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Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog

Chuck Sambuchino is an editor and published book author who runs the Guide to Literary Agents Blog, one of the biggest blogs in publishing. His site has posts on agents, query letters, submissions, publishing, platform, marketing and more.

“How I Got Published” — Mary Nethery and Kirby Lawson, Authors of NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE, AND A MIRACLE

May 16, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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This installment is with Mary Nethery and Kirby Lawson, authors of the New York Times best-selling book NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE, AND A MIRACLE (Little Brown, 2009), a story about marine Brian Dennis and a feral dog in Iraq that found a home in America.

GIVEAWAY: Mary and Kirby are excited to give away a free copy of their book to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Read more

Create Your E-Book and Make Money Now — New Webinar With Jane Friedman on May 17, 2012

May 16, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 3
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It seems like each month there’s another story about someone making a great deal of money off an e-book they created, whether it’s a fantasy novel or a nonfiction book on parenting. Creating your own e-book puts you in the driver’s seat — but do you know how to drive? Do you know how to maximize what you’ve created and get people to locate & purchase your work? To help you navigate the complicated road of creating and distributing your e-book, we’ve enlisted eMedia guru Jane Friedman, former publisher of Writer’s Digest. She’s teaching “Do Your E-Book Right (and Start Making Money NOW)” on Thursday, May 17, 2012. This is one of our most popular webinars because there is money to be made in the e-book arena if you do it right — and Jane can show you how. Read more

How I Got My Agent: Gretchen Berg

May 15, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 9
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“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. This installment is from humorous memoir writer Gretchen Berg.

GIVEAWAY: Gretchen is excited to give away a free copy of her book to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Read more

Writers Conference Spotlight: 2012 Crested Butte Writers Conference (Colorado, June 22-24, 2012)

May 14, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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I am very excited to instruct at the 2012 Crested Butte Writers Conference. It’s held in the beautiful town of Crested Butte, CO, from June 22-24, 2012. The event is described as “a small conference designed to be friendly and cozy with the caliber of a large conference.” Read more

Literary Agent Interview: Elizabeth Evans of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency

May 14, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
Literary agent Elizabeth Evans.

“Agent Advice” (more than 150 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 Elizabeth Evans of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Elizabeth Evans joined JVNLA in January 2010. Previously, she worked for six years in the San Francisco Bay Area with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. Elizabeth has a degree in English literature and received an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco. She is the founder of Room to Write, a volunteer group of over forty New York City publishing professionals. Read more

Another Take On “Show, Don’t Tell” For Writers

May 13, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 2
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It’s a writing rule most of us have heard before. And it’s a good one. Because no reader wants to be spoon-fed a story. Readers want to see the story for themselves, to make up their own minds. It’s more interesting and entertaining that way, and even more importantly, it lets the reader become more invested in the characters.

A student once asked me to explain the concept of “show, don’t tell,” and here’s what I told her: Pretend you’re sitting in a movie theater, eager to see the latest Shia LeBeouf action movie. You’ve got the popcorn, the Milk Duds, the Coke. The lights dim, and on the screen, LeBeouf appears, with a white background behind him. Nothing else. He tells the audience with a shrug, “This film had a low budget. I mean, really low. Because of that, I’m going to tell you the movie.” Read more

7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Katharine Quinn

May 11, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 21
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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 historical fiction writer Kate Quinn, author of historical romance novels.

GIVEAWAY: Kate is excited to give away a free copy of her novel to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Read more

How I Got My Agent: Beatriz Williams

May 10, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 3
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“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.

Beatriz Williams‘s first novel, OVERSEAS, is out May 10, 2012 from Putnam. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said of the novel, “This is a delicious story about the ultimate romantic fantasy.” She lives in Connecticut with her husband and four children. Read more

Event Spotlight: The Homeric Writers’ Retreat and Workshop on the Isle of Ithaca (Aug. 2-8, 2012 in Greece)

May 9, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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If you’re considering a writing event this year, but are looking for just as much of an opportunity to sit down and write as you are to learn from presenters, then join me at the Homeric Writers’ Retreat and Workshop from Aug. 2-8, 2012. It’s held on the beautiful Greek isle of Ithaca — a perfect place to soak in the sunshine and let the creative juices flow. And in addition to the amazing scenery to help you write, there are a few daily sessions as well as several personalized critiques (manuscript pages, query, synopsis, proposal) for all attendees, taught and given by publishing pros. Read more

The Key to a Good Series is Excellent Characters

May 8, 2012 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 14
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I’m a series junkie. In addition to those noted above, faves include Lew Archer, Spenser, Elvis Cole, Parker, Fletch, Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch … I could go on. And one of the things that draws me to series is that feeling of slipping into a familiar world – a place with its own logic and rules and history.

And characters.

GIVEAWAY: Steve is excited to give away a free copy of his novel to a random commenter. Comment within two weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Read more

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