Writing Editor Blogs
On Saturday, March 20, 2010, I will be presenting at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning in Lexington, KY—giving a two-hour speech on "Everything You Need to Know About Getting an Agent." Come out and see me! This is my first dealings with the Carnegie but it seems like they...
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 3/5/10)
I watch Twitter, so you don’t have to. Visit each Sunday for the week’s best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature. Also, quick plug: March is a phenomenal month for Writer’s Digest webinars, with three sessions...
Successful Queries: Agent Sharlene Martin and “You’ll Never Nanny in This Town Again”
This new series is called "Successful Queries" and I'm posting actual query letters that succeeded in getting writers signed with agents. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked.
The 28th installment in this series...
Agent Rachelle Gardner's Teaching a Webinar!
Exciting news. Literary agent Rachelle Gardner (well known for her super-awesome and popular publishing blog) will be teaching an online webinar on Thursday, March 11, on “How Do Agents and Editors Decide?” It’s a 90-minute online class guaranteed to be an info-filled bonanza of advice and tips for both fiction and...
Cover Band Soap Opera: Types of People at Shows, Vol. 2
Looking through all the pictures of my cover band shows, you start to see the same things over and over again. In other words, a lot of people who come to our shows fall under a certain grouping, and these posts will help show you some of the characters we see...
On Writer's Block
“It would probably be too strong a statement for me to say I don’t believe in ‘writer’s block.’ But I almost don’t believe in it. I think the term is a bit pretentious. I think everybody has days when his or her work is not flowing, no matter what the work...
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by F. Gerard Jefferson
This is a new 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 writer F. Gerard Jefferson.
F. Gerard Jefferson...
Agent Advice: Adam Chromy of Artists and Artisans Inc.
This installment features literary agent Adam Chromy, founder of Artists and Artisans Inc. As a screenwriter, he has established connections in the film industry, and his book deals have led to one New York Times bestseller. In 2002, he established Artists and Artisans Inc., a literary management company in New York...
25 Prompts to Fire Up Your Creativity this Weekend
By my count, Promptly will be hitting its 100th prompt anniversary next Friday (give or take a few days that featured multiple prompts). In addition to celebratory digital cake, in the posts leading up to our double-golden anniversary prompt, I’ll be featuring 25 writing prompts a day, in the order in...
New Agent Alert: Don Fehr of Trident Media Group
Reminder: Newer agents 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.
He is...
Demystifying Contracts: What Every Writer Should Know
At the SCBWI 2010 Winter Conference, agent Edward Necarsulmer IV (of McIntosh & Otis) gave a presentation called "The Real Deal about Contracts." At McIntosh & Otis, Necarsulmer handles his clients’ contracts with publishers. Other agencies have contracts departments. Either way, both agents and authors should understand the ins and outs...
A Sanctuary of Self-Acceptance
Today’s guest post is by the always remarkable Darrelyn Saloom. Follow her on Twitter, or dig around for more of her excellent tales. When I met author Neil White at the 2009 Louisiana Book Festival, I never imagined he’d once served an eighteen-month prison stint in the swampy landscape of the...
Literary Agent Interview: Tamar Rydzinski of Laura Dail Literary Agency
This installment features Tamar Rydzinski of The Laura Dail Literary Agency.
She is seeking: Tamar is not interested in prescriptive/practical nonfiction, humor, coffee table books or children’s books (meaning anything younger than middle grade). She is interested in everything else, providing it is well-written and has great characters.
Transforming fear and breaking through the writing wall
It hurts. Being pushed artistically. Being pushed to reach higher, dig deeper. Sometimes we’re pushed by a teacher, a mentor. Other times we have to push ourselves. Years ago I took an expressive dance class at Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City. I had always been interested in acting and...
Footnotes: 5 Articles on Writing Picture Books
“You have to write whichever book it is that wants to be written.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle Footnotes is a recurring series on the GLA blog where I pick a subject and provide several interesting articles on said topic. This week, I’m serving up five articles on writing picture books. 1. Ten Myths about...
Jon's question: Will showrunners read spec scripts of their own show?
Today’s question comes from Jon H., who writes… Q: In browsing through the magazine stand at Barnes & Noble, I noticed both Creative Screenwriting magazine and Script magazine this month have detailed articles on particular TV shows, with info on format, backstories, etc. to help readers pitch spec scripts to these...
Vooks: What are they, and where are they headed? A recap for writers as Anne Rice's new vook debuts.
With the new digital release of vampire queen Anne Rice’s 1984 story “The Master of Rampling Gate” today, the question arises for some readers and writers: What exactly is a Vook? Moreover, does it maybe even have a shot at becoming the new go-to book somewhere down the line? Essentially, a...
Your idea in motion
I’m realizing one thing that gets me stuck, that freezes me up, is that I want so badly to get it down perfectly the first time. Who was it that said our thoughts are always grander in our mind? That they can never compare to what we get down on the...
Get Agents to Like Your Characters and Keep Reading
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that one of my favorite books on writing is Save the Cat (and it's not even a WD book, so you know I'm telling the truth). Save the Cat is a modern-day look at structure and story, written by screenwriter...
7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Colette Martin
This is a new 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 writer Colette Martin.
Following a career as...
Monday creativity wake-up challenge: The Last Thing You Expected to See on the Menu
WRITING PROMPT: The Last Thing You Expected to See on the MenuFeel free to take the following prompt home or post your response (500 words or fewer, funny, sad or stirring) in the Comments section below. By posting, you’ll be automatically entered in our occasional around-the-office swag drawings. If you’re having...
How I Got My Agent: Ellen Bryson
"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,...
Kids Contest Winners Announced!
Judging is complete and here are the winners for the second “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, which focused on kids writing. Congratulations to all winners. We had about 400 entries, which was amazing. The current contest (goes till March 14) is for writers of YA and adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy....
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 2/26/10)
I watch Twitter, so you don’t have to. Visit each Sunday for the week’s best Tweets. If I missed a great Tweet, leave it in the Comments. Always welcome your suggestions on improving this weekly feature. Also, quick plug: March is a phenomenal month for Writer’s Digest webinars, with three sessions...
''Dear Lucky Agent'' Contest: Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance (For Both Teens and Adults)
Note from Chuck: It’s March 15, 2010, which means this contestis now closed. Thank you for entering. Winners should be announced within 7 days or so.Meanwhile, our next contest should startwithin a week or two, as well. —————————— “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest: Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Welcome to the third...