Blogger: Rachel Kent
I was happy to go to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference for one day this year, even though I wasn’t on faculty, to meet with my clients. (BTW, I love Mount Hermon’s writers conference, so if you ever get a chance to go, you should!)
One client was in a critique track at the conference and was also having appointments with editors and publishing professionals. She ended up receiving critiques that were polar opposites. One group loved her book and thought everything about it was perfect. The other group had a lot to say about what she could improve.
This lead to an emotional roller coaster and a lot of confusion for my client. I had read her book, and I absolutely loved it and thought it was just about perfect. So I was able to reassure her, and I asked her to send me a list of the changes she was thinking of making so I could help her to evaluate if she should go ahead with them.
If you are ever faced with conflicting critiques, here are a few suggestions for you: (more…)
By Rachel Kent on Apr 4, 2012 in Authors, Blog, Business of writing, Writing Craft, Writing Life | 36 Comments
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Today I’m packing up and leaving the giant redwoods, home of the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference, one of the oldest and most respected conferences. I’ll be traveling much of today so I may not get to join…
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By Wendy Lawton on Apr 3, 2012 in Blog, Business of writing | 38 Comments
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Last week I sang editors’ praises, saying these individuals need to have a bigger voice in publishing, serving the much-needed role of tastemakers and gatekeepers. Today I want to tell you why I don’t like editors, the…
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By Janet Grant on Apr 2, 2012 in Authors, Blog, Writing Craft, Writing Life | 42 Comments
Blogger: Mary Keeley
In my March 22 blog “3 Tips to Prepare Content for New Technologies,” Cynthia Ruchti brought up a good point about permissions as they relate to imminent new technologies. Since general questions also have been asked in recent…
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By Mary Keeley on Mar 30, 2012 in Authors, Blog, Business of writing | 29 Comments
How to Read More Blogs in Less Time
(Announcing our drawing for a KINDLE FIRE! See below.)
Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
How are you reading this blog right now? Was it delivered to your email box? Is it in your Google Reader, or does it…
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By Rachelle Gardner on Mar 29, 2012 in Blog | 119 Comments
Blogger: Rachel Kent
SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie and would like to, do not read this post!!!
I went to The Hunger Games movie last Friday, and the grade I’d give it is a B-. I’ve…
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By Rachel Kent on Mar 28, 2012 in Blog, Fiction, Teen books | 35 Comments
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
The long-awaited letter arrives in that dual creased self-addressed, stamped envelope you remember tucking into the proposal and sample chapters you sent an agent many months ago. When your query resulted in an invitation to send that proposal,…
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By Wendy Lawton on Mar 27, 2012 in Blog, Book Proposals, Finding an Agent | 70 Comments
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
The American Association of Publishers recently held its annual meeting in New York, with best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell as the closing speaker. The theme of his message: We need an editor.
Gladwell used a variety of real-life anecdotes…
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By Janet Grant on Mar 26, 2012 in Authors, Blog, Publishers, Reading | 50 Comments
Blogger: Mary Keeley
Do you like the new, more interactive format of our Books & Such blogs? Adding the photos makes it feel almost like Skype or Google+ when we comment back and forth. And having the blogger’s reply appear just…
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By Mary Keeley on Mar 23, 2012 in Blog, Business of writing, Social Networking | 35 Comments
Blogger: Mary Keeley
An explosion in ebook technology is imminent. Some say we’ll see major innovations this year. I can sense angst—maybe fear—of the unknown. But anticipating these and doing some advance planning will help to alleviate negative reactions and increase…
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By Mary Keeley on Mar 22, 2012 in Authors, Blog, Writing Craft, Writing Life | 34 Comments
