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Sangeeta Mehta
A former acquiring editor of children's books at Little, Brown and Simon & Schuster, Sangeeta Mehta (
@sangeeta_editor
) runs her own editorial services company.
Find out more at her website.
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First-Page Critique: How to Elegantly Reveal Character Motivations
Evocative scene-setting can be wonderful, but be careful of letting it get in the way of your story’s action and ...
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October 25, 2023
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Ask the Editor
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Creativity
First Page Critique: How to Better Establish the Tone in Your Opening
When a book is being pitched as a murder-mystery with comedic undertones, it’s important to seed those elements in the ...
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August 8, 2023
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Ask the Editor
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Guest Post
First Pages Critique: Reduce Repetition to Better Seed the Mystery
In a new feature, our Ask the Editor column reviews the first pages of an unpublished work ...
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May 18, 2023
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Ask the Editor
First Pages Critique: How to Better Establish Your Setting
In a new feature, our Ask the Editor column reviews the first pages of an unpublished work ...
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March 9, 2023
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Ask the Editor
Before You Hire a Developmental Editor: What You Need to Know
Three editors discuss the types and stages of editing, whether publishing industry experience matters, hiring guidelines and much more ...
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December 15, 2022
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Guest Post
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Working with Editors
How Are Books Adapted for the Screen? Two Agents Demystify the Process
Two agents discuss the importance of retaining film rights, option types, author involvement in adaptations, and much more ...
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August 10, 2022
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Literary Agents
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TV/Film and Other Media
How Important Is Genre When Pitching and Promoting Your Book?
Two literary agents discuss the usefulness and limits of assigning a genre to writing, and how it’s perceived by publishers ...
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February 23, 2022
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Queries & Synopses
Should You Publish Your Book with a Small Press? Two Literary Agents Advise
Literary agents Michelle Brower and Jennifer Chen Tran discuss the pros and cons of small presses, querying strategy, and much ...
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August 16, 2021
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
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Small and Independent Publishers
Literary Agents Discuss Foreign Rights and the International Book Market
Literary agents Priya Doraswamy and Carly Watters discuss foreign rights, translation logistics, a book’s chances abroad, and much more ...
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November 24, 2020
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
Writing, Pitching & Promoting in the Age of the Coronavirus
In this Q&A, agents Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel and Leslie Zampetti tackle the complications of authorship and literary citizenship in ...
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June 16, 2020
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Guest Post
,
Improve Your Writing
What Does It Mean to Be A Full-Time Author?
In this Q&A, literary agents Jim McCarthy and Paula Munier discuss the priorities and responsibilities—to yourself and to others—of being ...
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January 7, 2020
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Author Earnings & Careers
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Guest Post
How to Establish a Long-Term Writing Career: Insight From Two Literary Agents
For some authors, a single book deal is validation enough. For others, it's the beginning of a lifelong journey through ...
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August 8, 2019
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Author Earnings & Careers
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Guest Post
Beyond Good Writing: Two Literary Agents Discuss What Matters Most
Good literary agents keep fighting for books they believe in. But how do agents decide which authors to rep? In ...
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April 16, 2019
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Getting Published
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Guest Post
Switching Literary Agents: Two Agents Offer Advice
If you’re a writer, how do you know if it’s worth the risk of leaving your current agent? Does past ...
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November 28, 2018
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
The Rewards and Challenges of Self-Publishing Children’s Books: Q&A with Four Authors
A Q&A on children's self-publishing with authors Zetta Elliott, who has released several books under her own imprint, including picture ...
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August 1, 2018
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Author Q&A
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Self-Publishing
Starting Later & Starting Over: Launching a Writing Career When You’re No Longer “Young”
Seven-figure deals seem to be given to more 20-something debut writers than debut writers in any other age group, yet ...
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May 14, 2018
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Author Earnings & Careers
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
Ethics & the Literary Agent: What Rights Do Authors Have?
What should writers do if they feel that an agent isn’t honoring their obligations, contractual or otherwise? What's the best ...
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November 30, 2017
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
How Do Literary Agents Approach Diversity?
How do agents—generally considered the gatekeepers to publishing companies—approach the issue of diversity in the publishing industry? ...
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May 30, 2017
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
Literary Agents and the Hybrid Author: A Conversation with Bob Mecoy and Kristin Nelson
Sangeeta Mehta interviews agents Bob Mecoy and Kristin Nelson about how agents can assist the hybrid author ...
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August 8, 2016
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Guest Post
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hybrid author
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hybrid publishing
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literar
Shepherding a Self-Published Picture Book to Success: A Conversation with Literary Agent Brenda Bowen
Sangeeta Mehta interviews agent Brenda Bowen about the success of the children's picture book Sweet Pea & Friends: The SheepOver ...
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January 26, 2016
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book marketing and promotion
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children's books
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children's market
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children's publishing
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
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literary agents
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self-publishing
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Self-Publishing
The Agent’s Role in the Digital Age: A Conversation with Jessica Faust
Literary agent Jessica Faust discusses how she helps authors self-publish ...
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November 30, 2015
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book packagers
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
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literary agents
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pseudonyms
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self-publishing
Is Self-Publishing a Viable Option for Literary Fiction Writers?
Should literary writers consider self-publishing? How it might affect their long-term careers? Two agents weigh in ...
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May 27, 2015
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agents
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e-books
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Literary Agents
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literary fiction
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Self-Publishing
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self-publishing
The Business of Self-Publishing Children’s Picture Books: Two Literary Agents Weigh In
Two literary agents offer their thoughts on the self-publishing of children's books and what the future of the picture book ...
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March 4, 2015
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children's books
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children's publishing
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digital books
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e-publishing
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ebooks
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illustrated books
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Literary Agents
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picture books
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Self-Publishing
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self-publishing
Should Children’s Book Authors Self-Publish?
Note from Jane: Today's guest post is by Sangeeta Mehta (@sangeeta_editor), a former acquiring editor of children's books at Little, ...
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November 24, 2014
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children's books
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Guest Post
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Literary Agents
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middle grade
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Self-Publishing
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self-publishing
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YA
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young adult