There are two ways to get in front of agents and editors about your book: a query or a pitch. I’ve already discussed query letters so today we’re going to focus on pitches. Let’s start with what a pitch entails, and then go into how to prepare for one and Read more…
Last week we discussed writing query letters, and now I want to turn our attention to submitting them. There are several strategies for how to query agents, but I’ve found one method seems to be favored about the rest. While you are welcome to submit letters one at a time Read more…
A query letter is such a fickle thing. There is no perfect formula you can use to guarantee you get a literary agent’s attention, but there are best practices you can follow to give your manuscript the best chance. I’ve done a lot of research on how to write a Read more…
A logline and a tag line are two different things, but they both serve to get people interested in your story. One talks about the story plot; the other reveals its tone. Yet both should hook a reader to want more. Let’s look into each of these lines and how Read more…
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…
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…
This week I’ve learned some insider information about publishing houses: the hierarchy of authors and how to climb it. There seems to be six levels of authors in a publishing house: newbie, proven, midlist, lead, super lead, and apex. Let’s take a closer look at each. 1. Newbie Author A Read more…