Book editing rates are calculated in so many different ways it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s what you should expect to pay for an average-length book of 80,000 words.
Read MoreAre you procrastinating on writing your book or pitching agents and publishers? Maybe you’re waiting for someone to tell you you’re good enough, or that you’re not selfish to write about yourself, or that it’s okay to tell the story you really want to tell rather than the one you should. In this post, I explain why we wait for outside permission and how we can move forward anyway. A hard lesson for me!
Read MoreAge-old wisdom says you should never query literary agents in the summer months, but is this a myth or a fact? In this post, I give you the complete low down, along with tips on querying for fiction and nonfiction.
Read MoreIf you’re struggling to finish your own book, I really, really feel you. It took me FOREVER to finish my latest book, so all the advice in this post was especially hard won. Some of it might be hard to hear and even harder to implement.
Read More(It's probably not what you think.) Most aspiring authors come to me worried about time, platform, and writing experience, but often, what they REALLY need isn't even on their radar.
Read MoreReal talk for writers: From rejection to regret, here are 5 hard lessons I learned on the road to publication—plus how you can avoid the same mistakes.
Read MoreIf you're struggling to write consistently, a solo writing retreat may be the answer. Learn how to write a month’s worth of words in a single weekend. Tips for prep, focus, and flow—even with a small budget (or no budget).
Read MoreYour title is your chance to make a strong first impression that will instantly sell agents, publishers and readers on your book. Yet so many authors spend years on their book only to slap a halfhearted title on it.
Read MoreBefore you can land a traditional book deal, you’ll almost always need to get a literary agent. But before you start querying literary agents, you’ll need to do these 6 things….and avoid these 4.
Read MoreStaying organized and focused while writing a book that’ll come in around 300 pages can be an absolute beast. I’ve rounded up the best tools—digital and analog—that help me keep track of my ideas and my structure no matter where I am.
Read MoreCreate a watertight book proposal that will convince literary agents and publishers that the world needs your book and needs it now. When and why you need a proposal, a detailed template, 5 biggest mistakes, plus proposal FAQs.
Read MoreWord count guidelines matter, and believe it or not, there are good reasons. In this post, I go over word count standards by genre, why they are what they are, why word count matters even for self-published authors, and what to do if your book is too long or too short.
Read MoreThe only platitude I’ve heard repeated as often as “show don’t tell” is “you need a thicker skin.” Nonsense. You need a better rebound.
Read MoreAs I’m sure you’re aware, the path to getting a book into bookstores is not easy, but it is straightforward. I’ll go over the ins and outs from literary agents to advances, editors to proofreaders, marketing to publicity.
Read MoreWhen it comes to your book's success, it's less about self-publishing versus traditional publishing and much more about the foundation you've laid. Before you put a book into the world, do these two things first.
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