May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
Preview the Issue
Buy It Here
Give a Gift SubscriptionSave 58%!
Website of the Week
Author Archives: Chuck Sambuchino
New Agent Alert: Stephen Barr of Writers House
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.
He is seeking: “I’m a pretty omnivorous agent—I’ve got a permanent hankering for unexpected memoirs with itchy voices, narrative nonfiction that tackles hard-to-tackle issues, wry and rarely paranormal YA, laugh-until-you-squirt-milk-out-of-your-nose middle grade, sweet and wacky (but still logical) picture books from author/illustrators, and fiction that rewards the reader line-by-line and gets to know at least one character really, really well.” Read more
Gnome Attack Roundup: Gnomeo & Juliet Must Be Stopped
Not a day passes without some kind buddy or Facebook friend telling me about this movie, have I heard of it? — it’s called Gnomeo & Juliet. Yes, I have heard of … Read more
How Writing About Loss Helps You Heal
Just a few days before my 27th birthday, she had a severe heart attack. I returned to Ohio, never imagining I’d remain there for over a year—Mom spending that entire time in one hospital or another, battling congestive heart failure, stomach paralysis, ventilator dependency, and lung cancer (the thing that would ultimately claim her life). I didn’t write during those months. I didn’t have any time. I was too tired. There was too much other stuff to think about.
Guest column by Sean Manning, author of The Things That Need Doing (Dec. 2010, Broadway), a memoir that Publishers Weekly called “a universal story … tremendously moving.” Read more
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Jessica Anya Blau
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 Jessica Anya Blau.
Jessica Anya Blau‘s second novel, Drinking Closer to Home (Harper) was released in Jan. 2011. Her first novel, The Summer of Naked Swim Parties, was picked as a Best Summer Book by the Today Show, the New York Post, and New York Magazine. Read more
Successful Queries: Agent Steven Malk and “The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic”
This series is called “Successful Queries” and I’m posting actual query letters that succeeded in getting writers signed with agents. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked.
The 50th installment in this series is with agent Steven Malk (Writers House) and his author, Jennifer Trafton, for the kids novel, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic (Dec. 2010)—a book that received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was called “a funny, witty read” by The Chicago Tribune. The book is a middle grade fantasy, and illustrated by Brett Helquist. Read more
How I Got My Agent: Debra Ann Pawlak
“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 literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
Debra Ann Pawlak is the author of Bringing Up Oscar: The Men and Women Who Founded the Academy (Jan. 2011). She writes from southeastern Michigan and has authored a children’s book detailing the life of Bruce Lee. Her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Writer, Aviation History and
Michigan History Magazine. Read more
My Adventures at the Writer’s Digest Conference 2011
I just got back from our 2011 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City, Jan. 21-23, 2011. The conference took a lot of planning and involved three days, dozens of speakers, more than 50 literary agents, more than 500 attendees, as well as God knows how many hilarious lines from panelist Janet Reid. (All photos below taken by WD managing editor Zachary Petit.) Read more
What’s In A Title? Everything.
The right name brings a person to life and allows you to see who they truly are and all the potential stretching out in front of them. The right title does the same for a novel.
For most of the many years it took me to write my novel, its working title was “Looking for Lenny.” I got points for alliteration, but the title didn’t accurately tell what the novel was about. Yes, brother Lenny in the story had disappeared, but the novel wasn’t so much about what had happened to him as it was about his family members’ struggle to come to terms with regrets of their own. The title set readers up to expect a mystery, and some were disappointed when instead they got a family drama.
Guest column by Heather Newton, author of Under the Mercy Trees (Harper; Jan 2011), a novel that received a starred review from Booklist and was called “a stirring debut” by Publishers Weekly. Read more
Literary Agent Interview: Michael Strong of Regal Literary
This installment features Michael B. Strong of Regal Literary. Michael was a graduate student in English at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he read for Carolina Quarterly. He was a PhD candidate at the Program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught classes on technology and ethics.
He is seeking: fine literary fiction and ambitious thrillers, and for nonfiction about art, politics, science, business, sports, and boy does he love boats and the ocean they float on. Read more
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Matt Baglio
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 Matt Baglio.
Matt Baglio is the author of The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcism (2010, Doubleday). The movie adaptation of the book was released to theaters on Jan. 28, 2011. Read more
Successful Queries: Agent Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein and “The Weird Sisters”
This series is called “Successful Queries” and I’m posting actual query letters that succeeded in getting writers signed with agents. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked.
The 49th installment in this series is with agent Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis) and her author, Eleanor Brown, for the novel, The Weird Sisters (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam; Jan. 20, 2011). The Weird Sisters was given a starred review by Publishers Weekly and named one of Amazon “Best Books of January 2011.” Read more
How I Got My Agent: David Vann
“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 literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
David Vann is the author of Caribou Island (Jan. 2011), a novel about a marriage going wrong in the wilderness of Alaska. His book, Legend of a Suicide, was an international bestseller translated into 13 languages, and was on 40 “Best Books of the Year” lists worldwide, such as the The New Yorker, Book Club and The Times Book Club. He also is the author of the bestselling memoir A Mile Down. Read more
Literary Agent Interview: Katie Kotchman of Don Congdon Associates
This installment features Katie Kotchman of Don Congdon Associates (no website available).
