Slow down and get further
by,
March 7, 2014

Shortly after her novel Ten Thousand Saints came out in early 2011, Eleanor Henderson answered a question at a book reading held at Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca. When asked how long it took her to write the novel, Henderson said nine years. Nine years. She explained that the first version didn’t even include several of the central characters in the final version. It made… [Read More]

Beta-Readers
by,
January 17, 2014

You finish a piece of writing. It’s polished. It’s done. You feel the sense of completion in every atom of your being as a writer. Savor that moment. The end. Done. You save it. You print it. You revise it again. You read it aloud. It’s ready for reader feedback. So who do you ask? Not your lover or spouse. Not your best friend or… [Read More]

What belongs in the front matter?
by,
January 3, 2014

Front Matter is one of the last sections of a book manuscript for an author to complete. But it’s the first thing a reader sees. Before page 1, there are several items that appear in the front pages of any book. Some pages are mandatory: title, copyright, and table of contents. Others are optional, upon the discretion of the author and publisher. Every page before… [Read More]

Top 10 List for 2013: Good News from Swenson Book Development LLC
by,
December 27, 2013
Heirloom flower, Brooktondale, NY 2012

It has been a very good year for Swenson Book Development LLC and we credit the successes and accomplishments of our clients during 2013. 1.  Did someone slip President Obama’s speechwriter an advance copy of Seymour Smidt’s manuscript? His December address riffed on pages from Sy’s chapters offering a historical analysis of growing income inequality. I am so thankful Sy has recovered from a terrible car accident… [Read More]

Contact Relations Management for Authors
by,
December 6, 2013
Swenson Book Development, LLC- Art Image 23

From the start of a writing project, an author needs to find a way to organize all of their contact information. Everywhere you go as an author, you will meet people whom you will want to reach when your book is released. It is never too soon to start your database of professional connections. Business cards, slips of paper, cocktail napkins, ripped corners from envelopes,… [Read More]

Becoming an author is about more than your writing
by,
November 1, 2013

Coaching a writer to become an author involves more than writing. I’ve had the good fortune to work with writers for 30 years and I’ve discovered one secret to an author’s success that has nothing to do with their writing talents: professional behavior. I see too many good writers make mistakes without knowing they inflict self-injury to their publishing efforts. Here’s a list of things… [Read More]

Saturday’s News
by,
October 5, 2013

Go ahead, file your complaints! Starting now, we’ll be blogging only once a week here. And we’ll be posting on Friday mornings instead of Saturday. Swenson Book Development llc provides custom services to a select clientele and this change in blogging schedule reflects our commitment to serve these authors first and foremost. We plan to continue to provide helpful information and links to resources to… [Read More]

Ten ways to win a book contract
by,
September 28, 2013

There are no shortcuts on the path to publishing. You need a brilliant manuscript, a winning book proposal, and an organic platform. Getting “found” by a publisher today includes some new avenues. Here are 10 ways some writers have found their way to a publishing contract. 1. Write and publish a personal essay for Modern Love, published every Sunday in the New York Times style… [Read More]

One in three book reviews is a fake
by,
September 24, 2013

Biu Ling, a data-mining expert at the New York Times, estimates one in three book reviews is a fake. More than a year ago, the New York Times reported on the best book reviews money can buy. Further investigations into how authors buy their way onto bestselling book lists resulted in the Wall Street Journal publishing a news report earlier this year on how the… [Read More]

Building an audience platform isn’t all about social media
by,
September 21, 2013
Swenson Book Development, LLC- Art Image 18

More than any other reason, acquisition editors use the lack of an audience platform to reject a book project. They look at more than the numbers of followers, friends, tweeps and subscribers to assess the size of your reading audience. Social media metrics are one indication of an author’s potential customer base. There are many others. Here’s a list of what an agent or acquisition… [Read More]