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Query letter
The Business of Being an Author: Email Etiquette
by, Jill Swenson
February 16, 2021

When you send an email to query an agent or publisher, or to pitch a podcast or book review, do you sometimes wonder whether your message disappeared into cyberspace because you did not receive a response? Did it end up in a spam folder? Is no response a “no”? Could your email address be the problem? If you’re using an account from AOL, Yahoo, or… [Read More]

Filed Under: email tips, professional author email, Query letter
3 Comments
How to prepare for a radio interview
by, Jill Swenson
August 8, 2017

ONE:  Your publisher or your publicist will need to send a query letter to the producer of the radio program. It’s much better to have someone else query for radio interviews on your behalf. But doing most of the work to assist your publisher or publicist in booking radio interviews will increase your chances significantly. And if you are a nonfiction writer, there is a… [Read More]

Filed Under: hook, interview questions, Query letter, Radio interview
2 Comments
ARROWS author Melissa Gorzelanczyk’s unusual road to publication
by, Nikki Kallio
January 26, 2016

The launch of Green Bay author Melissa Gorzelanczyk’s debut Young Adult novel ARROWS (Delacorte Press, 2016) is one example of how social media can play an important role in author success. Melissa’s novel ARROWS is a modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV’s Teen Mom,” according to Melissa’s website. Her novel also has… [Read More]

Filed Under: #PitchMad, Arrows, Brenda Drake, Carrie Howland, Delacorte Press, Donadio & Olson, hashtags, Melissa Gorzelancyzk, Pitch Fests, Query letter, Twitter
2 Comments
Do you need an agent and, if so, how do you know which one is right for you?
by, Jill Swenson
September 17, 2013

So you think you need an agent? Most agents do not represent poetry, short stories, non-fiction or material suitable for academic or small presses. If you have written a novel or a memoir, you might consider finding a literary representative. The best reference guide is Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents published annually by Writer’s Digest Books and the 2014 issue has just been released. Before you… [Read More]

Filed Under: AAR, agent, Chuck Sambuchino, Guide to Literary Agents, Publisher's Marketplace, Query letter, Writer's Digest
No Comments
Hurry up and wait. Query and submission timelines.
by, Jill Swenson
June 30, 2012

If you have a book manuscript and you think you are ready to pursue publication, there is a timeline you should consider before letting your horse out of the gate before the race even begins. I’ve seen too many great book concepts go nowhere, because when they send a query letter out, they don’t have a proposal ready to go. Yes, a book proposal. When… [Read More]

Filed Under: book proposal, Competitive Title Analysis, manuscript, marketing strategy, Publishers, Query letter
2 Comments
Work Up Your Pitch
by, Jill Swenson
January 3, 2012

Writing a query letter that hooks an agent or acquisitions editor for your non-fiction book concept is the golden key that opens the door to publishing. So how do you hook ’em? Think of your query letter as a sales pitch for the book. Accept the fact that those who read your initial correspondence are trained, so to speak, to judge books by their covers and make their  first impressions based on marketability…. [Read More]

Filed Under: acquisition editor, agent, elevator speech, Hollywood 30-second pitch, Pitch, Query letter
No Comments
Landing an agent or publisher for your non-fiction book
by, Jill Swenson
December 27, 2011

You might think you have a non-fiction book concept worth publishing, but in order to convince an agent or publisher of that you will need a winning query letter and full proposal. Writers tend to focus too narrowly on the ideas and content of their manuscript and lose perspective on the purpose of a book proposal. Think of it as a business plan. If you wanted… [Read More]

Filed Under: Acquisition Editors, agents, Book Development Editor, copyedit, non-fiction book proposal, Publishing, Query letter
1 Comment
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