The author has created useful, sequential categories that describe the full range of the writing/publishing process. The chapter on self-publishing was particularly interesting as a way for an author to extend their creative control of the creation of their book rather than surrendering this to a publisher. ( )

Sometimes authors don't pick their book's title, their editors do. The title here is a little misleading as there really isn't much advice for bringing out "The Writer Within". It is a helpful reference about how to get your work published at any age, not just for those retired baby boomers. Mr. Jacobs does provide helpful advice and tips in that area. IF you are looking to this reference to help you compose your thought into a cogent written format, there are many better reference books for that purpose. ( )

I feel fortunate to receive this book for review. It is well planned, well presented in a logical sequence. If, and when, I have something to publish, this will be my first guide. Mr. Jacobs acts like a mentor through the publishing process. One can sense his experience as a published writer throughout the book. There are numerous examples of errors that novice writers make in an attempt to get published. Mr. Jacobs provides guidance on how to organize and present written work so as to avoid those common pitfalls (as the many jobhunting guides do for the job seeker). One could read between the lines Mr. Jacobs is thinking “I wish someone had told this to me years ago.”

I think any writer, not only retirees, with something to publish would benefit from this resource. It is overflowing with advice and references; a guidebook to the publishing maze. There are lists of agencies, publishers, websites, books and magazines to gain more specific information. While Mr. Jacobs attempts to cover fiction and non-fiction, he does a much better job with non-fiction. He even explains why non-fiction would be a better choice (because of a lifetime of accumulated knowledge.) I like the chapters on how to self-publish books or articles. We can be confident the information is reliable, as this book appears to be self published.

Of course I don’t know if Mr. Jacobs advice will get my material published, but I feel more confident having read this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the publishing world. On the other hand, if one’s writing skills need improving, I imagine this book will not be a great help. I will be keeping my copy of "The Writer Within You" by Charles Jacobs. ( )

If you pick up this book expecting it to be about the craft of writing you will be disappointed. This book is about getting your work published. Being retired is inconsequential, anyone who wants to be published could get good ideas from this book.

This book makes the point that getting published is hard work; hard, time-consuming and expensive. If you're one desire in life is to publish your work then you can find a way to do it in this book. I f you want to be a professional writer this book lists the steps to take.

If you want to know how to write however then look at the resource list in the back of the book. There are books there that will help you to that goal. You will not find that help here except in very general terms.

To sum it up this is a resource and reference book on publishing. Writing is a separate topic.

First of all, I'm not in the target audience age range, but I will be eventually, right? And the author himself admits that the fundamentals are the same whatever the age, just the amount of experience you bring to it changes (p. iii).

All the same I wasn't terribly impressed by this book. It seems to cover a wide territory, going over everything from writing the book (whether fiction or non-fiction) to designing, publishing and marketing it. But none of it is in very great detail. He summarizes the steps and then gives you more resources in the appendix. Not knowing the author or having the time to check up on the resources, I have no idea how reputable or reliable they are, but he does at least mention some possible pitfalls and scams that I have seen mentioned elsewhere.

The author seems to concentrate more on the publishing and especially the marketing aspects than on the actual nuts and bolts and process of writing. And he certainly used this when he sent it out – it came with a press packet and an inscription and autograph, which frankly turned me off. I'm supposed to be influenced by an autographed copy? The book was also self-published, I believe (Jacobs and Caros Books share the same address according to the press packet), and he states that he and his family designed it. I found the layout a little difficult to read and the cover nothing out of the ordinary.

So this book is probably a good beginning resource – a place to get an overview and some pointers to other places for (hopefully) more in-depth information. It's not a one stop resource, nor is it the place to go for the actual nuts and bolts of writing. ( )