She is seeking: a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, specializing in narrative nonfiction, business, YA, mystery/thriller, and upmarket women’s fiction. In the fiction projects she represents, she looks for quirky characters, fast-paced plots, and, of course, quality writing. For nonfiction, she’s always looking for authors with ready-made platforms and unique ideas from whom she can learn something new. Read more
From Self-Published Success to Agented Author
For a new writer, finding an agent sometimes feels like you’ve been sent on a snipe hunt. Other writers insist they are out there, tout the glories of bagging one, and share their wild adventure stories about when they got theirs. But are agents really out there? If so, how do you get one? I searched for an agent in the same way most people do—through trial and error querying. My queries improved over time. My book summaries got better. I learned more about how to get published as I went along. But after two finished books and hundreds of thanks-but-no-thanks letters, I adopted a new philosophy: “If you build it, he will come.”
Guest column by Colleen Houck, whose first book, Tiger’s Curse, claimed the #1 spot on Kindle’s children’s bestseller list for seven weeks. The book arrived in print in Jan. 2011. Read more
How to Write a Synopsis When You Have Lots of Characters in Your Story
So after the synopsis webinar, I decided to try my hand at such a synopsis. I decided on TRAFFIC, which is a film I love that has multiple storylines and tons of characters. I got the synopsis down to about 540 words, which I thought was a success. Below read the synopsis and see my analysis in italics as you read. Read more
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Paula Bomer
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 Paula Bomer.
Paula Bomer grew up in South Bend, IN, and is the author of Baby and Other Stories (Dec. 2010, Word Riot Press). She’s also the co-publisher of Artistically Declined Press and the supervising editor of a literary journal, Sententia. Read more
Literary Agent Interview: Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary (formerly Martin Literary Management)
This installment features Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary, formerly of Martin Literary Management. She received her MA in journalism with an emphasis in graphic design, photojournalism, and expository writing, then moved to the Seattle area where she entered the professional writing field.
She is seeking: graphic novels and children’s books. She is especially interested in darker plots (think Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay) and loves dystopian, unique and fresh supernatural elements. Science fiction graphic novels and graphic novels that challenge the reader to think as well as have a great visual hook, stories that are very visual in nature, and books with a philosophical hook are equally of interest. What she is not interested in is vampires or werewolves. Read more
Successful Queries: Agent Catherine Drayton and “The Liar Society”
This series is called “Successful Queries” and I’m posting actual query letters that succeeded in getting writers signed with agents. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked.
The 48th installment in this series is with agent Catherine Drayton (Inkwell Management) and her authors, Lisa and Laura Roecker, for their forthcoming YA novel, The Liar Society (Sourcebooks Fire, March 1, 2011). Read more
Utilizing Your Strengths To Realize Your Writing Dreams
So in this time of reflection on the past year and looking forward to the new one, look closely at your strengths—what drives and energizes you—and don’t beat yourself up about perceived weaknesses when it comes to social media, accounting, promoting yourself, editing, book design, and so on. If your strength is writing, write. And write well. Work on the rest but not at the expense of the writing.
Guest column by Eleanor Van Natta, freelance author publicist who resides in the Portland, OR area. Read more
How I Got My Agent: Matthew Gallaway
“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 literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
Matthew Gallaway is the author of The Metropolis Case (Dec. 2010), a literary novel praised by Entertainment Weekly and called an “enchanting, often funny first novel” by The New York Times. Read more
57 Good Reasons to Come to the Writer’s Digest Conference in NYC, January 21-23
I am in charge of the gigantic Agent Pitch Slam at the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York, January 21-23, 2011. And let me tell you: This promises to be great. I want to present to you our current lineup of agents for the slam. 57 are coming, and more may join. Read more
New Agent Alert: Kimberly Perel of Wendy Sherman Associates
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: voice-driven fiction, novels that illuminate an unknown world, and true-to-life characters. She looks for queries that provide fresh insight or a wide lense that captures life at a certain period in time. She also loves humor, memoir that tells a unique story, and journalistic nonfiction. Read more
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
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 Sarah Jamila Stevenson.
Sarah Jamila Stevenson is a freelance writer, editor, artist and graphic designer. Her first YA novel, The Latte Rebellion (Flux, Jan. 2011) is the story of a moneymaking scheme that spins hilariously—and disastrously—out of control. Read more
4 Steps to Turning a Writing Dream Into Reality
Editor’s note: Daniel is excited to give away a free book to one random commenter. Comment within one week; winners must live in Canada/US48 to receive the print book by mail. You … Read more
Literary Agent Interview: Melissa Sarver of Folio Literary (formerly Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency)
This installment features Melissa Sarver of the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency. A graduate of Boston University, she has worked with several literary agencies (Waxman Literary Agency, Brick House Literary Agents, and Imprint Agency—now FinePrint) before she joined the Elizabeth Kaplan team in 2006.
She is seeking: In fiction, literary and commercial adult, YA and middle grade. She likes dark, edgy stories with brilliant prose and strong voice as well as quirky stories with a fresh sense of humor. She especially enjoys family sagas, multicultural stories and similarly emotional stories with dystopian themes. In nonfiction, she is looking for voice-driven narrative nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle, business, travel writing, pop culture, cookbooks, and food writing. Read more
