July/August 2013 Issue
July/August Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
Preview the Issue
Buy It Here
Give a Gift SubscriptionSave 58%!
Website of the Week
Author Archives: Chuck Sambuchino
Spencer Ellsworth Temporarily Not Taking Submissions
I just sent him an e-mail and got an auto-response saying that he is “closed to submissions for the foreseeable future.” if you don’t know, Spencer Ellsworth is a new agent with … Read more
The Blog Turns One!
I wrote my first post on this blog one year ago. One year later. we’re still going strong and mentioning encounters with Miss Snark. Happy B-day to us…
Pitch With a Partner?
Q. One of (my group’s writers) is co-authoring a book. She wants to know if she and her co-author would be advised to pitch this book to agents together at our upcoming … Read more
Meeting Miss Snark – Again!
Last year, at BEA in Manhattan, I had the wonderful experience of coming across famed agent and blogger Miss Snark during the expo. I wrote a post about it. For those who don’t know, Miss Snark’s original blog was a work of genius and gave infinite great advice. Her real identity is a secret. Read more
My Adventures in Los Angeles: Part II
So many things to say…
I’m traveling home (connecting in Charlotte) from the conference and BookExpo in Los Angeles. Just like last year, BEA was insane. So many people wheeling and dealing. “Buy this. Sell that. Did you see that one book? Is it hot in here or just me?” As usual, there were plenty of free books around for attendees (advanced reader copies) that I snatched up for future reading. Score. Read more
THE SCRIPT NOTES ONLINE PITCH WORKSHOP!
Hey, film and TV writers— I’ve gotten several emails and questions from readers with specific questions about pitching projects they’re working on, asking if there’s some way to use Script Notes to … Read more
My Adventures in Los Angeles: Part I
Been long enough since I blogged? (Don’t answer that.) I know – I’ve let you down this past week, but I was knee deep in duties concerning our writers conference out in LA in conjunction with the BookExpo America trade show. Read more
Cool Dialogue Contest!
Fun contest online! Agent Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, LTD is sponsoring a new contest to find the next great writer who can compose scintillating speech and dominating dialogue (not to mention … Read more
Agent Michael Stearns Interviewed on CWIM Site
Interview with Michael Stearns. Read more
Lucienne Diver Moves to the Knight Agency
Lucienne Diver, an accomplished and experienced agent has moved from the Spectrum Agency to The Knight Agency. I got the chance to meet Lucienne when I was presenting in Florida and she … Read more
Agent Advice: Bernadette Baker of Baker’s Mark Literary
This installment features Bernadette Baker of Vigliano Associates.
Currently Seeking: Comics that are historical stories, biographies, fables, mythology, memoir, and urban fantasy. But she is also a great fiction lover, and would really like to see more psychological thrillers in the comic format; “I don’t think that area has been explored enough”. And more, more, more books with females as the main character. Read more
Auction Offers a Chance For Writers to Impress Agents
This is an exciting post to write. It’s exciting because it involves amazing opportunities for writers, as well as making the world a better place. Author extraordinaire Brenda Novak is thick in … Read more
New Agency Alert: The Croce Agency
Reminder: Newer agencies 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.
Actively seeking commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. Does not want to receive poetry, children’s, sci-fi, romance, horror or fantasy. Read more
Eberhardt Moves to Reece Halsey North
Editor’s note: As of 2011, April has formedher own agency. See her new website here. ———- April Eberhardt has recently left the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and moved to Reece Halsey North. … Read more
All Hail the Query Shark!
Awesome new blog on the Web: Query Shark, run by the great Janet Reid of FinePrint Literary Management. I talk about query letters all the time at conferences, and attendees always ask … Read more
Principles, Not Rules!
Remember the movie Adaptation? (Second mention of that movie in a week! I know!) There is a scene where two brothers are sitting around, talking about the craft and business of screenwriting. … Read more
Agent Advice: Paul S. Levine of Paul S. Levine Literary
This installment features Paul S. Levine of the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency. Paul has 27 years experience as a lawyer and has helmed his agency since 1996. Read more
No More Excuses: Find a Writers’ Conference Near You
I know how important writers conferences are to writers. They energize us, allow us to network, and give us the chance to meet agents face to face and increase the chances of snagging one exponentially.
That’s why I have listed about two dozen conferences. I have tried to find at least conference for every state that’s either smallish in size or population, so people can no longer use the excuse, “Well I would but there’s none around here.” The only state without a conference is South Dakota. Note: Not all states are listed here, because plenty of states have multiple conferences and finding them should be no problem. Read more
How Many Words Constitute Plagarism? I Want to Know What You Were Taught in High School.
So I just blogged a little about what constitutes “fair use” and how it’s all debatable. On this note, I want to talk about plagarism. Now I’m not really interested about talking … Read more
Literary Definitions: Vol. 6
Ever come across a publishing term and wasn’t sure what it meant? (Who hasn’t?) The Buried Editor and I are pairing up to start a series to help define some oft-used terms in the … Read more
Around the Properties: May 3, 2008
Here’s what’s going around around the WD properties… The launch of There Are No Rules is here. My boss, Jane Friedman, the editorial director of Writer’s Digest Books, recently launched her own … Read more
Why Can't I Get Past the Query?
Q. I know this will sound trite, but I have exhausted a multitude of possibilities, and have come up with a dismal fact. Unless you are a well-known actor or perhaps a … Read more
Agent Advice: Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management
his installment features Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management (formerly of Wendy Sherman Associates). Michelle has been with Wendy Sherman Associates since 2004, and has also previously worked with Joelle Delbourgo Associates. She enjoys working directly with emerging writers.
She is seeking: literary and commercial fiction, YA, memoir, pop culture, humor, graphic novels, popular science and narrative nonfiction. Books that capture elements of the strange and wonderful will always pique her interest, and she also looks for those that offer a unique perspective of the world. Read more
Should You Include Pages With Your Query?
Q. When a listing [agent] says they get back to us on queries in X amount of time and on manuscripts in Y amount of time, what does this mean? Unless the … Read more
Sharing Your Ideas For Critiques
Q. I would like to have someone with knowledge read the first draft of my first few chapters of my story to see what they have to say about it, good or … Read more
