by Janet Kobobel Grant
Some authors choose to write discussion questions that will appear at the back of a book or to be available on the writer’s website. Having written a slew of such questions and having been trained in …
What Are Lit Agents Looking for Anyway?
by Janet Kobobel Grant
When literary agents sit on a panel at a writers conference, inevitably questions pop up about what agents are looking for. Generally a lot of heming and hawing occurs in response to the queries.
“I’ll know …
The Publishing Waiting Game
by Janet Kobobel Grant
“Waiting is harder than writing,” one of my clients observed in an email to me. That was it; the email contained nothing else.
I smiled when I read it. Yup, that sums up the life of …
What to Ask Your Marketing Team
by Janet Kobobel Grant
Most authors–sometimes even established authors–don’t know what to ask their marketing team. We’re talking about the people who will promote your book.
One of my clients, Judy Douglass, is headed to a visit with her publishing …
Marketers and Publicists: What’s the Difference
by Janet Kobobel Grant
An aspect of publishing that’s often a puzzle to authors is the difference between marketers and publicists. Since you’ll encounter both when it’s time to start promoting your book, understanding the difference can help you to …
A Way to Sell Your Book That Authors Often Miss
by Janet Kobobel Grant
Often missing from the list of ways authors can sell their books is one that costs you nothing. I’m not talking about setting up a book signing at a bookstore or other venue (although that can …
A Manuscript’s Death Knell
by Janet Kobobel Grant
I’ve previously extolled the benefits for me in reading Publishers Weekly. Each issue I peruse provides me with some insight or confirms I’m correct (or that I’m incorrect) about some aspect of publishing. Because publishing is …
Proposal Prep: Your Bio
by Janet Kobobel Grant
Lately I’ve been preparing a lot of proposals to send to editors, which has sent my mind spinning around the areas I see where authors tend not to strut their best stuff. Part of the proposal …
Proposal Prep: The Competition Section
by Janet Kobobel Grant
After a client submits his nonfiction proposal to me, I suspect he thinks I’ll have that baby in the hands of an editor within the hour. Not exactly. Before that big event occurs, I’ll take a …
I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Platform
by Janet Kobobel Grant
“Badges? We don’t have no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you no stinkin’ badges!” is a portion of a bandito’s dialogue from the 1948 movie, “The Treasure of Sierra Madre.” …