July 9, 2012
Author Offering Constructive Crit
Jessi Webb is offering her constructive criticism to all authors. Check out her blog for details.
July 10, 2011
Publishing info you need!
I know we just did a post by Rachelle Gardner the other day, but I couldn't not put this one in here.
Tonight she posted The Publishing Information You Need. It is simply fantastic! It answers so many questions that I don't even know where to start. How to create the perfect title for your book, what questions to ask if you get that call from an agent, to how write a book proposal. This post has it all.
All I can say is THANK YOU RACHELLE! You are amazing!
Tonight she posted The Publishing Information You Need. It is simply fantastic! It answers so many questions that I don't even know where to start. How to create the perfect title for your book, what questions to ask if you get that call from an agent, to how write a book proposal. This post has it all.
All I can say is THANK YOU RACHELLE! You are amazing!
Word Counts
This is a subject that is always in question. How long should my YA manuscript be? Fantasy? Romance?
Well, I found a post by the incredible and awesome Colleen Lindsay, that details what publishers and agents expect to see as far as word count goes. Now, like everything, there are exceptions to the rules but this is actually a great general list.
All new and revised: On word counts and novel lengths
I hope you find this as helpful as I did!
Well, I found a post by the incredible and awesome Colleen Lindsay, that details what publishers and agents expect to see as far as word count goes. Now, like everything, there are exceptions to the rules but this is actually a great general list.
All new and revised: On word counts and novel lengths
I hope you find this as helpful as I did!
July 9, 2011
High Concept
I should be getting ready for work, instead I am writing this quick note so I can share this blog post with you.
High Concept
Lori Wilde has written a fascinating look at what exactly is high concept. It's informative and helpful and if I had more time, I'd give details about how wonderfully she explains it all.
High Concept
Lori Wilde has written a fascinating look at what exactly is high concept. It's informative and helpful and if I had more time, I'd give details about how wonderfully she explains it all.
Are you addicted to finding a literary agent?
I just found this post on Nina Badzin's blog.
Are you addicted to finding a literary agent?
I am a new reader of Nina's blog but this article struck a chord with me and I felt I had to share. I am a bit obsessive when it comes to my agent research - I have lists of agents not just for me, but for Jessi and David too. I have purchased the latest Writer's market and attacked it with post-its and highlighters, I have bookmarked dozens of agent's sites, stalked them on twitter and read every blog post they put out. I have scoured Preditors and Editors and Absolute Write to get all the info I can on them.
So this article truly hit home with me. And I thought that it might for some of you as well.
Are you addicted to finding a literary agent?
I am a new reader of Nina's blog but this article struck a chord with me and I felt I had to share. I am a bit obsessive when it comes to my agent research - I have lists of agents not just for me, but for Jessi and David too. I have purchased the latest Writer's market and attacked it with post-its and highlighters, I have bookmarked dozens of agent's sites, stalked them on twitter and read every blog post they put out. I have scoured Preditors and Editors and Absolute Write to get all the info I can on them.
So this article truly hit home with me. And I thought that it might for some of you as well.
July 8, 2011
Neil Gaiman: Advice to Authors
Sometimes, the best advice a success-driven, unpublished author can receive is from a successful, published author. Neil Gaiman, the acclaimed author of American Gods and Coraline (among many others), offers advice to authors on the subjects of getting published, writing comics and editing.
July 7, 2011
Rachelle Gardner
Rachelle Gardner is another agent that seems to thrive on giving back to the publishing community. Her blog is absolutely filled with information and tidbits about the publishing industry but there is always a fantastic energy about it. You can tell from her posts that her blog is something she does because she enjoys helping others! So we absolutely had to include her on From Premise to Print. Her blog is one of the very first I check out every single day.
A couple days ago, she posted a blog about the editorial letter. She included a huge list of examples of what types of comments and what kinds of edits could be asked of an author before being published. It was an eye opener!
