Welcome to Between the Lines, The Editorial Department's official e-zine and associated repository of original interviews, articles, craft essays, forums, and blogs intended to help writers and publishing professionals make sense of (and cope with) the publishing market today.

Regular Series

• Best of the Blogosphere: A collection of hand-picked recommended reading on writing and publishing for folks who like blogs and alliteration. New content added 7-30!
  
• Behind the Bestsellers: TED's compilation of three different bestseller lists with an analysis of possible trends, regional selling disparities, and the little debuts that could. Updated 8-4!
  

Writers on Writing

• Matt Richtel, Bestselling Author: New York Times journalist and debut author Matt Richtel discusses his experiences publishing his first novel, the difficult transition from news articles to manuscript, and his expectations for his future literary career. Read More

• Janet Burroway, Author and Writing Instructor:  Burroway offers her insights from years of writing and teaching. She dissects craft versus talent, the benefits of workshop, and her textbook, Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft.  Read More

• David James Poissant, Award Winning Short Story Writer: In the midst of quickly accumulating literary prizes, David James Poissant took the time to answer some needling questions on talent, perseverance, and sheer luck in his burgeoning career as a writer. Read More

• Dan Wickett, Writer & Publisher: Dan Wickett, owner of a new publisher specializing in literary fiction and webmaster of Emerging Writer's Network, takes a few minutes out of his busy schedule to let TED pick his brain on the fate of traditional publishing and the internet's growing lit community. Read More

• Kevin Smokler, Writer, Thinker, 'Maker of Mischief': Kevin Smokler, author of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times, discusses publishing’s change from dictatorship to democracy (for better or for worse), blogging’s uses and ever-growing popularity, and grass-root campaigns for publicity. Smokler states that getting published is a job just like any other—become a professional.  Read More

• John Rechy, Author: From a background as a published writer and experienced teacher, Rechy vents his discouragement at the business-minded publishing industry, the unsubstantiated claims of a PhD in writing, and the other numerous hurdles for the aspiring writer. Read More

Agents on Agenting

• Owen Laster, William Morris Talent Agency. TED founder Renni Browne chats with Owen Laster shortly after his retirement from one of the world's most successful talent agencies and his decision to leave publishing. Read More

• Interview with Adam Korn, Random House Assistant Editor. An insider’s look at the publishing industry, from outlining a book pitch at Random House, to tips for writers hoping to publish. Find out if Random House knowingly publishes crap, how to prove your chops as an assistant editor, and how the economy affects debut writers. Read More
  

• The Truth About First Novels, by Renni Browne. TED’s founder rebukes common misconceptions about today’s competitive publishing market. There’s always hope: “If publishers don’t sign up new writers today, they won’t have a supply of writers with track records tomorrow.” Read More

• The Dark Side of Publishing, by Lynne Marie Zerance. Zerance explores the motives of publishing market scammers, where TED stands on the backlash of their shady deals, and the internet heroes who help writers avoid them. Read More

• Industry Spotlight: Book Publicity, by Adriann Ranta. A professional spotlight on the often-overlooked job of the literary publicist. With in-house publicists having less and less time for individual attention, hiring your own may be your ticket. Read More 
• Exposure, Exposure, Exposure, by Lynne Zerance. From pitching yourself to the media to maintaining your own blog (you don’t already have one?!), columnist Lynne Zerance teaches how to generate publicity for your book. The market craves marketability? So be marketable! Read More
• Mark Levine, J.D.: What POD Contracts Really Say. Levine, author of The Fine Print: What Print-On-Demand and E-book Publishing Contracts Really Say, coaches the writer seeking to self-publish on what to avoid, contractual red-flags, and what to expect from publishing outside the pack. Read More

• Book Shepherds. Zerance defines the role of these publication consultants, their pros and cons, and whether they’re worth the money for your self-publishing endeavor. Book shepherd services can range from national distribution to help in choosing a title. Read More

The Economics of Publishing

• Book Advances, Royalty Checks, and Making a Living as a Writer.  Adriann Ranta explores the shadowy subject of book advances for first novels. Read More

• Interview with Rick Horgan, VP of Crown Books

• Interview with Brent Ghelfi, author

• Interview with Michael Loyd Gray, author

• Interview with Jessica Faust, Literary Agent

• Interview with Kelly Mortimer, Literary Agent

• How to Get Published in Literary Magazines, by Adriann Ranta. BTL's Managing Editor hashes out the basics of choosing, querying, and getting published in literary journals. Read more .

• The Art of the Sex Scene, by Catherine Knepper. One of TED’s editors—and Southern gentlewoman—Catherine Knepper coaches you from a “turgid, shuddering” first draft to an artful, dramatic climax. Or “Try out a couple of tawdry bodice-rippers just for comparison’s sake.”  Read More

• On Language, by Catherine Knepper. Knepper bullet points the most common grammar and spelling mistakes made by writers—none of us write that badly… right? A great refresher for everyone. Read More
  

• The Writer's Secret Weapon, by Renni Browne.  Renni explores the nuances of leaving stuff out. No reader likes things spelled out for them, and nothing prevents emotional investment like excessive “showing” instead of “telling”. As the Tool lyric says, “What became of subtlety?”  Read More

• Words That Earn Their Keep, by Betsy Tice White. One of TED’s very own editors, Betsy briefs the boons of rich language. Don’t use a penny when a thick, heavy, dully glittering British pound will do… (You get the idea.) Read More

• Characters: Making Them Real, by Renni Browne.  Let’s say you already know the plot of your next masterpiece. Who are its characters? Renni asks the questions and notes some sources that will make those characters real. Read More

• Five Short Steps to the Reject Pile, by Peter Gelfan. TED Editor Peter Gelfan outlines some common mistakes of the aspiring author.  Read More

• Interview with Alison Hawthorne Deming, MFA Program Director. A fellow sufferer of Tucson summers, Alison Deming answers some questions on MFA programs for creative writing as she takes a moment away from directing the University of Arizona's own creative writing curriculum. Deming also stresses the importance of grass root writing initiatives: a perennially daunting and inspiring process. Read More

• Fiction Genres Considered: A Guide for Writers: A guide to fiction genre and sub-genre.