Book Trailers

I’ve followed the book trailer phenomenon for a couple years and wanted to do a post. In 2003, it was just beginning; in 2006, there was lots of experimenting; in 2009, it seems here to stay and writers should take it as a given that they need a book trailer for trade books. Here’s some [...]

Test Submissions

Submit, Then Revise
At our spring conference, Jen Rofe, literary agent at Andrea Brown Literary spoke about sending out manuscripts.
The one thing that surprised me was her attitude toward submission and revision. Rofe said she usually sends out a mss to about five editors. Then, depending on the feedback, she’ll often ask the writer to [...]

Publicity tips

Publicity: Top 5 Things Every Author Should Do When a New Book Comes Out
This guest post is by Barbara Fisch & Sarah Shealy, Co-owners, Blue Slip Media, a children’s book publicity and marketing agency www.BlueSlipMedia.com

Current Contact List. Publicists at the major publishing houses are overworked and underpaid–they will welcome anything you can do to [...]

Generous Agents

The holidays and the end of the year are bringing out the generous nature of agents!
The 2nd Sort-of-Annual Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge

Deadline: 7pm. EST, Thursday, December 11, 2008.
Who: Literary agent Nathan Bransford, Curtis Brown, San Francisco office
What: Post the first paragraph of your WIP and compete for the prize of a partial critique, query [...]

Hook an Agent

Here’s a redux from Miss Snark’s archived website: how to write a great hook for a novel? You would use this short paragraph as you compose a cover letter or a query letter.
How to Write a Great Novel Hook
The indomitable Miss Snark suggested that you structure a hook for your story along these lines:
X is [...]

How to Contact an Editor

Everyone wants to know how to contact an editor because editors buy manuscripts.
How NOT to Contact an Editor

No cold calls. If you haven’t met an editor, do not call them and try to pitch a manuscript. You’ll just make them mad and the answer will be no.
No inappropriate submissions. You must [...]

2009 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market

Time to Market
It’s time to market those novels, nonfiction projects, picture books and magazine articles. And there’s solid help available in the 2009 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market which just hit the bookshelves.
This market guide is like a big telephone directory of publishers, including contact information, how to query, what types of books each [...]

Q&A: How Do I Find an Editor’s Name for Submission?

DH sends this question about finding the name of a submissions editor:

Q: How Do I Find an Editor’s Name for Submission?
Q: I enjoyed reading the tips for writers listed on your webpage. You mention that is important to list the name of the submissions editor; however, I am finding this piece of information extremely [...]

Are You Still Not Tracking Submissions?

Submissions
This week, I’ll talk about submissions.

Are You Still Submitting Before Revising?
Are You Still NOT Submitting?
Are You Still Submitting Blind?
Are You Still Singly Submitting?
Are You Still Not Tracking Submissions?

Manuscript Tracking Software
There are many ways to do this, including Excel or other spreadsheets. But I’m still using SAMM, written by KC (Kevin) Cummings and distributed FREE.
Valuable [...]

Are You Still Singly Submitting?

Get ready for my soapbox about submitting!
Submissions
This week, I’ll talk about submissions.

Are You Still Submitting Before Revising?
Are You Still NOT Submitting?
Are You Still Submitting Blind?
Are You Still Singly Submitting?
Are You Still Not Tracking Submissions?

Submitting a Manuscript is the Saleswoman’s Hat
Think about this scenario: You are a saleswoman for an auto company that specializes in [...]