Publishing
Publishing
|5 Things Writers Should Know Right Now
I’m blogging at Books & Such today. Here’s a preview of the post: As everyone in publishing deals with a rapidly changing environment, replete with opportunities as well as disappointments, it’s easy to lose sight of the overarching truths that can serve to keep us centered. I think it’s important to go back to basics…
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|All the Publishing Information You Ever Wanted
Many of you have been reading my blog for a while, but you might not be aware of how much information is available in my archives. Just as a refresher, I wanted to highlight some posts you might find helpful. Have you seen my DEFINITIVE post on How To Get Published? Do you need to…
Read More A Writer's Life, Publishing
|Letting Go of Scarcity Thinking
I have noticed that our culture is permeated with scarcity thinking, and the world of books and publishing is no exception. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? ♦ Another author just got a 2-book deal. That’s two less spots for me. ♦ An agent just announced a new client. There goes my shot. ♦ Look how many…
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|Should Authors Read Their Own Reviews?
I was reading the blog of an author who had decided to never, ever look at reader reviews of her own books. She gave good reasons for her choice, and I admired her resolve. I also wondered how realistic it would be to never read your own reviews. It’s an issue each writer has to face. How…
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|Winner of the Joke Contest
Thanks to everyone who submitted jokes to our contest last Friday! If you didn’t get a chance to read them, definitely click through for some laughs. Today I’m announcing the winner. But first, I have to share some honorable mentions: Best joke for Word Nerds… from Jenni Wiltz: This one’s in honor of Mother’s Day:…
Read More Agents, Publishing, Writing
|Telling Your Personal Story
Dear Rachelle, People are always telling me, “You should write a book!” For years I have been ignoring them, but more and more people are telling me that I shouldn’t let my experiences be wasted, that I need to share them because they are not only inspirational, they will make people laugh, make them cry, and…
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|Go Ahead, Make Me Laugh
Things have been a little serious here on the blog lately, so I think it’s time to lighten things up. How about you tell me some jokes? And how about a PRIZE for my favorite joke? Here’s what we’ll do: You share a good joke (not dirty) in the comments. Everyone will read them and laugh, getting…
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|Agents Represent Authors
I’m a literary agent. I advocate for authors. That’s my job, it’s what I choose to do, and I enjoy doing it. Every day I’m grateful for my partnership with so many talented writers. I consider it my privilege to assist them in reaching their publishing goals. I work hard to understand their needs, priorities,…
Read More Publishing, Self-Publishing
|Will My Publisher Let Me Self-Publish Too?
These days, I’m sensing that many authors are gung-ho to write and publish as much as possible. Now that the term “hybrid author” has been coined, referring to those who are both traditionally and self-published, everyone thinks they want or need to be one. As one author put it, “It seems like the time is now! It’s…
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|Never, Never, Never Lose Your Work!
I received a panicked email from a client—and this was serious panic. His computer had crashed and died; his external backup was corrupted. His manuscript—the one he’d been writing for months—was due to the publisher in a couple of weeks. And it was GONE. Just…pffft. Gone. All of his hard work. All his moments of epiphany,…
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|3 Things You Need for a Successful Book
I was going to title this post, “3 Things Publishers Look for in a Book,” or maybe “3 Things Agents Look For.” But then I realized that the three keys of a successful book apply across the board. It doesn’t matter you’re using an agent, if you’re going through a publisher, or even if you’re…
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|Busting Publishing Myths
One of the best things about the Internet is that it’s so easy to find information. One of the worst things about the Internet . . . is that it’s so easy to find information. Much of the information is misinformation. So let’s bust some myths. Myth: Getting published is a catch-22. You need to be published…
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|Give Customers What They Want?
Lessons from Steve Jobs, part 2 As I wrote in Monday’s post, I found Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs to be full of insights about life and business — not all of them revolutionary, but presented in such a way as to have maximum impact. I found myself asking how or if each of Jobs’s…
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|When the Sales Guys Run the Company
Lessons from Steve Jobs, part 1 Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs has been out for a year and a half, and I finally committed to reading it. It’s a big book! The hardcover is 656 pages and the Audible version is over 25 hours, but worth every single minute. I got so much out…
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