10 Things
| Editing
10 Things Editors Look for in Nonfiction
Got a terrific nonfiction project you’re trying to sell? Wondering if you have what it takes? Here are some signs of potential future success as a nonfiction author: 1. You’ve previously written a book that was at least mildly successful… maybe something like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 2. You have a recognizable…
Read More | Agents
10 Things to Expect from an Agent
(The Real Deal This Time) 1. Expect them to have a strong track record of selling books to legitimate publishers and/or experience in the publishing industry.→ Check Publisher’s Marketplace→ Ask around, ask other authors, ask others in the biz. Find out what books they’ve represented and check the acknowledgements page of those books.→ If they…
Read More | Writing
10 Exercises To Make You a Better Writer
or Get You Out of a Rut* 1. Read a chapter of your WIP aloud to someone other than your spouse, your children, or your cat. Invite feedback, if you’re brave. But mostly, just listen as you read. Do the words flow easily, roll nicely off the tongue? Do you stumble anywhere? Anything sound awkward?…
Read More | A Writer's Life
10 Really Good First Novels
Looking for some terrific holiday reading? Need some inspiration to get that first novel finished? Here is a list of 10 great books that were the first novel published by each of these authors. (In some cases, the only novel they published.) This isn’t meant to be discouraging. Every writer has a first book… sometimes…
Read More | Agents
10 Ways to Be a Dream Client
1. Reveal that you’re related to Harper Lee and that she has finally decided to publish her second novel and she wants you to recommend a good agent, preferably someone you’ve worked with and whose first name starts with the letter “R.” 2. Make sure spellchek is on when writing. 3. Start a blog dedicated…
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| Agents
10 Traits of a Good Agent
This is the first in my new “10 Things” series to (hopefully) appear weekly, for awhile anyway. If you have ideas for future “10 Things” posts, please let me know. Many of you might be looking for an agent… and it can be hard to know exactly what to look for in your literary representation.…
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