Betsy Lerner

© Copyright 2002, Betsy Lerner. All Rights Reserved

The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner

Natural? Neurotic? This editor's got your
number. A Review by Lois Blinkhorn

As its title suggests, The Forest for the Trees is not a how-to book about the nitty-gritty details of writing, but a look at the big picture. And with her track record as an editor at four major publishing houses, Betsy Lerner has the big picture nailed. She knows what makes writers tick and how editors operate. On top of that, she's hip, kind and funny.

All of which makes Lerner's clear-eyed peek inside the publishing game—replete with dishy anecdotes—a good read for nearly anyone who loves books, writer or not. (Did you know, for example, that Peter Benchley couldn't decide on a name for his book and chose Jaws, which he didn't much like, 20 minutes before the thing went to press? And that he figured it wouldn't make much difference because "nobody buys first novels anyway"?)

But there's more to this book than insider gossip. If you're an aspiring writer, God help you, you'll want to cling to this terrific guidebook like a Titanic passenger to the last remaining life raft. Every editor is a therapist, Lerner says, and she's got your number—along with some sound advice on how to work with your writing style.

This review is from the March 2001 Issue of The Writer. www.writermag.com Copyright (c) 2000-2002
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