Blog Archive
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Friends and Agents
Sep 01, 2009
Two of the agents I want to query seem to be good friends. They are always twittering back and forth. Can I query them both, or is that like asking a pair of best friends if either would like to go on a date? My worst fear is that they will have a riotous evening […]
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Most Interesting Conference Experiences
Aug 31, 2009
I can’t even begin to count the number of conferences I’ve been to. Since starting the agency ten years ago I have attended anywhere from five to ten each year, and prior to that I attended a number as an editor. Needless to say, I’ve had more than my share of interesting experiences. I’ve had […]
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Know Thy Reader
Aug 28, 2009
It seems that daily I’m receiving comments about how sad it is that the people who really need to hear my advice aren’t reading the blogs, and while that’s true when it comes to those of you who have been here for a while and have been reading the blogs of other agents, I’m not […]
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The Submission Process
Aug 27, 2009
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the process of submitting to an agent has both changed and remained very static with the advent of the internet. Specifically, I’m wondering about the tradition of agents requesting a partial manuscript and then, if they like it, a full. Now, I understand why this made sense […]
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How Much Can You Really Tell
Aug 26, 2009
I don’t envy authors when it comes to making a decision about an agent. Sure, it’s one thing to send the queries out, but it’s an entirely different thing when multiple offers of representation come in and you have to decide which agent you think is right for you because, let’s face it, unlike dating, […]
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When You’re Ready to Hear It
Aug 25, 2009
Years ago I was standing in the crowded lobby during an RWA National conference talking to an author about her career. She was reminding me of something I had said to her a few years earlier, and while she thought it made sense at the time, it hadn’t really clicked until recently. And when it […]
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Idea Theft
Aug 24, 2009
I suspect the topic of plagiarism or idea theft is common among authors, especially in this day of computers and scanners, but how common is it and how much should authors be concerned about it? I have to admit, I think at times I’m a bit of a Pollyanna (although I prefer to call it […]
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Protecting Yourself in Nonfiction
Aug 21, 2009
I’m in the entertainment industry and I’m writing a book about one of its specific cottage industries. I have a lot to dish about and I’m not sure if my disguising names and identities is enough to legally protect me from people who might read the book and get a little excited and take legal […]
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Bookscan
Aug 20, 2009
Back in June agent Andrew Zack wrote a series of posts on Bookscan and since then I’ve received a number of questions from authors asking my thoughts on Bookscan and my recommendations for how authors can track Bookscan numbers or their numbers in general. For those not familiar with Bookscan, let me explain briefly that […]
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Before You Sign
Aug 19, 2009
Publishing is a small and confusing world and because of that there’s no doubt that I frequently get questions from friends, family, friends of family, family of friends or anyone else even remotely related or not related, but with an interest in learning more about publishing. Often I can direct them in much the same […]
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BookEnds Trivia
Aug 18, 2009
Here is quiz full of information you have no reason to ever know about BookEnds, but hey, every blog post can’t be purely for educational purposes. We need fun too. So let’s see how well you know your BookEnds agents. 1. Which two agents started their careers as interns at Berkley? a. Kim & Jacky […]
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Hiring a Publicist
Aug 17, 2009
A frequent discussion with all of my published authors is whether or not a publicist should be hired, and while my answer to this is always “it depends,” one of the things I want to address here is that there is no magic a publicist can perform. I think that oftentimes authors feel that a […]
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