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Can I Get A Ruling?

When You’re Not Liking a Book Do You Stop Reading or Power Through?

February 15, 2011 by Nathan Bransford 164 Comments

There are two types of people in this world. There are those who, when they realize they’re not enjoying a book, fling it against the wall or “lose” it on the subway or let it languish on a nightstand gathering dust. They don’t look back and consider life to short to waste on substandard reading […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, Reading Like a Writer

Can I Get a Ruling: How Do You Feel About Blogging Agents?

January 4, 2011 by Nathan Bransford 115 Comments

Yesterday I wrote a defense of agents who take the time to blog. But what do you think? Would you want an agent who blogs? Does an agent blogging make you more or less inclined to work with them? If you had a choice between agents, would it matter in your decision? There is a […]

Filed Under: Literary Agents, Social Media Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, Social Media

Can I Get a Ruling: How Do You Feel About Chapter Titles?

September 27, 2010 by Nathan Bransford 165 Comments

Oh, to title a chapter or just go ahead and call it Chapter 72. One of the perennial questions facing any writer. Do you notice chapter titles when you’re reading? Do you like them? Dislike them? Not even realize they’re there? Where do you stand? If you’re reading in an RSS reader or via e-mail, […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, How to Write a Novel

Can I Get a Ruling: Does Social Media Help Sell Books?

September 14, 2010 by Nathan Bransford 163 Comments

I’ve noticed what appears to be a percolating trend out there on the Internet: fatigue with social media. From people letting their blogs slide to celebrities quitting Twitter to an entire university taking a week off, it seems like quite a few people out there are needing a break from the web. Though, I suppose […]

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, Life of a Writer, Twitter

Can I Get a Ruling: How Do We Feel About Acknowledgments Sections?

July 29, 2010 by Nathan Bransford 154 Comments

This topic came up in the Forum recently, and I’m curious how The Readers At Large are thinking on the subject. What do we think about thanking the Academy? Do you like acknowledgment sections? Feel they’re self-indulgent? Touching? Do you notice? Not notice? If you’re reading in a feed reader or via e-mail, click through […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, How to Write a Novel

Can I Get a Ruling: How Do We Feel About Prologues?

May 25, 2010 by Nathan Bransford 200 Comments

Prologues are one of the most asked-about subjects in the publishingosphere. Do agents like them? Should I include mine in a partial? How many people dying at the hands of zombie mutants in the first page of my prologue is too many? And so on. My post on all things prologue is here. But what […]

Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: Can I Get A Ruling?, How to Write a Novel

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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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My Books

How to Write A Novel
Cover of How to Publish a Book by Nathan Bransford
Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapo
Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe
Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp

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