Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

Helping authors achieve their dreams

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Helping authors achieve their dreams.

I'm Nathan Bransford, author, editor, and former literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. I'm dedicated to helping authors find their voice, hone their craft, and pursue successful publication.

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Book Editing You Can Trust

I've been in your shoes.

As a published author and former literary agent who has worked with NY Times bestselling authors, I bring a unique perspective to the book editing process, combining insider industry experience with an author's sympathetic ear.

My services include

Manuscript editing & critiques
Query critiques
Social media & marketing consulting
Coaching on navigating the publishing process
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A few authors I've worked with...
Shadowshaper
by Daniel José Older,
a NY Times bestseller
Rock Paper Tiger
by Lisa Brackermann,
one of Amazon's top 100 novels of the year
Try Not To Breathe
by Jennifer Hubbard,
received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus
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Recent Posts

My blog is a free resource for everything you need to know how to write, edit, and publish a book.

Bloomsbury on the rise (This week in books)

This week! Books! Some things are bigger than books and writing, and this feels like one of those weeks. The photos and videos out of the Los Angeles area are lurid and unsettling, no matter your political vantage point, and I guess that's kind of the point in our eyeballs-are-money-and-power era. Even a mile away from the protests you'd be…

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Think more about whether you like a prospective agent than whether the agent will like you

Researching literary agents is an absolutely crucial step in the traditional publishing process, and I personally believe there are no good shortcuts. You're essentially searching for a (hopefully) long term business partner who will have enormous influence over your burgeoning literary career. A good agent can help you immensely. A bad agent is worse than having no agent. And there's…

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An Unbound mess (This week in books)

This week! Books! I'm experimenting with a new hybrid format with the links with titles, publications, and commentary when applicable. Let me know what you think! After Unbound’s Collapse, Boundless Faces Uphill Battle to Rebuild Trust - Ed Nawotka, Publishers Weekly / Unbound/Boundless Co-Founder Apologizes After Resignation - Katy Hershberger, Publishers Lunch - After Unbound collapsed, reformed as Boundless, and…

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Your protagonist's plans are useful, especially when they don't pan out

When I'm editing novels, one of my most common margin notes--particularly at the start of scenes--is "What's the plan here?" Providing the reader with insight into a character's plans is an incredibly powerful storytelling technique. Plans build anticipation and suspense. They give the reader a sense of what's at stake if the character succeeds or fails. And if the plan…

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A devastating censorship ruling (This week in books)

The last few weeks! Books! I'm back! Though I'm quite busy catching up, and extraordinarily jet-lagged. Today's collection of links will be presented mainly in list format, but there are lots of good ones. Enjoy! Appeals Court Reverses Ruling in Texas Book Ban Case - Nathalie op de Beeck, Publishers Weekly - An extremely disappointing ruling that could open the…

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My Books

Check out my guides to navigating the writing and publishing process!

How to Write a Novel

The most important thing to know about writing a novel is this: you can do it. Here's How

How to Publish a Book

Ready to pursue a book deal with a Big 5 publisher or try self-publishing? Get Started

I'm also the author of the Jacob Wonderbar novels, a space adventure series for middle-grade readers.

Jacob Wonderbar Cosmic Space Kapow Jacob Wonderbar For President Jacob Wonderbar and Interstellar Time
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