Writing Local History Today - (American Association for State and Local History) 2nd Edition by Thomas A Mason & J Kent Calder (Paperback)

About the Book

Writing Local History Today guides local historians through the process of researching, writing, and publishing their work. Thomas A. Mason and J. Kent Calder present step-by-step advice to guide aspiring authors to a successful publication and focus not only on how to write well but also how to market and sell one's work.

Book Synopsis

Writing Local History Today guides local historians through the process of researching, writing, and publishing their work. Thomas A. Mason and J. Kent Calder present step-by-step advice to guide aspiring authors to a successful publication and focus not only on how to write well but also how to market and sell their work. Highlights include:
Discussion of how to identify an audience for your writing projectTips for effective research and planningSample documents, such as contracts and requests for proposalsTips and guidance for working with publishersDiscussion of how to use social media to leverage your publicationDiscussion of the benefits and drawbacks to self-publishingThe second edition updates literature, databases, and websites in the fieldThis guide is useful for first-time authors who need help with this sometimes-daunting process, or for previously published historians who need a quick reference or timely tips.

Review Quotes

"Current and comprehensive, an exceptional guide from two seasoned local history editors who deftly cover the publishing labyrinth from point of discovery and research development to online options and marketing--a new standard for preserving unexplored layers of the history around us." --Dan K. Utley, co-author of History Ahead: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers and Links to the Past: The Hidden History on Texas Golf Courses

"Having worked in an archival repository for over 20 years, two of the most requested topics I've encountered are family history and local history research. Researchers in these areas frequently uncover experiences and stories that are important to document and share. Writing Local History Today, by Mason and Calder, is important in that it provides a comprehensive guide for a broad audience of the entire process - from researching in archives to publication. It will benefit not only the writer of today but the researcher of tomorrow." --Suzanne Hahn, Vice President, Archives and Library, Indiana Historical Society

About the Author

Thomas A. Mason is adjunct senior lecturer at Indiana University-Indianapolis. He previously served as director of publications at the Indiana Historical Society.
J. Kent Calder is retired as editorial director of the University of Oklahoma Press and served as executive director of the Texas State Historical Association from 2008 to 2014.