Here at last is a book which tells writers how to survive and prosper while struggling to make sense of the mad worlds of publishing, theatre, television, and film. Such a book is urgently needed, because writing can seriously damage your health - not to mention your relationships, your bank account, and your career prospects.

The early chapters help you to clarify your ideas about what you hope to achieve as a writer - money, fame, or literary reputation; they also provide a realistic assessment of your chances of achieving those aims.

Subsequent chapters provide a detailed explanation of how the modern publishing industry works, and explain the crucial role of emotion for writers of both fiction and drama.

The latter part of the book offers practical advice on how to find the time and energy to pursue your writing career, and provides help on how to market your work in the digital age.

Michael Allen can draw on fifty years of experience as a writer and publisher. He is the author of numerous novels and short stories (some written under pen-names) which have variously been published in hardback, paperback, and ebook editions in the UK, USA, France and Denmark. He has also had work successfully produced on stage, television, and radio. He is a former director of two publishing companies.