Everyone Wants My Job: The ABC's of Entertainment Writing

Diana Saenger works for herself, meets interesting and creative people, sees lots of movies, eats great food, travels, and gets to express herself. What a great job. What a great book! Oh yes, and she also works long hours, is away from home and family a lot, and has to put up with arrogant egomaniacs along the way. The book is peppered with vignettes about some favorite stars. Can't wait to read her next book.

Chatty and informative, "Everyone Wants My Job" offers helpful tips for breaking into the world of entertainment writing. Professional critic Diana Saenger shares her recipe for success in this competitive field by including such important ingredients as how to analyze films and other venues, the do's and don'ts of interviewing celebrities, techniques for marketing written work, and how to handle rejection. The book's resource bibliography and list of professional organizations are added attractions which should prove useful not only for novices, but also for writers already in the business. Quotes from various stars, directors, and writers illustrate important points and make the book a delight to read. For example, Djimon Honsou ("Amistad")tells the author, "Destiny isn't waiting until something happens to you. To have destiny, you have to get up from the seat of your pants and make it happen." Advising wannabe entertainment writers to adopt this statement as a kind of mantra, Saenger emphasizes the time and effort required to reach this goal. But the rewards involved are also covered thoroughly --- including access to free movies, plays, videos,etc. and the excitement of interviewing celebrities. Thankfully, readers are warned not to quit their day jobs before jumping into a full-time entertainment writing career. "Did you expect to have fun and get rich too?" Saenger asks. Because it's difficult to make a living as a writer, this important advice deserves more attention than it gets here. Still, the author does explain carefully that most writers will have to work without pay for awhile to get started. "Everyone Wants My Job" should be added to reading lists in career counseling courses everywhere. And, for anyone thinking about becoming an entertainment writer, it's a must-read.

Saenger's book gets down to the nitty-gritty of entertainment writing. Saenger details the methods of critiquing each entertainment form from films through books and on to restaurants. By using sample reviews, Saenger emphasizes what is necessary for an outstanding review. Whether used as a basic handbook for the novice, or a reminder for the professional, Saenger's book is a must!

The job of reviewing movies sounds glamorous and exciting. Everyone would like to have such a "job". Diana Saenger has managed to create a guideline to have such a job, but maintains a truthful and informative offering. Her book gives the reader the necessary tools to develope ones own reviewing career, while letting one know that it is not all fun and games and free movies. She reminds the reader that it is necessary to be consistant and open minded. I personally had never really thought of becoming a movie reviewer, but with the information simply outlined in EVERYONE WANTS MY JOB! The ABC's of Entertainment Writing I feel that I could do such a job. I like Diana Saenger's style and forthright approach to writing. I think this work is well designed and she has much to offer her reading public. I hope to see more by this author.