You’ve heard this: You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. The same mindset holds true for writing. You have to submit to a lot of literary journals before you find the perfect fit for your story or essay. You have to query a lot of agents before you find … Read More
Introducing Juliet McDaniel
Photograph of Juliet McDaniel by Dianna Gonzalez. I recently shared the news my fiction manuscript was selected as the Book Winner in Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition. But, as if that wasn’t so much more than enough, I was also picked as one of three Mentorship Prize Winners. What does that mean? It … Read More
What to Do While You’re Waiting
Last week, I offered tips on how to research literary agents. But suppose you’ve done your homework, queried a dozen or so agents, and are impatiently waiting to hear back. Now what? The wait may be long. Agents are inundated with submissions. You can generally expect to a wait at least two to three months … Read More
Places to Research Agents for Free or Cheap
Your book is finished. You wrote that horrible first draft, rewrote and revised your manuscript several times, and put it through its paces: beta readers, developmental edits, line edits, copyedits. You’ve taken that first-draft lump of coal and turned it into a diamond. You’re ready to find an agent. Where do you start? Here are … Read More
Celebrating the Wins
I’m celebrating a big win today. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now. But before I do, I want to tell you about my win, not to brag, although I’m proud of the accomplishment, but because it’s a perfect example of something I want you to know and to believe with all your heart: … Read More
KISS Your Manuscript
KISS: Keep it simple, scribbler. When I’m working with writers, I ask that manuscripts be submitted to me in Times New Roman typeface, 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and a half-inch indentation at each new paragraph. Why? Well, yes, it makes my job easier–help me help you and all that. But most importantly, this … Read More