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Publishing Myths

You don’t have to write every day

March 3, 2014 by Nathan Bransford 55 Comments

One of the most persistent myths in the writing pantheon is that “serious” writers write every day. Like many myths, this one contains a kernel of truth, namely that many writers do write every day. The rhythm and discipline of sitting down every day is important to some writers, and many of them believe so […]

Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: Publishing Myths, Staying Sane While Writing

Why newsworthy events do not lead to newsworthy novels

August 14, 2013 by Nathan Bransford 17 Comments

Whenever there’s a big, surprising, newsworthy event like a strange kidnapping or someone blowing the whistle on a spy agency and going on the run to a quasi-dictatorship, I often hear from aspiring authors who happen to have a novel in the drawer that just happens to align with the news. These authors want to […]

Filed Under: Writing Advice Tagged With: Publishing Myths, writing advice

No, Agents and Published Authors Are Not “Working” For Publishers

August 21, 2012 by Nathan Bransford 41 Comments

There’s a popular idea that regularly floats around the bookosphere that literary agents and some prominent published authors not only like publishers, they’re actually working for publishers or are in bed with publishers (that’s a popular one) or are hopelessly beholden to publishers or have been kidnapped and brainwashed into thinking that maybe publishers aren’t […]

Filed Under: Publishing Industry Tagged With: publishing industry, Publishing Myths

These Past Few Weeks in Books 7/2/12

July 2, 2012 by Nathan Bransford 10 Comments

Where does the time go?? Well, strike that, in the past few days I know exactly where it’s gone, to moments like this out hiking in Point Reyes with Tahereh Mafi, Tana Gandhi and Randa Gill: I’ve been enjoying being done-done with Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp, so I may not have had […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Publishing Myths, Social Media, writing advice

Traditional vs. Self-publishing is a False Dichotomy

May 24, 2012 by Nathan Bransford 113 Comments

Us vs. them is fun. It gets people’s blood boiling. It instills fear. It’s thrilling to be on a team, especially when you feel like your team is winning. These days it seems like traditional and self-publishing are increasingly pitted against each other on blogs and forums, as if one side or the other is […]

Filed Under: Self-publishing Tagged With: publishing industry, Publishing Myths, Self-publishing

Be Wary of Anyone Who Tries To Tell You There’s Only One Way to Find Successful Publication

March 26, 2012 by Nathan Bransford 37 Comments

I have tweeted this before, but it’s worth saying this in a blog post and reiterating it once again for good measure: Be wary of anyone who tells you there’s only one way to go about the publishing process. There are as many ways to find success writing books as there are books. Anyone who […]

Filed Under: Business of Publishing Tagged With: publishing industry, Publishing Myths

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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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