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authors_share_their_biggest_surprise_in_the_publishing_process
Business of Writing

10 Authors Share Their Biggest Surprise in the Publishing Process

There are so many mysteries of publishing for authors, whether they're on their first book or have published several. This post collects the biggest surprise in the publishing process for 10 published authors.

  • By Robert Lee Brewer
    Dec 16, 2020
secrets_of_the_self_employed_tips_for_freelance_writing_success_dustin_grinnell_greg
Business of Writing

Secrets of the Self-Employed: Tips for Freelance Writers

Dustin Grinnell shares tips from a veteran contractor (his dad) that apply to freelance writers as well. Use these secrets of the self-employed to find more success with your freelance writing business.

  • By Dustin Grinnell
    Sep 14, 2020
creating_an_author_success_map_marissa_decuir
Build My Platform

Creating an Author Success Map: Why Reasonable Expectations Can Help Grow Your Author Brand

Marissa DeCuir shares her three-step process for creating an author success map that helps writers identify and personalize success benchmarks for their writing careers. With reasonable expectations, writers can find more success.

  • By Marissa DeCuir
    Sep 5, 2020
7 best publishing news
From the Magazine

Writer's Digest Best Publishing News and Resource Websites 2020

Here are the top publishing news and resource websites as identified in the 22nd Annual 101 Best Websites from the May/June 2020 issue of Writer's Digest.

  • By Cassandra Lipp
    Aug 26, 2020
publishing_faqs_for_writers_robert_lee_brewer
Business of Writing

25 Publishing FAQs for Writers

In this post, find 25 frequently asked questions that Writer's Digest editors receive along with answers to those publishing FAQs for writers.

  • By Robert Lee Brewer
    Jul 8, 2020
gary_reilly_25_unpublished_novels_mark_stevens
Business of Writing

Gary Reilly's 25 Unpublished Novels: How a Great, Late Writer Lacked This One Necessary Thing to Find Writing Success in His Lifetime

The late Gary Reilly wrote 25 novels in his lifetime, but it wasn't until a year after his death that the first ones started to get published to enthusiastic acclaim. Mark Stevens shares what caused this disconnect and how others can avoid Reilly's fate.

  • By Mark Stevens
    Jun 16, 2020
how_do_writers_get_paid_for_their_writing_robert_lee_brewer
Freelance Writing

How Do Writers Get Paid for Their Writing?

How do writers get paid for their writing? In this post, we'll dive into how writers can get paid, what they need to keep in mind when it comes to the timing of payment, and why contracts are so important.

  • By Robert Lee Brewer
    Jun 11, 2020
how_long_does_it_take_to_get_a_book_published_robert_lee_brewer
Business of Writing

How Long Does It Take to Get a Book Published?

Writing a book is one thing, but how long does it take to get a book published? What variables come into play? Are there things a writer can do to speed up the process? We dive into these questions and more.

  • By Robert Lee Brewer
    Jun 9, 2020
Image placeholder title
Business of Writing

The 7 Deadly Sins of Editors (According to Novelists)

A healthy relationship between editor and novelist can send your story to heavenly heights, but a poor partnership deserves its own special circle of hell. Longtime writer-editor duo Steven James and Pam Johnson discuss where editors go astray.

  • By Guest Column
    Oct 29, 2018
Writer's Digest Annual Conference
Business of Writing

The Difference Between an Author-Author and an Author-Entrepreneur and Why You Need to Know

If you want to write a book, for whatever reason, it’s important to know what kind of author you actually want to be so you know what strategy to use to sell books. Vickie Gould explains the difference and why it matters.

  • By Guest Column
    Aug 30, 2018
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Business of Writing

6 Lessons Learned from a Year of 101 Rejections

Natalie D-Nalopeon discusses valuable lessons learned and victories from a year in which she aimed to reach 101 rejections for her writing.

  • By Guest Column
    Jan 22, 2018
Leslie 2015final-featured
Business of Writing

Don’t Scrimp on an Editor

After writing my memoir for over four years, I was finished, right? Wrong. I didn't realize I needed help whipping my manuscript into shape. Using a professional editor helped me do just that.

