Publishing

Most business is done by email these days. And why not? It’s convenient and it’s non-intrusive — you can write or respond to emails on your own schedule. I’ve noticed that many of us have even become phone-averse and actively avoid the phone in favor of email. But I think something has been lost when we…

1. Write primarily because it’s what you love to do. 2. Resist comparing yourself to others. When you find yourself doing it—pull yourself back, pray, meditate, practice mindfulness or whatever you do to find calm, and remind yourself of all the reasons comparison is futile. 3. Understand that getting published for the first time is…

I’ve been asked this question countless times. Several high-profile self-published books have made industry news when they were picked up by big publishers. It’s easy to imagine that editors and agents can now just sit back, watch the self-pub bestseller lists, and find all the “hits” they could ever want. But not so fast. Some…

Each day, we all receive countless bits of information, some useful, most not-so-much. Some of it comes in without our seeking it: billboards, radio commercials. Much of it enters our brains because we invite it: we listen to radio news, we watch television, we browse news websites, we read blogs. I am a voracious reader…

In this age of rapid change in publishing and expanding options for writers, I hear the question “Do authors need agents anymore?” more often than ever. While I can’t answer the question for any individual author, I can tell you that agents are busier than ever helping authors find their readers — one way or another.…

We’ve discussed various aspects of writing many times on this blog, including the importance of mastering the craft along with how crucial it is to have a terrific story (or for non-fiction, a strong, compelling topic). Having been an editor for years and an aficionado of both literary and genre fiction, I’ve always advocated the…

In my day-to-day work as an agent, I am the bearer of far too much “bad news” to authors. I strategize futures in an industry where the future is anything but certain. I answer unanswerable questions, balance realism with optimism, and do my best to soothe troubled souls. In my brand-new role as self-published author,…

*and Get Your Fans To Help YOU → You’ve got a book out, and you want to tell your friends and fans how they can help. → Or you have friends who are authors, and you want to see them succeed. → Or you have favorite authors whom you’ve never even met, yet you still…

Every couple of months I’m re-posting this helpful guide to finding what you need. Have you seen my DEFINITIVE post on How To Get Published? Have you ever wondered what you should say if an agent calls to offer representation? A great title is an important aspect of attracting an agent’s or editor’s attention. Here’s…

If you’ve ever queried agents, you’ve probably received pass letters with unhelpful lines such as, “this project is not a good fit for me.” Do you ever wonder what that really means? Many writers spend a lot of time trying to read between the lines of rejection letters and glean a hidden meaning. Well, just…

If you are a blogger, you owe it to yourself to study your blog stats at least annually, if not more often. It’s fascinating what you can learn and how much you can improve your blogging by paying attention to your traffic patterns. In just a few minutes of looking at my most popular post…

If you’ve been reading agent blogs for awhile, you’re aware that the agent-client relationship can be a wonderful, long-term, productive association. Like any important relationship, it’s not always easy — sometimes it takes work to make it succeed. It has a better chance of working if each of you has some understanding of what it’s like on…

As an agent, I spend a lot of time talking writers through the obstacles and difficulties — both tangible and emotional — of a publishing career. We’re constantly making important decisions together and solving problems. One thing that persistently thwarts a writer’s ability to stay positive and optimistic is the tendency to see a set of facts…

Here are some questions I’ve received from readers lately, and my brief answers. I’m stuck on my second draft. When is it a good idea to bring in an outside editor? You should bring in an editor when you can’t go any further on your own. Try a critique partner first—it will save you money…