Something fun to watch today…featuring man’s best friend!
Imagine choreographing this and then hoping that all the actors cooperate!
A little like organizing a large writers conference! (?)
Archives for 2018
Your Obligation to Your Editor
You’ve done all the hard work of writing and pitching a book and now your agent has secured a contract for you. Congratulations! Now you’re set to work with an editor! You may have met the editor at a conference. You may have talked with the editor many times during 15-minute pitch sessions over several years. You may have attended their workshops and spotlight sessions at conferences. This may be …
Twenty-five More Quotes About the Writing and Publishing Process
In recent weeks I have posted a bunch of quotes about words, writers, and writing. But there are so many that I had to return to this proverbial well once more. Following are twenty-five more quotes, mostly about the writing and publishing process, which have been sent to me by friends hither and yon (mostly yon). “Reading maketh a full man; and writing an exact man” (Francis Bacon). “It’s …
Exciting Developments In Book Publishing
As changes in the marketplace require publishers, authors, and agents adapt continually, a number of entirely new initiatives and companies are springing into action to serve various parts of an ever-evolving industry. Here are some of the most interesting new things to keep on your radar: Elf-Publishing – as books become shorter, it’s natural for the elf-publishing industry to take root. …
Your Author Photo
A number of questions were raised when I wrote about the “bio” portion of a book proposal and suggested that you include an author photo. Here are some practical considerations. Make it Look Professional Quality photographers will tell you that background, lighting, how you look at the camera, and what you are wearing have a great influence on how the photo appears. I once saw an …
Fun Fridays – April 27, 2018
To those of you with an April birthday, “Happy Birthday!” Today’s video is a fun interpretation of the song if it had been composed by some of the world’s greatest classical musicians. Enjoy!
Your Part in Your Agent Relationship
Some writers want to work with an agent, but even after securing representation, don’t always take full advantage of the help an agent can offer. Agents appreciate authors not wanting to be high maintenance. However, it’s better to keep us in the loop than to leave us out. The expression, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies to so many situations that can occur! Manage …
How to Find Your Perfect Critique Partner
When I teach at writers’ conferences, the value of good critique partners often comes up. An insightful critique partner can help a writer improve the level of his or her craft, sometimes more than either person would have thought possible. The conversation often leads to the question, “How do I find such a magical being?” Chances are, it’s not your mom. Your spouse is probably not your best …
Change, We’ve Seen You Before
Change always seems to occur faster than you think but often slower than you think. Most things in society or life are at the same time dramatically different than they were a few years ago, but eerily similar to fifty years ago. If you are an observer or participant in the book publishing world, you can completely ignore certain trends and not be harmed at all. In fact, when you ignore the …
Writing Your Book Proposal Bio
I suspect that the last time you considered buying a non-fiction book you took a look at who the author was. It is a normal and natural thing. The same goes for your book proposal. The “About the Author” section of a non-fiction book proposal answers the question, “Who are you? And what right do you have to write about this topic?” It is not a place to recite your resume or Curriculum Vitae. Think …