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  • Guide to Literary Agents

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.

My Adventures in Myrtle Beach … and Dallas

November 11, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 2
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I have been traveling a lot in the past few weeks, and have recently presented at writers conferences in both South Carolina and Texas. Both were a lot of fun. I am a huge advocate of writers conferences, and I still believe they are a great opportunity to meet publishing pros, make writer friends for life, and get educated about the craft and business of writing. Read more

Agent Mary Kole is Teaching an Intensive Webinar on Young Adult and Middle Grade Novels (Feb. 9, 2012)

November 3, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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Literary agent Mary Kole has run three webinars for us before. They were so successful that we’re very excited to have her back for more. This new webinar on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 is an intensive on young adult and middle grade novel writing (and includes a critique of your book!). Since Mary has sold several YA and MG novels (debuts) in the past two years, she knows her stuff. Keep reading to learn more about “Middle Grade and Young Adult Craft Intensive: Telling Kidlit Stories in Today’s Market.” Read more

Agent Kathleen Ortiz Teaches How to Write a Great Query on Dec. 8, 2011 (Includes Query Critique!)

November 3, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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The query letter is that all-important first contact with literary agents. Before they opt to read your work, they have to be interested in you and your story — and that’s what the query letter does. We all know that composing a query is a completely different monster than writing a story. If you’re getting rejected at the query stage, don’t fret — we have an expert for you. Literary agent Kathleen Ortiz of Nancy Coffey Literary is teaching an intensive webinar on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 called “How to Hook an Agent or Editor With Your Query.” The new webinar features a query critique by Kathleen for every registrant. Read more

Special Giveaway: Win Tickets to See the New Alan Rickman Writing Comedy “Seminar” on Broadway

November 3, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 211
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We have a very special contest going down right now on the GLA Blog. Here’s the deal. There’s a new comedy on Broadway called “Seminar” that stars none other than Alan Rickman (bad guy in Die Hard, cheating husband in Love Actually, and, oh yeah, Snape in Harry Potter) as a writing instructor. Time Out New York gave it 5 stars and said Alan Rickman is hilarious in it and basically the man, which, naturally, we already knew. We’re giving away tickets on this blog. Keep reading if you want to win a pair! (Update: Winners picked on 1-10: lhinkey, Marta, gigig99 and shannon.kahle.) Read more

What’s Working in the Young Adult Market?

November 1, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 1
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1. Write What You Love: You should always write your first draft for yourself, telling the story you want to read and only you can write. I sat down for lunch at a conference with one of my authors, Jackie Morse Kessler, and she told me about a book she wanted to write someday, when she was a big enough name, about an anorexic girl who became the embodiment of Famine, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Miriam Kriss is an agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency representing commercial fiction and she represents everything from hardcover historical mysteries to all subgenres of romance, from young adult fiction to kick ass urban fantasies, and everything in between. Read more

Create an Author Website in 24 Hours or Less — New Webinar on Dec. 15

November 1, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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You absolutely need an author website. There’s just no other way to put it. An author website, even a very simple one, is a landing page for anyone who is searching for you or your writing specialties. People hesitate putting together an author website because 1) they don’t recognize the immediate value of it, and 2) they have no idea how to create one. Well, worry no more. We have enlisted social media guru Jane Friedman to teach a new two-hour intensive webinar on Dec. 12, 2011 called “Create an Author Website in 24 Hours or Less.” Click through to learn more. Read more

Writing Christian/Inspirational? Let an Agent Help You Get Published

November 1, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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Are you writing a book that’s considered Christian or inspirational? If so, get an agent’s eyes on your work. Literary agent Sandra Bishop (MacGregor Literary) is teaching an all-new webinar called “Get Your Christian Fiction and Nonfiction Published” on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011.

All webinar registrants are invited to submit a bio and platform statement. All submissions are guaranteed a critique by the instructor. Sandra Bishop will request more materials from authors who have an excellent book idea or who possess quality writing. Read more

New Agent Alert: Brooks Sherman of FinePrint Literary Management

October 31, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 0
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Brooks is seeking: On the adult side, literary and upmarket fiction running the gamut from contemporary (with an eye toward multicultural or satirical) to speculative (particularly urban/contemporary fantasy, horror/dark fantasy, and slipstream). Brooks also has a weakness for historical fiction and a burgeoning interest in crime fiction. For nonfiction, he is particularly interested in works that focus on current events, history, and pop science/sociology. On the children’s side, he is looking to build a list of boy-focused Middle Grade novels (all subgenres, but particularly fantasy adventure and contemporary), and is open to YA fiction of all types except paranormal romance. Read more

How I Got My Agent: Kevin Sheehan

October 30, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 6
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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.

GIVEAWAY: Kevin is excited to give away a free copy of his book to a random commenter. Comment within one week; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. The winner will receive either a copy of the ebook immediately or a copy of the print version upon its January 2012 release. (Update: JC won.) Read more

Literary Agent Barbara Poelle Teaches How to Write Crime / Thriller / Mystery Novels on Nov. 3 (Includes an Awesome Critique!)

October 30, 2011 | Chuck Sambuchino | Comments: 2
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Are you writing a novel that falls under the genres of crime, thriller or mystery? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you on Thursday, Nov. 3. Literary agent Barbara Poelle, who reps all kinds of crime and mystery novels (lots of debuts, too) is teaching a new intensive webinar called “From Cozy to Carnage: An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Thriller/Mystery Writing — For Both the Adult and YA Markets.” It’s a lot of instruction, and also comes with a critique of your query and first page, and an opportunity to simply get your work in front an agent. Read on to learn more. Read more

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