Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog

This excellent blog is dedicated to sharing the latest and greatest instruction and information on literary agents, literary agencies, query letters, submissions, publishing, author platform, book marketing, and more.

If you’re an agent seeking submissions, an agency with a story to tell, or an author looking to share your success story, contact jessica.farris@fwmedia.com.

Transforming a Short Story Into a Novel

By: Guest Column | October 30, 2017 | Comments 1

When I first wrote my short story, “Escaping Time,” I intended for it to be a standalone piece about a teenage girl attempting to escape from a military brothel during World War II. I was satisfied with the final draft and even submitted it for publication in my creative writing program’s...

Agent Spotlight: Wendi Gu of Janklow & Nesbit

By: Cris Freese | October 30, 2017 | Comments 0

Reminder: New literary agents are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. While Wendi Gu is not a new literary agent, she is actively seeking new clients. About Wendi: Wendi grew up in the sleepy suburbs of...

An Interview with Award-Winning Author Bernice L. McFadden

By: Guest Column | October 27, 2017 | Comments 0

Bernice L. McFadden takes a break from penning award-winning novels to tells us about her literary journey. Bernice is the author of nine critically acclaimed novels including Sugar, The Warmest December, Gathering of Waters (one of The New York Times Editors’ Choice Books of 2012), and Glorious, which was featured in...

Research Tips for Writing Nonfiction

By: Guest Column | October 26, 2017 | Comments 0

I recently moved into a new house and office, and was faced with carting along decades of writing research in the process. Books, albums, boxes of photos, cassettes—that was the easy part. Assembling the stacks of files, the collapsed cartons of photocopies, insect-infested pamphlets and newspaper clippings, the 10,000 pages of...

Children’s Literary Agents Roundup: How to Write for Young Audiences

By: Guest Column | October 25, 2017 | Comments 0

Four agents who represent children’s literature, took time out of their busy day to share their insight and wisdom on platform, writing picture books, and writing for young audiences. If you want a better understand of what these agents are seeking in their submissions inbox and in their clients—and thus developing...

Building Self-Care Habits: Refilling the Creativity Well to Write Your Best Work

By: Guest Column | October 24, 2017 | Comments 0

In the writing community, we often talk about “refilling the well,” an idea that we understand conceptually, but is often lost in translation when we try to apply it to our lives. What does refilling the well actually look like and how do we make time for it in our already...

Meet Nic Stone, Debut Author of Bestselling Novel ‘Dear Martin’

By: Guest Column | October 23, 2017 | Comments 0

Nic Stone's poignant and timely Dear Martin hit the ground running on Amazon this past week, trending #1 in the YA literature category. Here, we talk with Stone about the book, her process and her advice for writers.

Agent Spotlight: Jennifer Chen Tran of Bradford Literary

By: Cris Freese | October 23, 2017 | Comments 0

Reminder: New literary agents are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. While Jennifer Chen Tran is not a new literary agent, she is still actively seeking new clients. About Jennifer: Jennifer Chen Tran is an agent...

30 Reasons to Read Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2018 (Plus a Giveaway!)

By: Cris Freese | October 20, 2017 | Comments 0

Yesterday was the official pub date of the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2018, though it’s been available in bookstores and on Amazon beforehand. The new edition is updated and packed with brand new info. While there are plenty of places you can turn to for information on the children’s publishing...

The Great Debate: To Prologue or Not to Prologue?

By: Guest Column | October 19, 2017 | Comments 2

As many of you know, book publishing industry professionals and readers alike have openly expressed their dislike of prologues. Act first, explain later. Great advice from James Scott Bell. Be careful with backstory and prologues. #writetip — Nat Russo (@NatRusso) September 30, 2017 Yes! Prologues don't work all the time, do...

Marketing & Sales Perspectives for Indie Authors

By: Guest Column | October 17, 2017 | Comments 0

I’ve considered myself a professional writer for a little over three years now, and I’ve learned a great deal about the publishing industry in that time. Much of how I think and what I do as an independently published author parallels the experiences of my traditionally published friends, but there are...

New Literary Agent Alert: Lexi Wangler of Massie & McQuilkin

By: Cris Freese | October 16, 2017 | Comments 0

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Lexi Wangler of Massie & McQuilkin) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. About Lexi: Lexi Wangler is a junior agent and foreign rights associate at Massie &...

