A little bit of culture for your Friday viewing. Introducing ballet master Rudolph Nureyev and Swine Lake via “The Muppet Show.”
Three minutes of parody and hilarity!
Fun Fridays – Feb. 8, 2013
Blog
Changes or Opportunities?
What are you doing to counter and grow from the ongoing changes in the marketing of books?
I don't look at the changes as something to counter, but opportunities to reach an ever-increasing audience with excellent books. I am becoming more savvy about social media, because effective marketing by publishers is becoming more reliant on this new phenomena. I am working more directly with marketing …
The Writer as Editor: Tools to Use
As we’ve been discussing over the last few blogs, switching hats from writing to editing can be a bit…challenging. In fact, it can make you feel like your poor head is about to explode! However, you can make the process easier by following the tips from last week’s blog by not letting the editor and writer come out to play at the same time, and by giving yourself time away from the …
News You Can Use – Feb.5, 2013
Shocking Copyright Grab by School System - Anything a student writes as part of a class is owned, forever, by the school? So if a kid invents the idea of a better FedEx as part of a school project the school owns the idea. Or if he writes the first pages of what becomes later, the next "Harry Potter," the school owns the idea. (?!) Unbelievable.
Christian Writers Guild Adds Publishing Division …
Fun Friday’s – February 1, 2013
A delightful Disney animated short film (8.5 minutes long) that has been nominated for an Oscar.
Note that not a single word is spoken and yet volumes are being said.
Enjoy!
Ch-ch-ch-Changes
by Tamela Hancock Murray
More questions!
How are the revolutionary changes in the publishing industry affecting your effectiveness as an agent?
I believe literary agents are needed more than ever because the landscape has become increasingly bumpy for writers. For example, we have been working with publishing house contracts regarding digital issues and how they affect the definition …
The Writer as Editor
As we saw in my post last week, there are any number of ways a manuscript can go wrong. Hard enough to write a novel, but then to have to dig in and edit it yourself? That’s especially tough. So here are some tips to help you be the best editor you can be.
Don’t let the editor out to play too soon
Writing and editing are very different functions for the brain. Writing is a creative process; …
News You Can Use – Jan. 29, 2013
Barnes & Noble to Shut Down 200 Stores in Next Ten Years - This article will take you to the Wall Street Journal article (may need registration to view) where the CEO of Barnes & Noble's retail group Mitchell Klipper declared their intent to downsize. I heard the screams of the faithful. I heard the cackle of glee from the doomsayers. But then read behind the numbers. No CEO can truly …
Fun Fridays – Jan 25, 2013
The music...the audience...the joy of the performers....
Hope you have a big smile on your face.
Taking Your Questions
In my ongoing quest to address the needs of our blog readers, I am answering more questions authors have posed in the comments section of past blogs.
What publishers do you generally work with, and with which ones do you have the closest working relationship, or usually contact first? Which ones do you avoid? And why?
What I think you really want to know is, "If I sign with you, where will I …