picked it up from the shelf and browsed through it for a minute, I knew I’d like it.
Writers, you do not have to read or write “dirty” stories in order to learn something from this book. Bright has seen a lot in the publishing world, as a writer, editor, marketer, rabble-rouser and mimeographer, at small presses and large. In this book she gives advice to writers based on her experience. Some of that advice is specific to writing erotica, but far more is relevant to writing in general, and even the erotica advice and prompts can be adapted to other subjects. Her chapter titles include, “Thinking about Erotica,” “Reading It,” “Writing It,” “Editing It,” “Publishing It,” “Selling It,” and “Doing It,” plus an appendix of references and resources for writers.
Bright has a frank, direct style that makes me feel like she’s telling the gritty truth about publishing without launching into diatribe and attack. Even as an author who has experienced some success, she still sounds like someone writing from the trenches, scrabbling to get by like everyone else, but with the wisdom to know what’s worth the effort.
She is a cheerleader for anyone who wants to write for the sake of writing, without worrying about publication. She is also a pragmatist who understands that even writers have to eat. She offers a great rundown of what writers must consider, whether they want stories fit only for a plain brown wrapper or they want authentic sexuality for their epic masterpiece, or they just want to understand the publishing industry from a different angle. This book is ten years old, and while Bright does discuss self-publishing and the internet, we all know a lot has changed in that arena in the past decade. I wonder how she’d revise the book to address the boom in social media and digital publishing.
Eglentyne
I didn’t realize just how unusual my copy of this book might be. Here’s a cover shot.
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Venus Book Club Edition
A Book A Week, Read Something in Words 
Reader Comments (2)
Dani, I love these happy accidents! I've thought a great deal about what I'd add to my book today. Bluntly, I'd advise retaining e-rights and jumping All The Way In to professional self publishing in ebooks. You make money while you develop leverage to sell other rights and editions. By "pro" i mean you hire editors, designers, proofreaders, etc. to make a credible book-- you need other discerning eyes to publish a successful piece.
Btw, you found an unusual book club copy of HTWDS, but the actual publisher is Simon and Schuster. Here's a link to the book:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Dirty-Story-Publishing/dp/0743226232/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308154546&sr=8-1
Susie, Thank you so much for your thoughtful response to my question. Finding your book really was a happy accident in several ways, and has given me much food for thought as I write and plan.