Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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My blog has everything you need to know to write, edit, and publish a book. Can't find what you need or want personalized help? Check out my editing and coaching services.

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Check out a few of my most popular posts:

How to write a query letter

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How to write a query letter

April 4, 2018

In order to have a book published by a traditional publisher, you will likely need to know how to write a query letter to find a literary agent. A query letter is part business letter, part creative writing exercise, part introduction, part death defying leap through a flaming hoop. (Don't worry, you won't catch fire and die during the query…

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The publishing process in GIF form

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The publishing process in GIF form

August 27, 2012

At first you're thinking of writing a novel and you're all... But then you have an idea! And you go... But then you hit page 50 and you're all.... And then you hit page 75 and you're all... But you power through!!   And then you're finished!!! You have finished a novel!! Only then find out you have to start…

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How to write a novel

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How to write a novel

June 21, 2019

Let me preface this article on how to write a novel by saying that my book on the topic has all the best advice I know: How to Write a Novel: 49 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever. And if you need personalized help: Reach out for coaching or editing! How to write a novel.…

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Third person omniscient vs. limited vs. head jumping

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Third person omniscient vs. limited vs. head jumping

August 24, 2020

If a writing fairy popped out of an old typewriter and granted me the ability to fix one craft problem in all the unpublished manuscripts across the realm I would probably terrify it by how quickly I'd shout, "PERSPECTIVES! For the love of Melville fix the broken perspectives!!" You probably know there are three main perspectives to choose from in…

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Everything writers need to know about pitching their book

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Everything writers need to know about pitching their book

May 7, 2018

Like it or not, pitching your book is one of the most important things you'll do as an author. If you're trying to find a literary agent, you'll need to write a query letter. If you're self-publishing, you'll need to write good jacket copy (or at least know what good jacket copy looks like). When you're telling acquaintances what your…

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How to find a literary agent

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How to find a literary agent

March 20, 2018

If you want to have your book published by a publisher, chances are you are going to need an agent. Here's how to find a literary agent. Welcome to publishing, the land of books, writing, and agonizingly long waits. Pour yourself a drink. You're going to need it. In this post I'm going to give you an overview of how…

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Everything you need to know about novel word counts

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Everything you need to know about novel word counts

April 23, 2018

Ah, word count. Few elements of the book-writing process inspire such hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing as trying to constrain your novel within certain seemingly arbitrary bounds. In this post I'm going to tell you: Why word count matters for novelsStandard word count ranges for various genresThe word counts of some famous novels for comparison But before I do that, let me…

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Most recent posts:

Bloomsbury on the rise (This week in books)

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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 […]

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

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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 […]

An Unbound mess (This week in books)

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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 […]

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

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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 […]

A devastating censorship ruling (This week in books)

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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 […]

The messy copyright implications of A.I. slop (This week in books)

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This week! Books! First up, I’m going to be taking a blog break for the rest of May to recharge and do some traveling. I’m still very much open for business for manuscript edits, query/synopsis critiques, and consultations, so please feel free to reach out to me about that in the meantime. On to the […]