Publishing

Will Literary Agents Really Read Your Query Letter?

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I recently received an email from a concerned writer about a statement I’d made in one of my previous posts. This writer has allowed me to use the email for the purposes of this article. Here is an extract: I saw this on your blog and was disturbed by the implications to say the least: [...]

Confessions of a Former Query Letter Addict

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Today’s post is written by Nina Badzin. Thanks, Nina! How do you know when you’re a query letter addict instead of a novelist? When you recognize yourself in the following scenario. You spent a year writing a novel and revised it twenty times. Armed with tips from agents’ blogs, you crafted such a compelling letter [...]

15 Resources for a Better Query Letter

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Thinking you’ll need to find a literary agent at some time in the near, or distant, future? There’s no time like the present to start researching the query process. Sure, a one-page letter seems insignificant in relation to the 300+ pages of your book, but don’t be deceived. Writing a successful query letter takes a [...]

Why Do You Want to Be Published?

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Last week I hosted a contest in which I asked readers to leave a comment telling me why it’s important to them to be published. Most of the comments cited personal satisfaction and helping others as main motivations. It got me thinking about the various reasons people have for wanting to write for publication, as [...]

Win a Copy of “The Complete Guide to Hiring a Literary Agent”

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It’s time to get real about your writing career. If you’re serious about writing, sooner or later you’re going to be looking for a literary agent to represent you. Finding an agent is a huge accomplishment in itself, but it’s really quite necessary in most circumstances. So, what does an agent do, and how do [...]

23 Websites that Make Your Writing Stronger

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We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. ~Ernest Hemingway How strong is your writing? No matter how good you think it is, there’s always room for improvement. In most cases, plenty of room. Luckily, there are some amazing websites out there that’ll help you take your writing to [...]

Writers Face Off on 13 Hot Topics

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A couple of weeks ago, we noticed there were certain topics writers just can’t agree on. Discussion seems to be a huge part of the writing life, especially because there are so many hot topics to choose from. And, as we move toward the digital age, I believe the number of friendly arguments will continue [...]

The 3 Things Writers Will Never Agree On

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Last week, I was thrilled to receive a message from literary agent Nathan Bransford, of Curtis Brown Ltd., letting me know I was one of 3 winners in his recent blogging contest. It was a tremendous honour to have my article, Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel? aired on Nathan’s website. The [...]