What does a literary agent do? How does a literary agent get paid? Who needs a literary agent? What’s the alternative? This is such a common question, it’s really worth spending some time trying to get clear. First, let’s establish what a literary agent does,...
The Pen to Published Podcast interview with Janey Burton [VIDEO] I was thrilled to be asked to appear on season 6 of the Pen to Published podcast, which tackles everything authors need to know on their journey from writing their book to getting it published. Two of my...
Contents of a non-fiction book proposal Overview of the proposed book Target audience Market analysis Author qualifications Table of contents Sample chapter Marketing and promotion Concluding the book proposal Next steps Unlike fiction, non-fiction can often be sold...
I talk about book categories and book genres all the time, especially to urge writers to know well the categories in which they write. That’s because, in order to allow readers to find your work, it’s essential to know where in the publishing landscape your book fits....
What do literary agents look for in the authors they want to represent? Contrary to some popular misconceptions, it’s not necessary to be famous, have thousands of followers on social media, or be a personal friend of some grand poobah of publishing in order to get a...
A big part of choosing the professionals you will work with on your writing career is finding the right match for you and your work. You need someone who is able to provide what you need at the time you need it. Some editors or consultants are not going to be a match...
Research, whether for a non-fiction book or a novel, is an important aspect of writing a book. Ideally, research will provide you with the depth and detail a really good book requires, and at the very least, it will help you avoid the kind of howler that undermines...
I have had many conversations with beginner writers about how they should seek to publish their writing. They often tell me they started this, their first project, with the express aim of publishing it, or decided early on that publishing was the goal. They also tell...
Audience Competition Marketing Your book just doesn’t look good The price isn’t right Unrealistic expectations The way forward Self-publishing a book has become so easy to do that sometimes it seems everyone is doing it, and that might not be far from the truth:...
When should I hire an editor? What training and experience do you have? Which categories of books do you work with? What services do you offer? How much will an editing service cost? Do you do sample edits? Can I have a reference from other authors you have worked...
