Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
When you’re a debut author trying to break in to traditional publishing, one of the most important things to remember is this:
Minimize the obstacles.
You already know it’s not going to be easy to break in, …
proposals
When An Agent Doesn’t Reply
blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
When an agent doesn’t reply to your query, proposal, burning question, or manuscript submission, is it because she/he doesn’t care?
Admittedly, sometimes writers–whether aspiring or veteran–choose the default answer, “Yes! That must be it! I’m not important …
Promised Yourself Last Summer
We’re on the cusp of another summer. In parts of our country, that means the grills are being uncovered after a long winter’s hiatus. In other parts, the grills are being pulled back under the pergola for a little …
Proposal Prep– Your Marketing Plans
A Writer’s Gift–What’s In It For Me?
Blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
A writer’s gift. What’s in it for me?
In a few days, beautiful wrapped boxes or tissue-paper jammed gift bags will be handed to friends and family. The recipients may not express it, but their subconscious thoughts …
Swipe Left, Swipe Right
Blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Swipe left or swipe right? People who’ve used Tinder (the app, not scraps of wood and dried leaves) are familiar with those questions.
MedicalXpress.com notes, “Anyone who has used the dating app Tinder knows that swiping …
Refining a Proposal
blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Writers spend innumerable hours, bags of M&Ms (or baby carrots, but let’s be real), and cups of coffee/tea refining proposals before they’re sent to an agent to send to an editor. 
Later that afternoon, the agent sends …
Story–The Common Ground Between Fiction and Nonfiction
Story–The Common Ground Between Fiction and Nonfiction
By Cynthia Ruchti
In a January 16, 2011 post for Psychology Today, Dr. Pamela B. Rutledge expounded on “The Psychological Power of Storytelling.” She focused on the concept as it relates to changes …
Story–The Common Ground Between Fiction and NonfictionRead More
Why You Need a Book Proposal
Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
Authors sometimes ask me, “Why do I need a book proposal? My book is finished—can’t I just send you that? I don’t see the need to write a proposal.”
So, here is a quick outline of the …
4 Steps to Writing a Novella
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Filling in for Janet Grant who is traveling.
Novellas are the rage these days and many people are writing them or putting together collections. I’ve got four tips here for how to write a novella, based on …