Just In Case - A Book Review by Mike Lantz

I’d like to think that most people have a favorite book. I have several. One of my favorites right now is 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published, And 14 Reasons Why It Just Might by Pat Walsh.

Walsh, a former editor and publisher, presents a concise and informative book about writing from an editor’s perspective and discusses the good things and bad things writers do (and don’t do). Walsh is humorous and serious at the same time. You have to laugh at some of his stories but then shake your head when you realize he is serious.

You’ll note from the title that there are over five times as many reasons why a book will not get published than there are why it might. And there are probably a lot more than that; Walsh never claims to have a definitive list. Definitive or not, the book is a good one, and it should make an excellent check list for any aspiring writer who thinks he might be ready to submit his book for publication.

Walsh’s list is too long for me to list here. Suffice it to say that much of Walsh’s advice to the aspiring writer is common sense, and practical advice though it may be, Walsh leaves little doubt there are numerous aspiring writers apparently lacking or deficient in this attribute. Certainly, should one aspire to publish, the writer would hope to use common sense to his own advantage; and in that sense, Walsh gives the aspiring writer a head start.

I have read and re-read this book and attempted to commit parts of it to memory. It is remarkable to me that such pragmatic advice should sound so profound. Here is just one example from “Reason #6 (why your book may never be published): You Think Writing Is Easy”:

“Great writers do not rest on their laurels and they do not ever feel they have produced their best work. They look for areas in which they have failed so they can improve and they want feedback that is honest and blunt. They know that biting criticism may hurt, but misguided praise can harm.” (p. 23)

That sounds almost Biblical to me. It’s hard advice, but it’s true. That’s why this book sets on a shelf in my study next to other books I think are essential to good writing. My personal recommendation is if you only read one book on writing this year, this should be it. I don’t think you can go wrong by reading and applying Walsh’s advice.

Mike Lantz, East Texas Writers Guild
Guest Reviewer