Image: a hiker wearing a backpack climbs over the locked gate of a fence in a rural area.

The Case for Pursuing a Traditional Publishing Deal Without an Agent

Kicking off your publishing career with a small press is a great way to get to know the industry, build your author profile, and establish a reputation.
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Researching the Right Literary Agents for You

When seeking an agent, it helps to research what they've actually repped and sold versus what they claim they’re looking for.
Image: an illustration of a row of people whose faces are seen from the side. From their heads emanate a series of white cartoon-style thought bubbles, which morph into a flock of sheep.

Agents and Editors Aren’t Always Right About Market Potential

It doesn’t bode well for the publishing industry’s future when acquisition decisions are based solely on an author’s past sales history.
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How to Turn an Essay into a Book Deal

In marketing, “proof of concept” means testing an idea for sales potential before going all-in. Here’s how to apply that to your book.
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What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Parade

All hail the newly published author—or not. When your book’s released but there’s no parade or marching band, here are some other takeaways.
Image: an illustration by K. Woodman-Maynard of herself seated at her desk, painting spreads of her graphic novel, with her cat curled asleep beside her.

How to Land an Agent for a Graphic Novel

While artists don’t necessarily need an agent to get into comics, these tips will help graphic novelists seeking traditional publication.
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How My Newsletter Helped Me Land an Agent and a Big Five Book Deal

While a newsletter might not sell your book, writing one can change your work for the better and help build valuable relationships.
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What Makes a Novel Stand Out on Submission?

Stories with a real sense of meaning don’t merely stand out in the slush pile—they’re the types of stories that make for a better world.
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The Right Way to Ask a Published Writer for Publishing Advice

Here are some tips on what to do before approaching a published writer with questions about how to get your book published.
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When Your Publisher Gets the Cover Wrong—Very Wrong

If your publisher’s suggested cover design feels wrong, put your foot down when necessary but also listen—really listen—to the professionals.
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How to Write Nonfiction When You’re Not an “Expert”

Worried you’re not enough of an expert to write your book? That’s OK. You don’t need to be the annoying expert who knows it all. There’s another—far more effective—approach you can take when talking to readers.
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How to Differentiate Between Desire and Desperation in Pursuit of Publication

Submitting work shouldn’t be an act of desperation, and not every publishing deal aligns with your goals for your book—your “why”.
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How Bad Publishers Hurt Authors

When her indie publisher goes AWOL, an author finds the community and resources she needs to pick up the pieces and persevere.
3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries

3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries

Memoirists have a lot of leeway in choosing a pitching strategy. But with freedom comes great responsibility, and it's easier to get into trouble when there isn't a tried-and-true formula to follow.
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How to Pitch Like a Hollywood Pro

How to put your best foot forward, from the new book PITCH LIKE HOLLYWOOD: What You Can Learn from the High-Stakes Film Industry.
To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do

To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do

To achieve writing success—especially commercial success—requires an inner drive that pushes you forward no matter what feedback you receive.
2023-2024 Key Book Publishing Paths by Jane Friedman

The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2023–2024

Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project.
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book

Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book

This is an introductory guide to the major self-publishing options available to authors today, and how to choose the right service for you.
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The Peer Review Process: What Sets University Presses Apart

During peer review, expert scholars evaluate your proposal. Their suggestions can improve your book if you synthesize them thoughtfully.
Your Final Responsibility to Your Story: Creative Stewardship

Your Final Responsibility to Your Story: Creative Stewardship

When you’ve finished your story, it’s time to step into a stewardship role to place it in the best position to connect with readers.
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What If It Takes 12 Years to Get an Agent?

What keeps many writers from a book deal isn’t a polished manuscript or proposal. It’s a sense of the publishing landscape as it really is.
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How I Landed a Book Deal Via Twitter—Unintentionally

For one unagented author, landing a publisher was a result of preparation, transparency, and a well-developed network.
Fiona Higgins

A Successful Author Was Rejected By Her Publisher. Here’s How She Found Another.

When big publishers rejected a book due to marketing concerns, one author forewent an advance to work with an indie that saw potential.
Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don't Sell

Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don’t Sell

If you want to land a traditional publishing deal, then market conditions—and your position in that market—will affect your chances.
Sarah Chauncey

How One Author Landed a Publishing Deal for a Gift Book: Q&A with Sarah Chauncey

The debut author discusses writing an illustrated book for adults, platform building, and listening to the little voice inside.
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I Spent Nearly Two Decades Writing and Editing My Book. It Finally Found a Publisher.

Perseverance isn’t just about finding the right agent or publisher—it’s also about refining your work into the best version of itself.
What Your First 50 Pages Reveals

What Your First 50 Pages Reveals

To gauge your manuscript’s pitch-readiness, turn a critical eye to the query letter, synopsis, and first fifty pages.
Message inside a glass bottle washed up on the beach

Are Editors Responding to Submissions During Coronavirus?

