Alan Rinzler is a familiar sight around Berkeley. The executive editor of Jossey-Bass Publishing, Rinzler is a walker, and it’s common to see him strolling to and from Bart on his daily commute to San Francisco, his head of bright white hair like a beacon on the street.
Rinzler is another beacon of sorts, a beacon for writers. For many years he has not only edited great writers, like Hunter Thompson, Toni Morrison, and Jerry Kozinski, but has counseled aspiring authors. His annual workshops at Cody’s where he critiqued people’s book proposals were always packed. People came from all around the Bay Area to hear Rinzler talk about how to break through the barriers of the publishing world. (He now holds those workshops at Mrs. Dalloway’s andother independent bookstore.) Rinzler also works as a freelance developmental editor, helping fiction writers refine their novels and non-fiction writers hone their message.
In the past year, Rinzler has started writing a blog called The Book Deal and it has quickly become one of my favorite places to stop on the Internet. I am not alone. Rinzler’s posts are tweeted and posted to Facebook with regularity.
Here are some recent and interesting links from his site:
The Top Five Secrets to Getting a Book Deal
Choosing a Freelance Editor: What You Need to Know