by Kira Watson, Emma Sweeney Agency I hated reading, because, as my youngest brother so eloquently asked our mother, “Why do we have to read. It’s just words on paper?” Back then thirty minutes with a book was a punishment–cruel and unusual. To make the time pass–and not spend any of it reading–I would count … Read more
by Caitlin O’Connell We face a lot of rejection in life. As people pursuing creative fields, we face even more. We writers can expect dozens, if not hundreds, of rejections over the course of our careers, from agent rejections to editor rejections to bad reviews. But just because we know to expect them doesn’t mean … Read more
by Kristin Rockaway and Jennifer Johnson-Blalock Kristin Rockaway’s debut novel, THE WILD WOMAN’S GUIDE TO TRAVELING THE WORLD, is a smart, sexy, fun work of commercial women’s fiction that will be published by Center Street in June 2017. Kristin first queried Jennifer in June of 2015—here’s how our connection was made. KRISTIN: Before I queried … Read more
by Mary C. Moore Hopefully you are using this amazingly helpful site to find agents whose tastes align with your writing. And although your writing is by far the most important aspect of your submission, secondary, and almost as important, is how you present yourself as a potential client. Given this site is dedicated to … Read more
by Elizabeth May, Kensington Books How do you know if you’re ready to begin the querying process? It’s an exciting time for a writer and one that many rush into. So I put together a list of things to consider before you begin the journey that is sending out your novel for consideration. So here … Read more
by Carrie Pestritto, Literary Agent at Prospect Agency If you want to succeed as an author, you are probably going to have to promote yourself. This can be hard for introverted writers, but I’ve seen it again and again: my authors who perform the best are the ones who do a lot of work to … Read more
by Colleen Halverson “Have fun,” my husband called after me. “And don’t drink too much!” I snorted and grabbed my keys on the counter before stumbling out the door. A wave of heat blasted in my face, the temperature unseasonably warm for late September in Wisconsin. A line of perspiration beaded on my forehead, and … Read more
by Leila Campoli, Literary Agent, Stonesong Literary Whether you’re shopping around a personal memoir or a prescriptive guide, having the perfect pitch for your book is the most essential tool you have in crafting a wow-worthy proposal. This seems obvious and easy, right? Not always. Pinning down pitch and positioning can prove very difficult for … Read more
by Roseanne Wells, Agent at The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency In last week’s post, we talked about the history of magical realism. The components of this slightly nebulous genre can seem daunting and intangible, which makes it hard to determine if your book actually fits in this style. These are elements that I have … Read more
by Roseanne Wells I grew up reading Francesca Lia Block, passionately following Weetzie Bat and her band of misfits through this atmospheric, strangely delirious land called Los Angeles. I was swept away with Bless Me, Ultima, and I fell hard for Love in the Time of Cholera, The House of the Spirits, and Eva Luna. … Read more
