When talking with agents, editors, and even other writers, you often hear the question: What are your comps? Comparison (comp) titles are books that are similar to your manuscript. These comps help the other person quickly identify the type of book you have written. Comps can be very important for Read more…
Today I want to discuss writing a synopsis for literary agents and editors. A synopsis is a summary of the story’s plot, like an outline but more concise and in paragraph form instead of bullet points. This will probably be harder for you than writing your book. I know it Read more…
I’m embarking on the journey of traditional publishing, and the first step, after having a polished manuscript, is deciding whether or not you want an agent. Unless you’re only submitting to small presses that accept manuscripts directly from authors, I’d suggest getting an agent. And so, I am starting my Read more…
I recently opened a side business for developmental editing since I love dissecting stories and finding ways to make them stronger. Many authors have supplemental income because writing books is not always a lucrative business. While I think that is smart, that isn’t why I opened my editing business. I’ve Read more…
If you want to publish a book for the world to discover, you cannot bury yourself in your writing and then pop up into the world when it’s ready to be published. You have to be mindful of what is going on in the publishing industry. It’s important to know Read more…
I feel like I’ve read a million articles on how to do a book launch for a new release, and yet I still don’t feel like I have a clear picture of it. Despite the generic advice out there on the internet, I have finally found a solid method for Read more…
The most important part of any author marketing strategy is to build an email list through a newsletter. This gives you direct access to your readers without having to rely on a third party go-between. Newsletters vary in style, content, and frequency. The good news is there really isn’t a Read more…
This week is going to seem a little random in topics, but I wanted to share five online resources that have helped me on my author career. These are tools for any part of your author journey, whether you are building a brand, brainstorming a story, researching facts, or just Read more…
As I’m getting ready to finish my manuscript and send it out into the world, I’m gathering all the information I need for querying agents. One of the most popular questions agents ask is: Who is your audience? If you are like me, you don’t have a good answer. You Read more…
Let’s talk about defining your writing. I don’t mean genre, style, voice, or any of those other craft-imposed definitions. This post is about what you want to be known for in your writing. What will readers say about your stories? Readers will determine your place in history, and that is Read more…