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.

How to rein in wandering characters

Sometimes as writers we don't really know what's going to happen next. Even the best outliner may find their characters wandering straight off the map. There may be stretches in a novel when we have to write our way toward figuring out what's supposed to happen. Letting your characters wander can be very productive! It usually means you're listening to…

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Book orgs call out HarperCollins silence (This week in books)

This week! Books! Murdoch-owned publisher HarperCollins was a very notable non-signer of a letter from major publishers speaking out against the Trump administration's move to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an institution that provides crucial support for the nation's museums and libraries. Advocacy organization Authors Against Book Bans, the HarperCollins union, and many librarians, booksellers, and industry…

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Are we losing the nascent democratization of books?

When I heard that Southwest Airlines will soon be eliminating its esoteric-but-efficient boarding system, likely in favor of more premium offerings, I notched it as a big loss: It's one of the last communal experiences in American society that hadn't yet been ruthlessly stratified by class. Now, sure, you have to be rich enough to buy a plane ticket in…

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Meta argues pirated books have no economic value (This week in books)

This week! Books! The U.S. Naval Academy’s library has banned books like I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, while Mein Kampf and white supremacist texts remain on the shelves. I wonder why. Twelve students and the ACLU have sued defense secretary Pete Hegseth over the rules, and separately,…

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The answer is always community

I'm on record saying that the solution to every problem that ever existed is to keep writing. That doesn't mean you can solve everything alone. We live in perennially stressful times, and the writing vocation is uniquely challenging. You are not likely to be chased by a pack of wild hyenas in the throes of writing (though if you are,…

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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
About My Books

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