Growing your platform is like climbing a mountain. Often we focus our eyes on the size of the mountain and it’s easy to doubt our ability to successfully make the climb. The result of our doubt often leads to fear …
Daring Greatly: The Courage to Show Up and Keep Writing
Why is that one criticism or even a well-meaning critique has the power to neutralize a hundred compliments or accolades?
As writers, our words are the scripted hearts that we wear on our sleeves. We put ourselves out there with …
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Hidden Treasure on Back Covers
While Amazon or other online retailers can deliver our books in one or two days, there is one experience that online retailers will never be able to deliver: the thrill of flipping our wrist to see the back cover.
When …
NEW RESOURCE ALERT: Sensitivity Between the Lines
Listen to the complete audio interview by clicking here.
Eight years ago, publishing veteran Edwina Perkins planned a sensitivity reader workshop for a writer’s conference. Nearly 400 writers attended the conference that year. No one attended her workshop.
…“The
Should I or Shouldn’t I? Balancing Patience and Proactivity When Contacting a Literary Agent
When is an agent going to get back to me on this?
I’m wrapping up a series of writers conferences from this spring so I have dozens of hopeful clients who’ve sent in follow-up requests. They are waiting for me …
Six Phrases to Avoid in Your Query
Finishing a query is big deal! You’ve spent hours in front of your computer wrestling the words that capture your passion, imagination and life experience into a query letter.
To give your dream the best chance of getting an agent …
The Ideal Client: Three Qualities that an Agent Looks for in a Client
For the past week, I’ve interviewed some fabulous future authors who participated in the Publishing in Color Conference, a Christian writers’ conference for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color) Christian writers. More than once I was asked, “What are you …
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Knock That Book Off Its Pedestal: Five Ways to Use Your Story to Make a Difference Without Traditionally Publishing a Book
I’ve lost count of the number of times that someone has told me, “Everyone tells me that I need to write a book about what I’ve been through.” There’s nothing wrong with writing a book to capture your story, but …
Getting an Agent to Read Your Entire Query
As a literary agent, I love seeing stacks of queries in my inbox. Like the other agents at Books & Such, I enjoy discovering unique book ideas, moving memoirs and fresh new voices. However, all literary agents must balance limited …
Carving Up Your Popular Content to Reach and Satisfy Your Audience
Right now, imagine your popular podcast episodes, blog posts or keynote messages as a delicious, juicy turkey sitting in the middle of the table at Thanksgiving dinner. Like that turkey, developing your podcast, blog or keynote required a lot of …
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