‘Who’s the audience for this book?’ One of the most important questions a publisher asks when considering whether to publish a book is about its intended audience. Who is it for? Which people will need, or at least want, this book? The answer helps a publisher see...
The pitch letter A basic structure for a pitch letter The synopsis A basic structure for a synopsis The ‘Don’ts’ of submitting Do your best If your pitch letter does not intrigue and compel a literary agent to read your sample chapters, they won’t get as far as...
Don’t take it personally when it isn’t personal What to do if you receive a form rejection Try and put yourself in their shoes What to do if you receive a semi-personal rejection Recognise encouragement where you find it What to do if you receive a personal rejection...
Organise time to write Plan what you will do with each writing session Try micro goals: a micro word count goal or a micro time goal Designate a writing space Get rid of distractions Don’t put it off – start now ‘I’d love to write a book, if only I had the...
‘If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: Read a lot and write a lot.’ Stephen King It’s difficult to contribute to an artform you don’t like or understand Read the classics if you enjoy them Read a variety of books Read shorter books ‘You...
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing What is a hybrid publisher? What is a vanity press? What is a self-publishing service provider? I see it happen far too often: a writer has been taken in by a vanity press, when they thought they were working with a...
