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Articles and blog posts by Editorial Department staff on finding a literary agent, getting published, being published, and the traditional publishing marketplace in general.

Keep it or Cut it? Four questions to help you get your manuscript down to size

[by Whitney Bak]

When an editor takes the literary equivalent of a hedge trimmer to your bountiful, blossoming book baby, the process can feel more than a little personal. While some authors begin working with an editor in the very early stages of developing their manuscript, many don’t solicit editorial help until they’ve produced a […]

By |2022-09-14T16:07:15+00:00|Getting Published, The Writer’s Craft, WB|Comments Off on Keep it or Cut it? Four questions to help you get your manuscript down to size
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Considering Eight Bestselling Series in Crime Fiction What authors can learn from John Sandford, Lee Child, CJ Box, and others about how to cultivate a loyal readership

[by Ross Browne]

One piece of advice authors who write popular fiction often hear is that your odds of landing an agent and a traditional publishing deal can improve considerably when your novel is conceived as (or has the potential to work as) a series. This should come as no surprise to anyone who enjoys settling down […]

By |2022-02-16T17:55:55+00:00|Behind The Bestsellers, Genre, Getting Published, Mystery / Suspense, RSB, The Writer’s Craft, Traditional Publishing|Comments Off on Considering Eight Bestselling Series in Crime Fiction What authors can learn from John Sandford, Lee Child, CJ Box, and others about how to cultivate a loyal readership
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Paths to Publishing: Thinking Ahead A primer on traditional and independent publishing options for 2022

[by Ross Browne and John Robert Marlow]

Publishing has changed a lot in the 40 years since The Editorial Department opened its doors—and not necessarily for the better, in the eyes of many. But it’s nonetheless an exciting time to be a writer, in large part because when it comes to getting published, you have more […]

By |2022-02-15T18:20:10+00:00|General, Getting Published, JRM, Self Publishing, Traditional Publishing|Comments Off on Paths to Publishing: Thinking Ahead A primer on traditional and independent publishing options for 2022
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WRITING A KILLER THRILLER by Jodie Renner Review from the perspective of a working writer

In Writing a Killer Thriller, Jodie Renner covers all the elements necessary to create a compelling thriller. Clearly structured and easy to read, with examples from popular novels and movies, Writing a Killer Thriller offers a wealth of important information for the new (thriller) writer and can serve as a helpful refresher and reference book for […]

By |2022-05-03T23:47:27+00:00|Getting Published, LF, Mystery / Suspense, Recommended Reading, The Writer’s Craft, Thriller|Comments Off on WRITING A KILLER THRILLER by Jodie Renner Review from the perspective of a working writer
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Evaluating Nonfiction: One Editor’s Approach What can set your nonfiction manuscript up for success ... or doom it to the reject pile

[by Peter Gelfan]

Fiction lives or dies by the author’s storytelling and writing skills (and perseverance and some luck). For nonfiction, then, one might assume that likewise, an interesting topic well elucidated will do the job. However, the publishing industry and readers regard nonfiction a bit differently.

Subject Matter

Publishers generally have certain prerequisites for even considering […]

By |2022-02-21T18:11:32+00:00|Developmental Editing, Getting Published, nonfiction, PG, The Editor’s Craft, The Editorial Process, Traditional Publishing|Comments Off on Evaluating Nonfiction: One Editor’s Approach What can set your nonfiction manuscript up for success ... or doom it to the reject pile
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The Truth about First Novels and Traditional Publication What authors need to know

[by Renni Browne]

What you might hear:

  • “Acquisitions editors at major publishing houses don’t want to read first-novel submissions.”
  • “Literary agents don’t want to take on unknown writers anymore.”
  • “Publishers only want novelists who have a strong platform or a great track record of book sales.”
  • “If by a miracle you get a first novel published, it’ll […]
By |2022-02-15T20:34:15+00:00|Getting Published, RDB, Traditional Publishing, Trends|Comments Off on The Truth about First Novels and Traditional Publication What authors need to know
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