The Editorial Letter
A couple days ago, she posted a blog about the editorial letter. She included a huge list of examples of what types of comments and what kinds of edits could be asked of an author before being published. It was an eye opener!
The Editorial Letter
Query Shark
So you've finished your novel, it's beautifully polished and you've written the best query letter that has ever existed. Are you sure? Query Shark might have something to say about that. With her constructive criticism, unparalleled wit and honest intentions to help querying authors, Query Shark is an invaluable resource for writers who are beginning this scary process.
If you read through (every single post on the blog, as noted by the Shark), you may begin to realize that your first attempt is not your best. Neither is your second nor your third. Have you written your query in first person? Do you use rhetorical questions? Are you addressing the agent as 'Dear Person I'm Pretending to Know Very Well, but Really Don't Know At All' or 'Dear Agent.'? If you find yourself nodding your head, then please close this blog now and head over to Query Shark and have a look at the lucky folks who have had their queries posted from the chum bucket.
I've written my query letter four different times and I'm still not satisfied with it. Reading Query Shark has helped me prune away my unfailing ability to ramble, showcase the wrong aspects of my novel and telling instead of showing. With each new blog post, I learn something new from the Shark. We believe you will, too!
If you read through (every single post on the blog, as noted by the Shark), you may begin to realize that your first attempt is not your best. Neither is your second nor your third. Have you written your query in first person? Do you use rhetorical questions? Are you addressing the agent as 'Dear Person I'm Pretending to Know Very Well, but Really Don't Know At All' or 'Dear Agent.'? If you find yourself nodding your head, then please close this blog now and head over to Query Shark and have a look at the lucky folks who have had their queries posted from the chum bucket.
I've written my query letter four different times and I'm still not satisfied with it. Reading Query Shark has helped me prune away my unfailing ability to ramble, showcase the wrong aspects of my novel and telling instead of showing. With each new blog post, I learn something new from the Shark. We believe you will, too!
Absolute Write
If you intend on submersing yourself in the community of writers, the best place to start is by joining a local writing group or an online writing group. One of the most professed online writing groups around (and actually noticed by lit agents/editors/publishers, too!) is Absolute Write.
This forum is your gateway to advice on topics ranging from genre, grammar and writing interest to self-publishing, work-for-hire and a proclaimed 'writing lab.'
I cannot stress to you how important it is to fully submerge yourself in the publishing industry. Twitter, Blogger, Tumblr and yes, even forums, are a major player in your reputation as a serious author. As we've learned, agents (those admirable people who represent you to the key players in the business) are looking for writers who can produce a following and those who are willing to throw themselves into the mix of social networking.
This is the way of the future and Absolute Write is a terrific beginning step!
This forum is your gateway to advice on topics ranging from genre, grammar and writing interest to self-publishing, work-for-hire and a proclaimed 'writing lab.'
I cannot stress to you how important it is to fully submerge yourself in the publishing industry. Twitter, Blogger, Tumblr and yes, even forums, are a major player in your reputation as a serious author. As we've learned, agents (those admirable people who represent you to the key players in the business) are looking for writers who can produce a following and those who are willing to throw themselves into the mix of social networking.
This is the way of the future and Absolute Write is a terrific beginning step!
Bent on Books
The Bent Agency has an incredible blog that you can find fantastic tips and wonderful anecdotes. Jenny Bent is a very talented agent but two of my all time favourite posts aren't actually written by her. Instead she had two of her clients write for the series - How I Got My Agent.
How I got (the right) agent. At last. In spite of everything.
From Spreadsheet to Book Deal
Not only are they amazing stories to read, they also give us all hope that someday, that will be us. And let's be honest, we are writers. We can use every bit of positive energy we can find.
How I got (the right) agent. At last. In spite of everything.
From Spreadsheet to Book Deal
Not only are they amazing stories to read, they also give us all hope that someday, that will be us. And let's be honest, we are writers. We can use every bit of positive energy we can find.
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