DEALBREAKERS: 5 Reasons Your Book Won’t Sell

DEALBREAKERS: 5 Reasons Your Book Won’t Sell

Jun 3, 2026 | On Writing

DEALBREAKERS: 5 Reasons Your Book Won’t SellFrom Career Authors — write. sell. repeat. 1. Your Protagonist Is not Smart and/or Brave and/or Relatable Is not unique in some way Doesn’t drive the action from beginning to end(Not all heroes wear capes.) 2....
Reading for Novelists: Top 10 Books about Writers

Reading for Novelists: Top 10 Books about Writers

Jun 1, 2020 | On Writing

Like all the writers I know, I’ve been reading a lot during this pandemic, for comfort and consolation and even comic relief. New novels, old classics, perennial favorites—many of which are about writers. I was reminded of this reading Lily King’s WRITERS & LOVERS...
Stalking the Big Idea

Stalking the Big Idea

Jun 10, 2019 | On Writing

These days, it’s all about The Big Idea. That’s what publishers are looking for. Think Hollywood, with more words. As an agent, I hear this every day from editors: I really like this story, but…. …but it’s too quiet. …but it’s too old-fashioned. …but it’s too...
New Book, New War Plan

New Book, New War Plan

Dec 11, 2017 | On Writing

Starting a new novel is like planning a war campaign. Strategy is everything, and in those early days of testing characters and settings and plot lines, it’s best to go in quietly, fully armed, surprising the elements of your story into submission. At least until you...

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