Change Your Life with Three Pages 

Head to the Park Slope Barnes & Noble and Discover How to Get Published in 5 Weeks 

“Everybody has a story. But few know how to tell it well, where to send it, or how to convince an editor to pay for their words,” writes Professor Susan Shapiro in her latest book, The Byline Bible: Get Published in 5 Weeks, which is the print version of her wildly popular class, Instant Gratification Takes Too Long. 

The inspiring bestseller began as a packet Shapiro used to hand out to students. It included how-to articles she’d written for Writer’s Digest, as well as examples of her favorite essays crafted by her students. Finally, after editors and pupils alike got after her to make the document official, Shapiro put it into publishable form. 

“I’m glad I waited. I have a stronger platform now,” says the writing mentor, who for twenty-five rewarding years has shown 25,000 students her method to success, from which there have come countless print and online essays, and 150 book deals. 

So, how did this black-clad, Michigan native with an MFA from NYU emerge as a literary guru? 

“Since the ‘80s, I’ve been obsessed. My whole life revolved around writing and getting published.” But what began as a way to make a living, became a calling. “I saw that writing is a way to turn your worst experiences into the most beautiful. Essays then led me to books.” 

The next logical step was to help launch other voices. 

“It’s good karma.” 

So much so, that not only have exciting and great things happened for Shapiro’s students, but for her too. The Byline Bible is her twelfth published manuscript, being used in graduate, college and high school classrooms, as well as by professionals, and novices trying to break in. Its publication means that now even more writers can gain from Shapiro’s experience with thousands of editors. 

Former student Elana Rabinowitz, who didn’t even have to wait until Shapiro’s class was over before getting published, says, “Sue has a rare gift. Aside from the fundamentals, she gives her students support, guidance and direction. She pushes you to be your better self.” 

Proof that her generosity goes beyond giving students the heads up about writing gigs or the names of editors at specific publications is how Shapiro often creates book events to benefit charities. 

Her current altruistic effort is a Barnes & Noble fundraiser for the Brooklyn’s Ronald Edmonds Learning Center M.S. 113, where Rabinowitz is an ESL teacher. 

“I’m usually asking Sue for favors, but this time she approached me,” says the educator. “RELC is a low-income school. I’m always writing grants and looking for donors to try to get basic supplies and technology. With the right tools and resources, my students in particular, who are immigrants, could soar.” 

The middle school, located in Fort Greene and the alma mater of Spike Lee, has as its motto: The Home of Scholars, Artists and Champions. Its mission is to motivate and develop urban children into tomorrow’s leaders through an accelerated curriculum with fine and performing arts, science, and technology. 

Any purchases made in-store on the day of the event, November 14th (or online until November 19th) will have a percentage of the sales donated to the school. The Bookfair voucher number to benefit RELC is 12432696. 

Rabinowitz, who will be reading at the function, often shares the techniques she’s learned from Susan Shapiro in her own classes. “My hope is that my students will one day be published, especially in today’s climate when the voices of immigrants need to be heard.” 

The Byline Bible reading is with Susan Shapiro, Elana Rabinowitz, Seth Kugel, Gigi Blanchard, Judith Glynn, Branden Janese, Eli Reiter, Darnell McGee, and Fiona Taylor on Nov 14 from 6-8 pm at the Park Slope Barnes & Noble, 267 7th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215, 718-832-9066, and will benefit students at the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center—M.S. 113 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn 

Lorraine Duffy Merkl