Today I’m just going to highlight a few fiction techniques I love finding in a manuscript.
Beats
This is a technique the author uses to seamlessly substitute an action that identifies the character in place of the tired old he-said, …

The Agents of Books & Such Literary Management Muse About Books, Publishing, and Life

// by Wendy Lawton// 6 Comments
Today I’m just going to highlight a few fiction techniques I love finding in a manuscript.
This is a technique the author uses to seamlessly substitute an action that identifies the character in place of the tired old he-said, …

// by Jen Babakhan// 7 Comments
As a new agent, there are new experiences around every corner. Some have been expected, and others have been lovely surprises. I recently had the new experience of making my first sale (woohoo!), and I learned even more about my …
A Behind the Scenes Look at A New Literary Agent’s First SaleRead More

// by Janet Grant// 7 Comments
For 12 consecutive years, audio books have seen double-digit growth. No other book format can make that claim. But why should we, as writers and readers, care about audio book growth?
Before we look …

// by Debbie Alsdorf// 9 Comments
As a literary agent my goal is to champion the writers that I represent. A champion is committed to guide the writers journey even if that looks different than they thought it would. With that in mind, here are three …
// by Rachel Kent// 11 Comments
What should a writer have in his or her files? With tax time here, I thought this might be helpful.
An author should be able to open up his or her files and find a bunch of information. These files …

// by Barb Roose// 11 Comments
How do you know if you’re developing a book concept that is a passable idea versus a great idea?
If you’re pursuing traditional publishing, you must know two developmental elements that determine whether your concept is okay or great. These …
The Two Ingredients You Need to Make Your Book Proposal Rise to the Occasion!Read More

// by Cynthia Ruchti// 15 Comments
Quandrum. If a quandry (perplexity in a difficult situation) and a conundrum (vexing question) had a baby, it would be…a quandrum.
Writers love words, but they’re less in love with words that are quandrums. “What does that mean?” “How is …

// by Wendy Lawton// 11 Comments
Okay, confession time: Here at Books & Such I’m known as the platform denier. The platform skeptic. Card-carrying member of the Book Marketing Flat Earth Society. Yes, I know that an author’s platform can be a powerful thing, but just …
Yet Another Rant from the Resident Platform SkepticRead More

// by Jen Babakhan// 7 Comments
I’m the new kid on the block when it comes to agenting. I’ve been surprised by a few things about this career, one of them being just how often agents feel undecided about a project when reading queries and proposals. …

// by Janet Grant// 9 Comments
In honor of Presidents’ Day, it occurred to me that it would be fun for us to learn a bit about our presidents as readers.I learned, as I did a bit of research, that many of our presidents were poorly …
