The modern writer is as much artisan as artist, creating entertainment and elucidation from little more than imagination, research, and electrons. But creation may be the easiest aspect of the writer’s life, especially among those who write short stories “on spec,” with no guarantee of publication. Next comes the harsh and often painful process of […]
What first-time author doesn’t dream of landing a lucrative book deal with a big publisher, complete with a six-figure advance, a book tour, media spots, the works? As lovely as this sounds, the sad reality is, these days such deals are about as rare as global warming skeptics at a meteorological convention. Unless you are […]
Authors needs to be prepared. Literary agents reject about 97% of the manuscripts submitted to them. Here are some tips for writers from an experienced literary agent.
You’ve just completed your first novel. You’re convinced it’s the next great American classic, your Catcher in the Rye, the book that is so big and important you’ll never have to write another, content to spend the rest of your days as an eccentric recluse instead. Better yet, you’re certain that as soon as news […]
Book Editing Associates editors frequently work with self-published authors. Writers have myriad reasons as diverse as their books for self-publishing. Caroline Robinson self-published her first book and got to enjoy the satisfaction of “finishing” the book, which allows a writer to move on to the next work. In Caroline’s book, House of Mourning, House of […]
Do you wonder what kinds of stories editors at publishing companies are acquiring? Want to know what the trends are, what editors are looking for, and what they’re tired of seeing? There are several industry e-newsletters you can subscribe to free of charge.
First … make sure you follow the submission guidelines on the literary agent’s website!
After you’ve written a children’s book, you have to sell it. Try to accomplish one of the following tasks each week to help your labor of love blossom to life in the marketplace:
In The Inner Guru: Dreams Reveal Your Future, author John Desautels expands on his experience with dreams, with unique insights provided by examples from his more than forty years of dream study. This is a followup to his first book, a memoir, The Man Who Sees Tomorrow in His Dreams. In this new book, he includes […]
There are many online book retailers today, including Amazon Kindle, Apple iBookstore, Google, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and Lulu. Publishing has changed in just about every way in my lifetime, but one thing remains the same: the basic rules of good book design and typesetting (also known as page layout and composition). Main Text pages […]
Authors submit manuscripts in a hodgepodge of formats. Part of my job as a copy editor is to fix the formatting to publishers’ standards. Here’s how to format your novel or memoir so it looks professional.
It’s possible to market and sell manuscripts on your own, but literary agents are trained to negotiate and have existing contacts in the publishing world.