This week! In Books! The Barnes & Noble sale to a hedge fund is still the talk of publishing folks. Any potential changes will reverberate through the industry. Publishing sage Mike Shatzkin (buy his book on the publishing industry!) runs down what it means. His conclusion? It will take more profound change than what’s been […]
Why it works: “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson
So much writing advice out there, including my own, starts from the premise of what not to do. Honestly, it’s often easier to articulate the things that don’t work in a novel than to pinpoint what does. In order to change that up, I’m going to introduce an occasional new feature on the blog where […]
Should authors have more control over their covers?
It often comes as a surprise to people that authors in the traditional book world don’t have that much control over their book cover. Approval is rare. Consultation is more common, but how meaningful and sincere that consultation is vary greatly. (I liked to joke when I was an agent that authors are often consulted […]
Why you should remove the word “ensues” from your query and synopsis and light it on fire
What’s your least favorite word? Is it “moist?” Well, sorry, you’re wrong. The worst word in the English language is “ensues.” The word “ensues” (I shudder just typing it) is bad enough on its own. In a query letter and/or synopsis it’s roughly the equivalent of kryptonite mixed with garbage that’s been baking in 100 […]
How to work with a literary agent on edits
When an agent offers to work with you on a revision without offering representation, it’s still a good sign! They’re interested. But it may also create some thorny situations for you. Here’s a rundown on how to work with a literary agent on edits. Why could this be a thorny situation? Your manuscript may already […]
Orwell’s “1984” turns seventy (This week in books)
This week! Books! George Orwell’s 1984 turned seventy years old this past week, and, well, everyone’s kinda wishing it weren’t quite so prescient. Two insightful reflections on Orwell’s classic dystopian masterpiece caught my eye this week: Louis Menand in The New Yorker and George Packer in The Atlantic. For me, no one can dispute Orwell’s […]