Despite the pandemic, getting that proposal off your desk allows you to shift your energy to platform—a bigger deal than most authors realize.
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How Do Publishers Decide Which Books to Bet On?

Every book is a gamble, and publishers ask the same two questions any capitalist or gambler asks: how much should we stake, and how much might we profit?
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What I’ve Learned Writing Middle Grade Nonfiction

Librarians and teachers are clamoring for more history nonfiction for younger students. Author Tim Grove offers tips on writing to this unique segment.
how to write a novel synopsis

How to Write a Novel or Memoir Synopsis

Learn how to craft a strong novel synopsis, while avoiding the most common mistakes, including the dreaded "synopsis speak."
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Here’s a System and Template for Tracking Your Submissions (Bonus: It Reduces the Sting of Rejection)

You can't control rejections, but you can control your next steps. Staying organized and focused helps isolate and minimize the impact of any one rejection.
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The Complete Guide to Query Letters

The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only: to seduce the agent or editor into reading or requesting your work. The query letter is so much of a sales piece that it's quite possible to write one without having written a word of the manuscript. All it requires is a firm grasp of your story premise.
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Why Do Writers Hire Book Coaches?

Book coaching is much more than editorial support. Coaches help clients complete a transformation—from someone who wants to write a book into someone who has created a book they are proud of.
morning coffee

5 Common Story Openings to Avoid—If You Can Help It

While it's not wrong to open in these ways—and a great writer can make even the most pedestrian series of events read as fascinating—consider if you can find a more advantageous way to begin.
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7 Common Mistakes in First-Time Memoir

Readers come to a memoir in hopes it will shed light on their own life experiences. Stay on the right track by focusing on what makes your story unique and engaging.
Racing snails near the finish line

What Happened After I Lost My Agent—Twice

A series of setbacks can easily lead to feelings of failure. In this guest post, author Rachel Pieh Jones offers lessons on overcoming discouragement, refocusing, and getting back on track.
Net Success: Catching a Publisher

How I Caught a Publisher Unexpectedly

Writer Nancy Jorgenson tells her story of surprise success in landing just the right publisher for her book—one she had never heard of.
Margaret McMullan memoir

Getting a Memoir Published in a Difficult Market: Q&A with Margaret McMullan

Even a well-published and successful author can have a difficult time finding a home for a memoir. Margaret McMullan discusses her path to publication.
winning essay contests

How I Won My Third Essay Contest

Writing an essay that wins a contest is not an easy task, but it’s not impossible either. Tammy Delatorre explains the writing and revision process that has led to multiple contest wins.
Linda Camacho and Jennifer Soloway

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 this guest Q&A, literary agents Linda Camacho and Jennifer March Soloway describe their ideal projects and offer strategic advice for authors.
literary journals

Simplify Your Submissions to Literary Journals

The commonly accepted strategy in literary journal submissions—"study the publications you submit to"—can discourage emerging writers. Here's an alternative.
platform unpublished

Building a Platform for Your Work When You’re Unpublished

When I finished my biography, I studied how to get it published. Websites advised: platform, platform, platform. But I had no relevant background. Now what?
balance budget

Balancing Your Submission Budget for Literary Journals

Although the world of submissions can be complex and expensive, balancing your submission budget doesn't have to be. Here are some tips to help you minimize expenditures and maximize profit.
literary journals

Lit Mag Resources You Can’t Do Without

Today's guest post is by Jenn Scheck-Kahn, founder of Journal of the Month. Literary magazines, also called literary journals or
What It Really Takes to Break Through with Your First Book Deal

What It Really Takes to Break Through with Your First Book Deal

In many ways, it’s never been harder to get a traditional book deal. At the same time, there have never been more ways to establish a career as an author.
should you typset your own book

Can You (Should You) Typeset Your Own Book?

If people judge books by their covers, then typesetting is the difference between a brief or a lasting impression. The cover may grab a reader’s eye, but what the reader sees when they crack open the book is what will hold their attention.
Find a Literary Agent

How to Find a Literary Agent for Your Book

A step-by-step guide to finding literary agents, plus how to select the right agent for you and your work.
how and why to edit anthology

How and Why to Edit an Anthology: Addressing the Naysayers

Anthology advances are small, contributors have little stake in the sales of the book, and branding a collective group is hard. But anthologies are still valuable and worth the effort. Here's why.
why traditional publishing

Why Pursue Traditional Publishing? (Are There Enough Good Reasons?)

What's the overriding reason for an author to find an agent and a traditional publishing deal? Is it possible that the reasons may be flawed?