Blog Archive
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The Submissions Go To . . .
Dec 16, 2008
I have received a number of great questions lately, either posted to the blog or e-mailed directly, and I’m busy trying to get through them all. One of my favorites though asked how I choose editors to submit my clients’ work to. The reader asked if I have favorites I submit everything to or if […]
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Offering Representation to Published Authors
Dec 15, 2008
For obvious reasons there is a perception among unpublished authors that the only way to get an agent is to either have a book deal in hand or to be a published author, and while both of those things can help, I think that there’s a lack of understanding about how they can also hurt. […]
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Alliterative Characters
Dec 12, 2008
After years of working in publishing I have decided that it’s a common mistake all writers make. Alliterative characters, character names that all start with the same letter. I don’t think anyone does it on purpose, but instead I think authors get in a rhythm and don’t even realize what they’re doing. Remember, while these […]
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Publisher Updates
Dec 11, 2008
Daily I am talking with editors, whether via e-mail, on the phone, or over lunch, and catching up on what they are looking for now and what types of things they are having trouble selling either in-house or to readers. And today I’ll pass some of that on to you. A nonfiction editor at Penguin […]
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An Author Questionnaire
Dec 10, 2008
Publishers frequently send out author questionnaires to help them create and plan their publicity and marketing campaigns. Now, not all publishes do this, so don’t panic if you’ve never done one, but they are a great resource for publicists and marketing managers when talking about your book and pitching it. I also think they can […]
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Politics and Publishing
Dec 09, 2008
Not too long after the election a reader asked the following question, “What effect, if any, do you think the election will have on the publishing industry? Specifically, I was wondering if some of the ‘boundaries’ might be expanded with the advent of a more liberal administration.” And I guess my answer would be a […]
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The BookEnds Author-Agent Agreement
Dec 08, 2008
I was asked recently for details about how BookEnds agents sign a client. Do we use an actual contract or is it a verbal agreement? Do we sign for one book or all? Do we have a time limit on our contract? Great questions all and certainly questions I get from clients before they actually […]
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Deb Baker on the Positive Power of Gratitude
Dec 05, 2008
Deb Baker Ding Dong Dead Publisher: Berkley Pub date: December 2008 Agent: Jacky Sach (Click to Buy) I’m an eighteen-year cancer survivor, beating (a stroke of luck really) the same nasty killer that took down Robert Urich of Spenser for Hire and Vegas fame. I was a young mother when I was diagnosed, with a […]
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Identifying the “Right Agent for Your Work”
Dec 04, 2008
I think one of the most frustrating challenges an author faces is trying to figure out which agents are the right agents to submit to. Sure I say I represent romance, but does that mean I represent the type of romance you are writing? Difficult to tell. A blog reader recently shared this frustration with […]
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Holiday Shopping List
Dec 03, 2008
I’ve been trying to do a lot of my Christmas shopping early this year and I decided about a month ago that most everyone would be getting books. It’s a little tricky to gift books when you work in the publishing industry. Friends and family often assume you’re getting them free and are just unloading […]
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Agent Advertising
Dec 02, 2008
I’m not sure if it’s a recent phenomenon or a coincidence, but in the last few weeks I’ve received a number of questions about agents who apparently include advertisements for their books in with rejection letters. Two questions specifically asked what I think of this practice and what I think of these agents. Well, I […]
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Decoding Agent-Speak
Dec 01, 2008
I think one of the most frustrating things a submitting writer faces is how do you read those rejection letters? What exactly is an agent saying when she says that the book “didn’t grab her” or “the writing isn’t strong”? Do you need to do revisions? Should you stop submitting? Or should you just ignore […]
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