I was doing great on keeping up the blog, but then my husband’s birthday, my birthday, the flu, and an unexpected deadline took me by surprise. Since my big present for my birthday was the flu my son so thoughtfully gave me after I took care of him for a week, I decided the blog [...]
There’s a tricky thing about numbered lists that are doled out one number at a time — the last one is usually considered the most important. I wasn’t sure what was going to be number ten on my list until I wrote it. There were several contenders, but the myth that once you have an [...]
When the agent search begins, new writers cannot help but believe that any agent is better than no agent. After all, most publishers no longer accept unagented queries, so without an agent a writer is stuck at the velvet rope like a no-pass wannabe club goer, watching all the agented writers getting their manuscripts considered, [...]
We’ve discussed that some writers see the agent as an employee, and what they need to look for in an agent-employee. Now we’ll discuss what those who see an agent as a partner need to look for. [NOTE: For those of you who can't understand both positions can be equally right, all I can say [...]
I’m interrupting the Top Ten again to talk about a most interesting truth about looking for an agent (and a publisher…and a boyfriend/girlfriend/job/sale/mentor etc.). Let me back up a week. I was pulling pork for dinner, and listening to NPR as is my wont during my kitchen duty. “This American Life” came on, one of [...]
Gearing up for an agent search requires some mental preconditioning. Depending on who you are and how you approach life, you may take the approach of some writers and consider you are hiring an employee. Someone who works for you. If you’ve ever nodded when you heard a writer say, “the agent works for you,” [...]
A screenwriter has made some news by using the f word when complaining about people asking him to read their scripts. He makes some good points, but most of them are buried in his anger. I’m not going to link to him. I’ll just summarize: stop asking me to read your script because I hate [...]
Agents advise often advise writers to follow the market, and put out a list of “hot” books they are in need of. This advice can be confusing to new writers (and to seasoned vets like me, I confess it). Following the market does not mean writing to the market. Writing to the market can be [...]
Today’s schedule of agent search posts is interrupted due to previously scheduled events (which means I’m off having fun!!). If you’re anywhere near Bar Harbor, Maine today, come to the Book Festival (at the Municipal Building on Cottage Street). Let’s hope the day is beautiful. Tomorrow, if I’m lucky, I’ll have pictures.
When I began thinking about submitting a short story for publication, I was shocked at how many writing magazines and other writers emphasized correct format (typed, double-spaced, Courier, 12 point, 1 inch margins, no staples, bindings, etc.). Some of the formatting “rules” made sense — after all, who wants to read five hundred hand written [...]
