Do you need an agent and, if so, how do you know which one is right for you?
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September 17, 2013

So you think you need an agent? Most agents do not represent poetry, short stories, non-fiction or material suitable for academic or small presses. If you have written a novel or a memoir, you might consider finding a literary representative. The best reference guide is Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents published annually by Writer’s Digest Books and the 2014 issue has just been released. Before you… [Read More]

Three legs to the publishing ladder
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September 3, 2013

You’ve finished writing your manuscript and you’re ready to publish. Or at least you thought you were. Think again. Do you have a proposal and a platform? There’s no book without a manuscript. It’s a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for publishing today. No matter how good the manuscript, it’s only one of three legs on which to step up to publication. In fact,… [Read More]

Pathways to Publishing
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August 27, 2013
The convention floor at Book Expo America - photo by Ashley Grill

The business of publishing continues to evolve and new finance models have emerged offering authors more than the option to self-publish or go the traditional route. Between the five big commercial trade presses – Penguin Random House, Hatchette Book Group, Harper Collins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster – and self-publishing with Blurb, or Smashwords, there are new routes for writers to consider in their pursuit… [Read More]

An Intern’s Thoughts on Internships
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August 13, 2013

College students these days are incredibly well versed in the post-grad talk. I can’t count on my hands how many times I’ve received the “good luck with that” look after I tell people I’m an English literature major with a studio art minor. And, I must admit, for good reason. It’s hardly a secret that it’s a tough time to find employment. There are expectations… [Read More]

Military Writers Society of America: 2013 Conference September 26-29 in Dayton
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August 6, 2013

Saving history one story at a time, Military Writers Society of America is a national organization dedicated to helping veterans, their families, and historians inscribe the complexities of military life and encourage writing to heal. Membership is open to anyone interested in books about military issues and the experiences of men and women in uniform. Membership benefits include monthly dispatches, listings and reviews of your… [Read More]

When technology fails you…breathe
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August 3, 2013

Yesterday was a rough day for those whose online presence is the lifeblood of their business. Authors, included. Early on Friday, August 2nd, a datacenter in Provo, Utah, experienced an outage. Millions of sites came crashing down. Including this one. Perhaps yours, too. Endurance International Group, the parent company of the largest webhosting firms BlueHost, GatorHost, HostMonsters, JustHost, and 50 others, experienced a cascading crash… [Read More]

Building your author brand: checklist
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July 30, 2013
Information for the Swenson Book Development Writer's Workshop

If you are not J.K. Rowling, or perhaps especially if you are J.K., you need to recognize the power of name recognition and work on building the value of your brand as an author online. The merits of your writing only take you so far in today’s publishing environment. How will readers find your writing if they don’t already know you? Before you’re finished with… [Read More]

What kind of editor do you need?
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June 18, 2013
Memoir Writing Workshop

It’s important for an author to know the differences between the various kinds of editing, and understand what professional services an editor may or may not provide. When you work with an editor, find one with whom you can clearly communicate your needs, expectations and working style.  Not all editors are the same. Copyeditors read your document and look for errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar,… [Read More]

How to Write Your Non-Fiction Book Proposal
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June 11, 2013
Writing Your Non-Fiction Book Proposal

There is more than one path to publishing today. Whether your plan is to seek a traditional publisher or self-publish, you need a book proposal. Consider it a business feasibility plan. Before you invest your time and intellectual energy to a book project, first determine whether there is market demand for your new product. Figuring out how you will harness that market demand and fulfill… [Read More]