Literary Agent
Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit
I passed on a well-written proposal with a promising premise. The issue has to do with familiarity editors feel when considering projects. On many topics, the editor has probably seen some version in dozens of proposals & even books she's edited.The challenge is to stand out. You don't have to present totally new ground BUT you do have to present a fresh take. Do you have a new way to tell the story? Is your conclusion counterintuitive? Highlight the freshest, most unexpected aspects. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Lynn Jones Johnston @lynnjohnstonlit
Authors, if you see a rival book being published, hope with all your heart for its success. I recently submitted a project to an editor whom I thought would love it. She did. But her group published last year a book with overlapping themes that didn’t sell…Meaning my submission was a non starter there. The lesson is a good seller hurts no one & as a comp, paves the way for similar books, whereas a poor seller can wreck the category for everyone. TLDR: Wish other authors well. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Steven Hutson @wordwiselit
Don't be defensive and suspicious toward agents and publishers. It's a waste of energy and emotion. Instead, learn what a good deal looks like, and you'll know when the good isn't there. #pubtipBe defensive and suspicious toward agents that discourage you from protecting yourself, your work, your dreams, and your career. Educating yourself on what’s “good” applies to vetting your advocates and publisher. #pubtip
Editor
#pubtip for the #writingcommunity before #amquerying
If your book is more than 130k words, odds of someone picking it up drop exponentially. That's a huge commitment, for both editors and readers. Take a closer look and see if it can be broken into two books instead of one.
Literary Agent
What should I know before working with an editor? @janinerosche on @MyBookTherapy #writingtip #writing #pubtip learnhowtowriteanovel.com/blog/2021/10/2…
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Editor
Literary Agent
How to Start Speaking & Find Speaking Engagements from Susan U. Neal, @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson ow.ly/Bv0150GaAPR #speakingtips #writing #pubtip
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
I will be closing to submissions the end of the work day on Fri., 8/27, to catch up on submissions. Anything received before then will be reviewed.#publishing #pubtip
Literary Agent
Laura Portwood-Stacer, Jeopardy Champ (she/her) @lportwoodstacer
A lot of ppl will *only* read the introduction in an academic book. If you want them to cite your contributions and/or tell other ppl abt them, you’ve got to clearly state the takeaway(s) right there in the intro#Pubtip: Write your book intro last or plan to rewrite after you're done with the ms. The intro has to do A LOT: set up the argument, tease & intrigue, establish you as a credible messenger.
Literary Agent
Carlos Lozada @CarlosLozadaWP
Yes it’s unfair but I’m often skeptical of books with subtitle that begin “A Meditation on...” or “Reflections on...” or “Notes on...”It feels like a warning sign that the book does not come together into a cohesive whole.
Book titles are tricky! Think what you want to signal (literary, prescriptive). Is it searchable? (1 word titles are hard to google.) Look to comp titles as a guide. #pubtip
Literary Agent
Here's the full podcast where I talk with the fabulous @MGNinja about #writing, #agenting, passion of the arts and reality of the marketplace. If you are a writer or in the book business, take a peek. #MondayBlogs #amwriting #pubtip @JDLitAgency :) youtube.com/watch?v=AvgyTG…
Literary Agent
My advice if you’re working on a nonfiction book proposal and struggling with the overview: write how you got interested in the topic. What pulled you in? What made you want to write a book about it? Tell your origin story. #pubtip
Literary Agent
SamanthaDunn @SamanthaDunn
@MichelleRafter Exactly right. That's what a pro does. Missing an initial deadline isn't usually life-or-death in my magazine world, but communicating progress and setting expectations is vital.With books, confer with your agent in advance about missing a deadline. Usually ok as long you keep the editor informed. But since most contracts allow the publisher to cancel if you miss your due date, your agent can read the tea leaves and advise. #pubtip
Literary Agency
Why Publishing Your Book Takes So Long youtu.be/Gl12v3jgJz4 via @YouTube #Pubtip