Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Once in a while I hear a scathing author criticism of his agent, “He just sat on my manuscript.” Most clients expect that when we receive their proposal we turn it around and get it right out. …
Book Proposals
3 Wrong Assumptions about Agents
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Agents long have known that clients wish an agent had only one client–that writer. But the truth of the matter is that the agent must sustain a healthy list of clients to make a living. Unless …
Book Influencers, Endorsers and Forewords–Oh, My
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
“What does an influencer do?”
“Who makes a strong endorser?”
and “Should I ask someone to write a foreword?” are questions my clients frequently ask me.
The answers can help you to:
–obtain a contract
–make …
Book Proposals
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Last week we had a review of queries. Today— book proposals. (Because you just can’t get enough of this stuff, right?)
Confession: All my life I’ve been a rule-follower. I obey all posted signs. I follow the …
What I’m Looking For. . .
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
I don’t think I’ve ever participated in an agent panel where the question, “What are you looking for?” has not been asked. We agents probably irritate the pajamas off writers with our answers. “I’m looking for that …
Agent Triage
Blogger: Rachel Kent
You know what I hate? That there are only 24 hours in a day! I find myself needing more time all the time and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
As an agent, I could spend …
The Psychology of Submission Timing
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Recently I found myself explaining to a client that I am in a bit of a press to get submissions out. “I feel like I only have six good weeks until every publisher sort of mentally shuts …
Is your project ready to submit?
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Recently I received two queries that I thought held promise. So I asked to see the proposals and first chapters. On close inspection, I found both projects weren’t ready to be submitted. As I list the …
3 flaws in your query that shout “beginner”
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Few experiences are more instructive about what-not-to-do in your writing than working your way through the queries and proposals editors or agents receive. I can’t make my stack of reading available to you, but I can …
Competing for Readers
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the parts of the proposal that often stymies writers is the competitive analysis section. That’s where the writer is asked to tell what books are similar to his, while highlighting why his offers a different …