“But what does that even MEAN?” For writers in the “query trenches” this is a common question upon receiving a query rejection that has feedback attached. While we literary agents try to keep our thoughts clear and concise, it may …
Queries
Should Writers Query Literary Agents During the Holidays?
One of the questions I see most in online spaces among writers is some iteration of, “Is it worth my time to query literary agents during the holidays—are they even reading queries?” I can’t speak for all literary agents, but …
Should Writers Query Literary Agents During the Holidays?Read More
How Do We Find New Clients?
At Books & Such Literary Management it is important for us to find authors who have saleable projects. No agency is ever closed to new clients. Some of our clients stop writing, some stop selling, and sometimes the market is …
Random Agent Thoughts
Yes, this is a blog post of random agent thoughts.
A few weeks after my father’s heart stopped beating for the last time, we discovered among his office files a three-ring binder labeled “497 Random Thoughts.” Over the course of …
What Are Literary Agents Looking For in a Writer?
As a writer getting published can be a frustrating task, especially when it comes to finding a literary agent to represent your work. A literary agent plays a crucial role in the publishing process, acting as a bridge between writers …
Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing BIPOC Characters or Stories
“If I add a BIPOC character to my novel, will it improve my chance of finding a traditional publisher?”
I’ve been asked that question several times over the years. There are several motivations behind posing it. However, I believe that …
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Ready, Set, Send
It’s not far into childhood before we learn the “Ready, Set, Go!” game. Parents, arms extended, could simply say, “Jump!” and the toddler would happily respond. But even the rhythm and anticipation of “Ready” (not yet), “Set” (not quite), and …
How to Make a Literary Agent Smile
When you imagine a literary agent behind his or her desk, what kind of expression do you see on their face? Depending on how you feel about your recent interactions with a literary agent, you may imagine a grumpy face, …
Hidden Treasure on Back Covers
While Amazon or other online retailers can deliver our books in one or two days, there is one experience that online retailers will never be able to deliver: the thrill of flipping our wrist to see the back cover.
When …
Six Phrases to Avoid in Your Query
Finishing a query is big deal! You’ve spent hours in front of your computer wrestling the words that capture your passion, imagination and life experience into a query letter.
To give your dream the best chance of getting an agent …