At a writer’s conference a lot like AWP, an instructor said to me, pretty ominously, I thought, “Getting your first book published will just be the start of all your troubles.”
Month: March 2018
Kickstarter’s Tips on Launching a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
Crowdfunding continues to be a viable way to get independent projects funded, whether for literary journals, publishers, or individuals. Kickstarter alone has helped artists produce numerous projects in the book world
Insider Advice on Novel Publishing: Getting the Agent
Publishing is a world of unspoken rules and traditions that one can, and does, unknowingly violate. It’s kind of like navigating a minefield, but this AWP 2018 panel offered the beginnings of a map.
Working on Writing While Working: The Life-Work-Art Balance
Every writer deals with impostor syndrome to a greater or lesser degree—uncertain just how much they’re allowed to think of themselves as a writer, and how much they should let this identity dictate their lives.
Breaking Down the Nonfiction Book Proposal
A book proposal is a regular part of publishing a nonfiction book for most writers. Novelists and poets still typically need a full manuscript for publishers to consider, but for nonfiction books it’s quite the opposite—publishers and agents don’t even necessarily want an entire book to consider.
Authors Helping Authors: How Banding Together Can Help Boost Your Book’s Visibility
Writing groups can serve multiple purposes: to share craft advice and writing experiences and to increase visibility of authors’ books. A writer can never predict how quickly her book will take off after the launch, and having a group of writers who share the book will create a better chance for ongoing visibility.
Finding Grants for Your Writing
The key to receiving grants is to apply for them steadily, plus the funding you seek should be tied to a purpose. But don’t expect them to equate to a full-time living. Most writers who receive funding have full-time or several part-time jobs that keep them above water.
Going Viral: Marketing and Promotion in the Digital Age
It is difficult to quantify the value of social media. Even though you can track the number of people reached or how many people viewed something, it is difficult to quantify the building of relationships.
What Agents Want: An Extremely Important Relationship
Three literary agents discuss what type of work they’re looking for, how they evaluate queries and submissions, and how they work with clients.
The Secret to Successful Author Events
Professionalism is the key to making your event a success. In addition to arriving on time and prepared to connect with the audience, every author should have a press kit, a promotion plan and prepared talking points.