The Complete Guide to Becoming A Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer

I was ready to drop out of my engineering program to write poetry full-time. This book didn't talk me out of it, but it made me wait a semester, get a paid internship in content marketing, and save up. The first chapter alone, about what you actually do on a Tuesday, was worth the price. It's honest about the admin work and the hustle. I'm still going to write, but now I'm doing it with a plan instead of a fantasy. Five stars for saving me from a very expensive mistake.

The salary breakdown in chapter four is the reason I bought this. I'd been told everywhere from 'you'll starve' to 'you'll make millions' and neither was useful. This book gave me actual numbers for entry-level lyricists and mid-career creative writers, and they were lower than I hoped but higher than I feared. It's not a fun read, but it's a necessary one. I docked one star because some of the examples about networking felt a bit dated.

A solid, grounded guide. I'm a 32-year-old teacher considering a switch to creative writing, and this gave me a realistic picture of the transition. The self-assessment checklist in chapter two had me squirming because it was too accurate. The 'day in the life' chapter was boring in exactly the right way - it showed me the 80% of the job that is just sitting down and working. Not a hype book, which is why I trust it.

As a high school senior applying to colleges, I needed to know if a creative writing major was worth the debt. This guide, especially the education comparison table, laid out the costs and timelines of different paths - a BA, an MFA, fellowships, just doing it yourself. It didn't tell me which to choose, which I appreciated. The chapter on breaking in had a useful checklist of concrete actions I can start doing now, like building a portfolio site.

The content is fine, but it wasn't quite for me. I'm a working lyricist in my forties, so I'm past the target audience. I bought it thinking it might have some advanced tips, but it's really for beginners deciding if they should start. If you're just considering the career, this is a good grounding resource. I'd recommend it to younger writers, but it didn't give me anything new. Three stars is for the accurate, if basic, salary information.

This is the book I wish I'd had in college. It doesn't romanticize the starving artist lifestyle, but it also doesn't tell you to give up. Chapter one made me realize how much of the job is about managing your own schedule and dealing with rejection - things no one told me. The FAQ was practical. It answered my main question, 'Can I actually make rent this month?' with numbers. It's a bit dry in places, but I'd rather have dry facts than fluffy inspiration.

I read this cover to cover. It's well-researched and the tone is appropriately sober. My main complaint is that the chapter on career growth was a bit depressing - it's honest about how few people make it to 'senior' levels and how many end up doing adjacent work. I appreciated the honesty, but I left feeling less excited than I did before I started. If you're looking for motivation, look elsewhere. If you want reality, this is it.