“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. Author Gina Damico writes young adult fiction, and her first novel, CROAK, was released in March 2012 from Graphia. She received a degree...
This installment features Jita Fumich of Folio Literary Management. Jita first began working with Folio in 2006. She holds a B.A. from New York University and has taken classes at NYU’s Center for Publishing. As an agent, Jita seeks to work with her authors on all aspects of their career—understanding that being an author...
Whether you’re just starting to create your story’s characters or ready to sell your manuscript to an agent or editor, you’ll find everything you need to devise, plot, and create a thrilling mystery or thriller that will leave your readers glued to the pages of your book. Right now, we have only a few...
There is an old saying. What comes from the heart reaches the heart. I have always found this to be true. But I would add to it my own less elegant postscript. It helps to know who you’re talking to. GIVEAWAY: John is excited to give away a free copy of his novel to a random...
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. If you have a literary agent and would be interested in writing a short guest column for this GLA blog, e-mail me at...
The NE-SCBWI Conference, organized by the New England chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, took place in April 2012 and offered an agent-author panel featuring the following literary agents: 1. Stephen Fraser (Jennifer De Chiara Literary), joined by his client Christine Brodien-Jones 2. Jennifer Laughran (Andrea Brown Literary), joined by her client...
Writers have always had to be disciplined, but the internet has made matters a million times worse. In addition to the temptations that everyone else faces, we are being actively encouraged to be online 24/7: to network, promote our books and so on. Ashley Ream wrote a great guest post recently about how to...
Reminder: Newer agents are golden opportunities for new writers because they're likely building their client list; however, always make sure your work is as perfect as it can be before submitting, and only query agencies that are a great fit for your work. Otherwise, you're just wasting time and postage. She is seeking: History–must have...
Julie Klam is the author of several books, including the New York Times Bestseller You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness (Riverhead Books), Love At First Bark: Dogs and the People They Saved (Riverhead Books), and the forthcoming [fall 2012] Friendkeeping: The Field Guide to the People You...
This is a recurring column I’m calling “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far,” where writers at any stage of their career can talk about seven things they’ve learned along their writing journey that they wish they knew at the beginning. This installment is from writer Leah Bobet, author of ABOVE. GIVEAWAY: Leah is excited to...
People who work in book publishing always have a ridiculous amount of reading to get through. I once worked on what is pejoratively termed the "slush pile" in the HarperCollins fiction department, where I would often be the first reader. As such, I would get to decide if the story was worth further consideration...
In June 2012, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Crested Butte Writers Conference in Crested Butte, CO. I'm telling you -- this cute mountain town is AWESOME. It's artsy and small and everyone knows each other and everyone bikes everywhere and it's full of fun characters. What a great town. Sunshine in...
“Agent Advice” (more than 170 interviews so far!) is a series of quick interviews with literary and script agents who talk with Guide to Literary Agents about their thoughts on writing, publishing, and just about anything else. This installment features Erica Silverman of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. Erica represents authors such as Mariah Bruehl,...
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. Oksana Marafioti is the author of AMERICAN GYPSY: A MEMOIR (FSG Originals, July 2012). GIVEAWAY: Oksana is excited to give away a free...
Deep in the heart of every person who loves a good romance novel is the desire to write one of her own. But the process of writing a novel can seem daunting, not to mention the steps to get published. Is there a formula to the plot of a romance novel? How long should...
I wrote my memoir, Home is a Roof Over a Pig: An American Family’s Journey in China, sent it to beta readers, edited and rewrote, and began work on that all important task: the query letter. Following the advice I’d read on this blog and others, I wrote a query letter that rocked, and...
She is seeking: Brenna is attracted to true crime/adventure, the occult, humor, historical pop culture, and social issues. Regarding fiction, she is enthusiastic about graphic novels, steampunk, and alternative literature. Having recently been diagnosed with multiple food intolerances, she’s also interested in cookbooks that take these issues into account.
So you’re at a writers’ conference and you have a chance to sit down with an agent. This encounter is basically like speed dating because you have about five minutes to get the person across the table from you to want, if not to commit to a relationship, at least to try one...
1. Be Patient – The whole hurry up and wait aspect of the publishing industry is so very, very true. You will be waiting on agents, while on submission, through the editing process, right up until release day. Sometimes there will be little flurries of action (Cover! Blurbs! Reviews!), but for the most part,...
June 2012 marked my fourth time speaking at the Clarksville Writers Conference in Tennessee. Organized by Pat Winn, this event is always attended by great people who are ridiculously great to talk to. I debuted two new speeches -- "Your Publishing Options Today" as well as "Create Your Writer Platform," the latter of which...
Here is where we must be more like Charlie Sheen. When the highest paid actor on television gets fired after a public psychotic break, which he then turns in to a concert series, which then lands him a new television deal, we must conclude that any of us can have our dark night of...
1. Hook Them In: Don’t begin your novel by telling all about the town that your protagonist lives in or how he is dressed. Sure, setting and description are both important but they can be woven into the story. Instead, start with an action scene with your main character thick in the middle. If...
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. GIVEAWAY: Benedict is excited to give away a free novel to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US...
“Agent Advice” (more than 170 interviews so far!) is a series of quick interviews with literary and script agents who talk with Guide to Literary Agents about their thoughts on writing, publishing, and just about anything else. This installment features Ann Behar of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency. Ann holds M.A. in English Literature and...
1. Write As If No One Is Watching. Let the story flow organically without feeling any pressure to reach a certain market, impress a specific agent, or hit a bestseller list. Write because it’s how you process the world around you. Write because it’s what you want to be doing when you aren’t writing....
