New Literary Agent Alert: Sarah Bedingfield of the Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agency
Literary agent Sarah Bedingfield is open to queries! She is looking for most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction.
9 Tips for Writers from The Outsiders Author S.E. Hinton
Fifty year ago, S.E. Hinton’s classic The Outsiders hit bookshelves for the first time. Today, it still continues to inspire readers. In this article, Writer’s Digest pulled 9 writing tips from a 2000 interview with the author.
How to Stop Yourself from Obsessing Over Duplicating Writing Success
After a few bylines, successful queries, or even a book contract, it can be easy to assume that success will come simply by duplicating your efforts. Instead, the exact opposite may be true: Writers must treat each work as separate, and stop trying too hard.
Mastering the Dreaded Synopsis
Follow these tips and suggestions from literary agent Kaitlyn Johnson to learn how to write a synopsis for your novel.
#DVpit Twitter Contest for Marginalized Voices
The Twitter contest #DVpit showcases pitches from marginalized voices. Over 50 literary agents and editors participate in the event, and 25 authors have been signed by agents in the past year.
New Literary Agent Alert: Joanna MacKenzie of the Nelson Literary Agency
Literary agent Joanna MacKenzie is open to queries! She is looking for women’s fiction, mysteries, thrillers, coming-of-age young adult stories, and more.
6 Tips on Writing from Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why)
From an interview in the 2009 edition of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, Jay Asher—author of Thirteen Reasons Why—shares six writing tips for authors looking to break in.
Successful Query: Margaret Rogerson & An Enchantment of Ravens
This post is part of a series called Successful Queries. It features actual query letter examples to literary agents that were successful for authors. In addition to the query letter, you’ll also see the thoughts from the writer’s literary agent as to why the letter worked. Today’s features debut author Margaret...
Writing, Compiling, and Arranging Short Stories in a Collection
Ronna Wineberg, founding fiction editor of the Bellevue Literary Review, shares her thoughts on compiling and arranging a short story collection—and the inherent difficulties and differences between that and simply writing a story.
Agent Update: Roseanne Wells of The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Literary agent Roseanne Wells of The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is open to queries! She is opening up to picture books, and is still interested in young adult, middle grade, literary fiction, and much more.
Reflections on Rejections: How I Learned to Query by Working as a Lit Agency Reader
After ninety-nine rejections from agents, and then even more from publishers, Shannon Parker learned to query by interning for a literary agency. And her inspiration for never giving up? Her six-year-old son.
4 Tips for Changing Genres Within Young Adult
If you’re trying to switch genres, you might find the road—and the writing—difficult. Here are four simple tips to follow for shifting gears within the Young Adult genre.
New Literary Agent Alert: Kaitlyn Johnson of Corvisiero Literary Agency
Literary agent Kaitlyn Johnson is open to queries! She is looking for young adult, new adult, and adult fiction in a variety of genres.
How to Develop a Street Team for Your Book
Promoting your book in a digital with a flooded marketplace is more difficult than ever. You need as much help as you can get. That’s where developing a street team to assist you can help. Here are some tips from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
10 Ways to Make Your Submission Stand Out in the Slush Pile
Literary agents receive thousands of solicited and unsolicited submissions in their respective query inboxes. As a writer, follow these 10 tips give yourself the best chance of standing out in the slush pile.
New Literary Agent Alert: Kortney Price of Holloway Literary
Literary agent Kortney Price of Holloway Literary is open to queries! She is looking for middle-grade, young adult, and new adult fiction.
The Benefits of Participating in Writing Contests on Twitter
The popularity of online writing contests on Twitter has exploded—and it’s time to take advantage of this unique way of making connections with agents and editors. Here are some important benefits of pitching your writing on Twitter.
New Literary Agent Alert: John Bowers of the Bent Agency
Literary agent John Bowers of the Bent Agency is open to queries! He is looking for Southern Gothic and Souther-influenced literary fiction, as well as science fiction and dystopian fiction. He’s also interested in narrative nonfiction.
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Tom Leveen
The publishing industry can leave you with more than a few bumps and bruises along the way—from changing agents to losing editors and struggling with marketing. Veteran author Tom Leveen shares seven things you need to know as you begin your authorial career.
Tips for Surviving a Book Tour from a Debut Novelist
Book tours can go a variety of ways—from a packed house, bolstered by the support of friends and your publisher, to a sparse crowd. Debut novelist Jason Rekulak shares a few tips for surviving your first book toor.
What Your Writing Life Looks Like as a Professional
The glamorous writer life—working eight hours a day on your manuscript, reviewing edits, and rolling royalty checks—may be more myth than fact. A writer’s life is very different, and much harder, after that first publishing contract. Here’s one writer’s story.
New Literary Agent Alert: Damian McNicholl of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Literary agent Damian McNicholl of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is open to queries! He is looking for literary and commercial fiction, as well as a variety of nonfiction subjects.
Two Smart and Simple Ways to Make Your Fiction More Original
If you’re writing a novel or a short story and want it to stand out, it’s essential that your writing be original. Here are two simple and effective ways to get you headed in the right direction.
New Literary Agent Alert: Claire Easton of Painted Words
Literary agent Claire Easton is open to queries! She is looking for a variety of children’s picture books, as well as young adult and middle grade fiction.