Recently I asked some writers about their deepest fear when it comes to writing. One of them flatly said “rejection.” Another said, “Will publishers take me seriously if I don’t have a platform?” I hear versions of this all the time not only from writers but from the chattering inside my own head as a […]
Earlier this month book-marketing expert Chad Cannon and I jumped on a video call to have a no-holds-barred conversation about all things publishing. Here are just some of the questions we covered: Tell us about the role of an acquisitions editor. What do you look for when you pursue an author or a project? What are […]
Recently I was on the phone with a writer who was trying to figure out the answer to this question: How do I write my book and build a platform at the same time? Many of us want to get our books into the world, but we also understand the power and importance of a […]
Recently I was talking with an author who is now working on his third traditionally published book. I was curious how the process worked for him. “How did you pitch the second book to your publisher?” I asked. “Oh, I didn’t, really. The first book was doing so well they came to me and asked […]
I’m excited to announce my 2016 Reader Survey. I’m really proud of this survey, not least because I think it serves multiple purposes. So without further ado here are three reasons to take my 2016 reader survey. 1. Taking the survey will help you think about your creative life. A good number (not all) of […]
I often laughingly say that the job of a literary agent is to be a therapist and coach as much as a negotiator and advocate. It’s funny, but it’s true. On an average day we’re just as likely to be talking an author off the ledge as negotiating a contract. Through this I’ve found one […]
This year I will review well over a hundred book proposals, and my personal goal is to acquire at least fifteen high-quality original books within the year. Just because I present a book in pub board does not mean I’ll acquire it because other publishers will also be pursuing it. Assuming a 50 percent success […]
In the sixties and seventies anyone who followed NFL football knew that Jim Marshall was a reliable player. In fact, when he retired from the Minnesota Vikings in 1979 no one in the league could match his record for consecutive starts and games played. But his otherwise spotless reputation for consistency faltered on October 25, […]
The #1 question writers ask me is, “How do I get my book published?” Too often they can’t get a straight answer to that question. They get vague responses that aren’t really actionable or helpful. That’s about to change. I’m going to share six strategies that are all but fail-proof for getting a traditional publisher interested in […]
Reader David Qaoud recently asked, “I understand that email subscribers are an important part of both platform-building and selling books, but I never hear a specific number from anyone. Generally speaking, how many email subscribers do I need to get a publisher’s attention? 1,000? 10,000?” I’ll answer the question directly first and then offer four more […]