  • By Guest Column
    Nov 17, 2015
barbara
Business of Writing

How'd Ya Get Me?: A Love Story From a Literary Agent Looking For Writers

Well, hello there! I'm an agent. Aloof and hard to snare, like this season's Prada bag or a yeti. I know what you're wondering: How do you stand out in a query in box along with the 497 other queries? I have the secrets here.

  • By Guest Column
    Sep 21, 2015
Carol-Merchasin
Business of Writing

3 Practical Tips on Reading Your Work to an Audience

  • By Guest Column
    Mar 19, 2015
MyLastKiss
Business of Writing

8 Unexpected Lessons From Working with a Literary Agent

I had two full manuscripts and one partial out with various interested agents when I got the email. The email that said Stacey read my manuscript and wanted to set up a time to discuss it. I’d been rejected by 14 other agents already, so I wasn’t even sure what that meant. Then I got the call. Thus began a string of very important lessons for my writing career. Here they are.

  • By Brian A. Klems
    Aug 5, 2014
questions-to-ask-an-agent
Business of Writing

5 Questions Writers Should Ask Potential Agents

Here’s a list of the five most crucial questions you should ask any agent before agreeing to join her client list.

  • By Brian A. Klems
    Jun 26, 2014
Screen Shot 2014-12-17 at 3.39.23 PM
Business of Writing

How to Be a Writer Literary Agents Want

All agents, admittedly or not, have a wish list—markers that help us determine which writers are primed for our representation. With hundreds of projects flooding our inboxes daily, writers who follow these simple guidelines can catch the eye of an agent and rise like a lotus blossom out of the slush pile. Here’s how to do it.

  • By Guest Column
    Jun 17, 2014
brian-klems-2013
Business of Writing

Funny You Should Ask - Agents, Rough Drafts and More

Agent Barbara Poelle tackles reader questions giving thoughtful (and funny) answers.

  • By Guest Column
    May 17, 2014
New Headshot Nina Amir
Business of Writing

Do You Have What Publishers Really Want?

BY NINA AMIR If you are a writer who dreams of landing a traditional publishing deal, you might have a nagging question in your mind. It’s probably phrased something like, “Is my book idea what a publisher wants?” In fact, a better question to ask yourself is, “Do I have what publishers really want?” What publishers seek in an aspiring author doesn’t only involve your book idea or even your writing. These are a big part of what they consider in their decision making process, but they are not the only things.

  • By Guest Column
    Apr 8, 2014
how_do_book_advances_work_for_writers_brian_a_klems
Finances

How Book Advances Work - A Simple Explanation for Writers

Here's the breakdown on what you need to know when signing a book contract that includes an advance, including what it means and how it works.

  • By Brian A. Klems
    Mar 10, 2014
New Headshot Nina Amir
Business of Writing

8 Reasons Every Book Needs a Business Plan to Achieve Success

No matter how you want to publish, and whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you should produce a business plan for each and every book you write and publish—before writing a word of your manuscript. Let me offer you eight good reasons why I believe this is an important practice if you want to achieve success as an author.

  • By Guest Column
    Mar 3, 2014
how to blog a book | blog to book
Business of Writing

4 Reasons You Need a Business Plan for Your Book

No matter how you want to publish your book, a business plan helps you produce a marketable, which equates to a successful, book. Here's what you need to consider.

  • By Guest Column
    Sep 16, 2013
book_contract_whats_negotiable_and_whats_not_brian_a_klems
Contracts and Legal Considerations

Book Contract: What's Negotiable and What's Not

Here's a list of everything you should ask about when negotiating a book publishing contract, including royalty vs. flat fees, second use rights, and more.

  • By Brian A. Klems
    Jan 11, 2013
publishing_contracts_101_what_you_need_to_know_to_protect_your_work_paul_s_levine
How to Publish a Book, Get Published

Publishing Contracts 101 (What You Need to Know to Protect Your Work)

Make sure your agreement protects you—and your book. Here are 6 key terms/areas you need to address in your publishing contract before signing on the dotted line.

  • By Paul S. Levine
    Oct 6, 2009
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