How I Got My Agent: Julia Walton

By: Guest Column | October 12, 2017 | Comments 2

When I graduated from college in 2007, the economy tanked and it was viewed as unwise to seriously pursue any artistic endeavors. My family was thrilled that I had managed to secure a stable job in uncertain times and even though my heart was broken at the thought of working at...

Debut Authors Tell All: Ellie Terry, Middle-Grade Novelist

By: Cris Freese | October 11, 2017 | Comments 0

Every year the editor of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market compiles a handful of debut authors with unique stories to feature in the latest edition. In my first year as editor, I interviewed 21 debut authors for the 2018 book. And while you’ll have to pick up the latest copy of...

Switching Genres: How One Author Transitioned from a Young Adult Audience to Adult

By: Guest Column | October 10, 2017 | Comments 0

When I heard an author say that it took years to complete their latest book, I assumed they were lazy. I mean, I wrote thirty-one YA novels in ten years. During that time I also got a puppy, moved across the country, had two kids, went for (and failed) my California...

Meet the Agent: Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal Hoffman & Associates LLC

By: Cris Freese | October 9, 2017 | Comments 0

Born in Washington to an Irish family, Claire Anderson-Wheeler spent her formative years in Geneva, Brussels and Dublin, where she earned a law degree from Trinity College. In 2008, after getting her master’s degree in creative writing from the University of East Anglia, she dove headfirst into publishing, joining Christine Green...

The Pros & Cons of Working with a Small Publisher

By: Cris Freese | October 5, 2017 | Comments 1

As a new author or even if you have one or two books under your self-publishing belt, you may be thinking of entering the traditional publishing arena. I’ve been there and have had my share of rejections from the larger well-known publishing houses. But, I didn’t let that discourage me …...

7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Melissa Fraterrigo

By: Cris Freese | October 4, 2017 | Comments 2

“7 Things I’ve Learned So Far” (this installment written by Melissa Fraterrigo, author of GLORY DAYS) is a recurring column where writers at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction, as well as how they got their literary agent—by sharing seven things they’ve learned along their...

New Agent Alert: Kimberly Jago of Jago Ciro Entertainment

By: Cris Freese | October 2, 2017 | Comments 0

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Kimberly Jago of Jago Ciro Entertainment) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. About Kimberly: Kimberly Jago, owner/partner of Jago Ciro Entertainment, has been a talent manager...

7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Margaret Greenberg

By: Cris Freese | September 28, 2017 | Comments 0

“7 Things I’ve Learned So Far” (this installment written by Margaret Greenberg, co-author of PROFIT FROM THE POSITIVE) is a recurring column where writers at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction, as well as how they got their literary agent—by sharing seven things they’ve learned...

Successful Query: Jennieke Cohen & Agent Jennifer Unter

By: Cris Freese | September 27, 2017 | Comments 3

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 Jennieke...

7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Margaret Rogerson

By: Cris Freese | September 26, 2017 | Comments 0

“7 Things I’ve Learned So Far” (this installment written by Margaret Rogerson, author of AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS) is a recurring column where writers at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction, as well as how they got their literary agent—by sharing seven things they’ve learned...

New Agent Alert: Adrienne Rosado of Stonesong

By: Cris Freese | September 25, 2017 | Comments 0

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Adrienne Rosado of Stonesong) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. About Adrienne: Adrienne has spent the entirety of her career on the agency side of publishing and...

The Marketing Perspective of Query Letters: Turning Your Query Into Agent Bait

By: Cris Freese | September 22, 2017 | Comments 0

At some point in your writing life, you will have completed a manuscript and are ready to move forward on your path to become published. First, acknowledge what you’ve accomplished! The how-to-write learning curve, for most writers, is extensive. It involves classes, attending writers’ conferences, and participation in critique groups. You’ve...

5 Things the Screenwriting Business Taught Me About Writing

By: Cris Freese | September 21, 2017 | Comments 0

A confession: I bristled at being called a “screenwriter” while jacket copy for Magicians Impossible, my debut novel, was being finalized. Everyone else wanted that facet of my biography in; I wanted it out. I didn’t want to be “screenwriter with debut novel,” which to most reading pegs said debut novel...

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