When I’m working with authors pursuing traditional publishing, a very common question often comes up: “When will I know it’s time to give up?” As in: when will the author know when it’s a “no” from the traditional publishing world and it’s time to move on to other options? This is a trickier question than […]
Literary Agents
Don’t outsource your agent search
Researching literary agents, compiling tidbits that help you personalize query letters, and staying abreast of submission guidelines are among the most tedious tasks you will face in the traditional publishing process. You still need to do it. And it’s a risky strategy to outsource the research. Writers who have been successful in other walks of […]
How to write a synopsis for a novel
Of all the things you will write throughout the publishing process, a synopsis may be what you dread the most. It’s not fun to have to shoehorn an entire novel into a relatively brief one-four page summary. But if you follow just a few relatively simple steps and follow the guidance in this post, it […]
A new tool for your literary agent search
One of the most common complaints I hear from authors is that it’s really difficult and time consuming to research literary agents. It is. I hear you. And since a good fit is so personal and subjective, there’s not a great way to outsource the research. But building your database of dream literary agents just […]
Comic-Con literary agent panel!
I was extremely psyched to participate in a fantastic Comic-Con@Home panel with Quressa Robinson (Nelson Literary Agency), Holly Root (Root Literary Agency), DongWon Song (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency), and Lars Theriot (Industry Entertainment)! We talked about everything from the nuts and bolts of what agents really do to the current publishing and film landscape. I […]
My guide to publishing a book
It’s here! I’m so excited to announce the publication of my guide to publishing a book: How to Publish a Book: 41 Rules for Successfully Publishing a Book That You Will Love Forever. It’s available as an ebook and in paperback. Whether you’re pursuing a book deal with a Big 5 publisher or trying your […]
