The Writer’s Dig
by Brian A. Klems
Online Editor Brian A. Klems covers everything about writing on his blog. From grammar to writing tips to publishing advice to best practices in finding an agent to fueling your creative fire, he’s got you covered by pulling in great tips (not just from himself but from from other published and award-winning authors, too). Check out his advice—your writing career will thank you. Read Brian’s Blog
Guide to Literary Agents Blog
by Cris Freese
The GLA blog keeps track of all news related to literary agents and writing conferences. Common features include agent interviews, new agency listings, agency profiles, upcoming conferences of interest, contests and other publishing opportunities, valuable writing resources, submission tips and information, and a blogroll of other agent blogs. Read the Guide to Literary Agents Blog
There Are No Rules
by the editors of Writer’s Digest
Get on the cutting edge of today’s publishing trends and how authors can succeed in a world of fast-paced technological change, guided by the editors of Writer’s Digest. You’ll get an inside look at the work, play, and passion of the publishing business and find practical tools for success. Read There Are No Rules
Poetic Asides
by Robert Brewer
Published poet Robert Lee Brewer blogs on issues affecting poets from the poet’s perspective. As the editor of Writer’s Market, Brewer also shares insights on the publishing industry, especially as it relates to poetry and the poetry markets. He also explains poetic forms, interviews other published poets, and provides the occasional poetry prompt. Read Robert’s Blog
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 20th installment in this series is with agent...
People often ask me what I am working on. And so I tell them the truth: I’m working on a story collection. The reaction is often the same: a pained expression, a sigh, or once—someone rubbed my arm with sympathy. And then there are the people that lean in and whisper: Is it...
"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...
Interesting, but sad, article in this morning’s Variety… detailing the WGA’s 2009 Hollywood Writers Report about diversity amongst writers. And it turns out… there isn’t much. “White males continue to dominate in both the film and television sectors,” says Darnell Hunt, the UCLA professor who wrote the study. “Although women and minorities closed the...
Literary journals—If you’re like me, you’ve circled them in a bookstore at one time or another in your writing life, sniffing at their doors, dazzled by their contents, wondering what they’re all about and just how the authors found their way in. While I talked to different editors and agents for the literary journal...
Q: What’s the difference between “lead” and “led”?—Jake S. A: “Lead” has two specific meanings. As a noun, lead (pronounced like “bread”) is a metallic element. It’s labeled on the periodic table as “Pb” and sometimes found in really old paint. The U.S. government banned lead paint in 1978. Lead pencils aren’t actually made...
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 Mike Chen. Mike Chen is a professional copywriter, and...
Literary agent Irene Goodman of the Irene Goodman Agency in New York is auctioning off 25 critiques this December, with all proceeds going toward Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Deafness Research Foundation. If you’ve ever wanted to get a thorough critique from someone who knows their stuff and has helped launch some amazing writers’...
Wanted to pass along a pretty cool website… For those of you who don’t need all the bells and whistles (or pricetags) of Final Cut or Avid, but still want to edit home movies or online videos, check out JayCut— a simple online editing application that lets you upload and edit videos, then put...
1. Make sure both of you agree how you like to communicate. If it’s by e-mail, confirm that you have the best address (many people have multiple addresses). If you change your e-mail address, make sure this is communicated as well. Also, keep your agent updated on all of your points of contact. That...
They’re not hard to spot: One-dimensional. Predictable. Occasionally drawing up half-hearted ruses and doomsday scenarios, perhaps with a cigar and some maniacal laughter. Bad bad guys. So what’s a key to breaking out of the stale villain mold, no matter what you write? Stephen King offers his thoughts in today’s installment from the Top...
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. Best of Best Great post from an agent about why books are rejected@BubbleCow @RachelleGardner on when/how a book...
This installment features Ann Collette with the Helen Rees Literary Agency. Ann has agented for 10 years. She previously wrote for Fiction Writer magazine, and contributed to The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing. She is looking for: "Adult fiction of all types, with the exclusion of sci fi and fantasy. I also do a certain...
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 seeking: He will...
For anyone who follows the ridiculous adventures of my Cincinnati rock cover band, you may have noticed that I don’t put video up of us. Truth is, I’m self-conscious. Someone missed a note, or this didn’t sound right, or that’s blurry, blah blah blah. Well, no more of that. This is my band...
Q. I have completed several chapters of a nonfiction work dealing with a subject that has not been previously written about in other publications. I am confident that I can speak in front of many professional organizations on my topic, as it is unique, and relevant to the field. I also feel it will be...
This is so cool. Very soon after holding a copy of the new 2010 Guide to Literary Agents in my hand thsi summer, I got some more good news: my other new book, Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed. is out and available now. Awesomeness. When asked if I would helm the third edition of Formatting...
Whenever my nonfiction gets personal and I write a column or essay featuring myself as a character, I tend to really cut loose—and often end up with 3,000 words for a 750-word piece. I’m powerless: As soon as “I” comes into play, my internal journalist and editor takes a coffee break and returns, aghast,...
5 writing exercises/ prompts from Escaping into the Open: The art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg to help keep you writing through the weekend: 1. A very old woman, in her nineties, is taken to lunch by her teenage grandchildren. She tells them something surprising. What is it, and how does it...
I have a writing injury! Can’t you tell I’m proud? It’s true. I have a certifiable writing injury. I went to the podiatrist recently and he told me that the large bump on my ankle which I believed to be a tumor that I would immediately die from was actually just a writing...
Kate Schafer Testerman with KT Literary. After nearly ten years with industry powerhouse agency Janklow & Nesbit Associates, Kate formed KT literary in early 2008, where she concentrates on middle grade and YA fiction as well as diving into some adult commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. Bringing to bear the experience of working with...
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. She is seeking: strong literary...
The Agency Gatekeeper Blog and Georgia McBride’s site let me know about this new contest by St. Martin’s Press. Previously, we’ve talked about the emerging genres of cyberbilly, elegant erotica, and quagmire fiction. Now it’s “New Adult.” (By the way, I love subgenre categories – I find that stuff fascinating.)Here’s the gist: “St. Martin’s...
I’m writing this while sitting in the office of our Co-Executive Producer, Rick Qualliotine—the only person at The Wanda Sykes Show who has actually PAINTED HIS OFFICE… making this easiest the coolest office in the place (one wall is a bright warm orange-yellow). Rick started his career in theater, producing plays and stage shows,...
Susan Shapiro “Three pages can change your life.” This is what Susan Shapiro, prolific author and writing teacher said to me during an email conversation today. Susan teaches essay writing and many of her students have published 900 word essays in the New York Times, Newsweek, and Self magazine that have led to career...
