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One Agent’s Loves and Hates
I recently posted on social media about my (possibly unhealthy) love for em dashes—that is, the dashes that are the width of the letter m, often used to set off examples, explanations, or descriptions, as I did in this sentence. (See how beautiful it is?) An editor friend named Linda commented, “This is so me. I love the em-dash. Nothing aggravates me more when editing than when a writer …
Your Servant, Madame
I enjoy historical novels; and so I often see the greeting, “Your servant, Madame.” This charming salute makes me think of my life. How can I be a servant to you? Here are some thoughts: 1. Overarching Purpose: I chose to enter Christian publishing because I hope to serve the Lord. Christian publishing provides a key service to our community by offering readers faith-affirming, uplifting fiction …
Rookie Conference Mistakes: How to Avoid Missed Opportunities
“Stop talking, Megan Brown.” I could feel the heat flush in my face. This always happens to me. I realized I was unapologetically spilling my guts about the book idea in my brain without even pausing to breathe and completely dominating the conversation at this roundtable-style workshop. The look of sheer confusion on the mentor author’s face told me I was talking way too much, and I still …
Old MacDonald Had Some Help – A.I. – A.I. – Oh!
There is all sorts of talk about artificial intelligence and the ease with which a computer can create content with a mere prompt from a user. For those of us who read science fiction it cuts too close to the famous H.A.L. scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey or the rise of the machines in Terminator or the autonomous military robots in Keith Laumer’s BOLO series. I dare say we are not there yet, but …
Fun Fridays – June 23, 2023
Enjoy these definitions of “biblio!” Care to add any more? Do so in the comments. From A Passion for Books by Harold Rabinowitz, Rob Kaplan How about these? Bibliogrumpypants – A literary agent Biblionope – A literary agent Biblioparasite – A literary agent
Starting the Story. It’s a Process. What’s Yours?
Characterization (part 1) I don’t know how you start your stories, but mine always start with the characters. And while every writer has their own way of creating what will be a book in the end, I’m going to share a bit about my process. Keep in mind, this is what works for me. There is no right or wrong way to write a book. If it’s a book in the end, you did it the right way. So, characters. …
What Are Agents Looking for in a Proposal?
What is an agent looking for in a proposal? Well, they want to see your platform, your purpose, and your great writing. Platform Your platform is your reach and the number of readers you already serve. Are you blogging? Do you have a newsletter? If so, how many subscribers do you have? Do you share most of your writing on social media? How many followers do you have? Your platform should also …
Bestselling Books in 1988
Today is a look back thirty-five years to the books selling well in 1988. This type of information helps put the present in perspective. Best-selling titles in the broader book market can often indicate what society, in general, is thinking (and reading) at the time. Looking at Christian books during a certain period should also show something about the church. Doing so is another reminder that …
Handling Disappointment
I do not like to experience disappointment. I do not like rejection, even when it isn’t my personal project being turned down. I do not like to be the bearer of bad news. And yet I do experience disappointment, rejection, and the telling of bad news–every week. That is the nature of the arts. The arts (meaning music, writing, dance, and painting) are comprised of thousands of hours of …