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 …
Book Proposals
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 …
How Novella Collections are Formed
Blogger: Rachel Kent
This month, my client Regina Jennings has a novella releasing in A Match Made in Texas with Karen Witemeyer, Carol Cox and Mary Connealy. I’ve only read Regina’s story so far, but I’m excited to read the …
Tips to help you define your nonfiction audience
Blogger: Rachel Kent
Writing a nonfiction book that has been on your heart is great, but figuring out if that book has an audience and who those readers are is essential before you decide to pitch your project to publishing …
Starting a New Manuscript: Encouragement and Tips
Blogger: Rachel Kent
It’s that time of year again! The children are going back to school and summer is just about over. I know many of you are going to be starting in on new writing projects since you’ll have …
The Best of Times. The Worst of Times.
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Back in the days when I was writing and submitting my work, hoping to catch the interest of an agent or editor, I would spend hours trying to strategize the perfect time for my query or proposal …
Publishing: Them vs. Us
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the most frustrating attitudes that has grown out of the new publishing paradigm is a them vs. us mentality. If you’ve spent any time at all reading writing blogs it won’t be long until …
The Publishing Quest: Hurry Up and Wait
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
If you are a planner, no career is tougher than that of a published writer. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could sketch out a timeline? In a perfect world it might look something like …
Not another book without a hook!
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
A few months ago I met with an acquisitions editor, and as we talked about what she was looking to acquire, she said, “I enjoy reading literary books and ‘softer’ nonfiction books, but I’ve learned that …
Offering Representation—One Story
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Last week I picked up the phone and made an offer of representation to an author. I won’t tell you who it is because she is a regular member of our blog community, and it’s up to …