Writers’ Revenge
Did you know that J.K. Rowling, Ernest Hemingway, Vladimir Nabokov, John Grisham, Ursula LeGuin, and Upton Sinclair were all roundly or rudely rejected by editors? Learn all the shocking and funny details—and... [Read more]
Want More Writing Jobs? Try This Simple Trick.
You might be surprised how many writers don’t have business cards. Or maybe you don’t have them yourself—in which case I strongly urge you to get some ASAP. (You can get them very cheaply at any... [Read more]
The Informalities of the Publishing Business
Publishing is a first-name business. Those of us in the field almost never refer to each other as Mr. or Ms., even if we’re strangers. Our letters and emails typically begin, “Dear Katinka,” “Dear... [Read more]
Coercive Publishers: When to Walk Away
Most publishers are both honest and willing to compromise, at least on some things. Yes, they try to pay writers a little and get a lot—but that’s the same thing you hope for when you shop at Target... [Read more]
Pushing Politely with Your Editor
When negotiating a publishing deal, it’s not uncommon for editors to say, “We’ve never done that before” or, “That’s not how we normally work.” Most authors interpret such statements to mean,... [Read more]
Would You Have Panned Hemingway?
When Ernest Hemingway was a young man, he took a course in creative writing. His instructor, who was deeply unimpressed, told Hemingway that he lacked talent and urged him to let go of his dreams of... [Read more]
Initiative and Integrity in the Writing Business
In a recent post, I explained in some detail why it’s usually pointless—and even counterproductive—to query editors. In fact, in most dealings with editors, it’s rarely a good idea to ask permission... [Read more]
Making the Pen Mightier: Negotiation and Writing
In negotiating a publishing contract, sometimes you’ll get everything you want. Sometimes you’ll be told, “We won’t change the terms; take them or leave them.” Most of the time, though, you’ll... [Read more]
A Student’s Perspective
I was very impressed with the way Scott prepared for the workshop and for the way he was ready to address any and all comments, questions and conundrums of the members of the group. His exercises and... [Read more]
A Writer’s Perfect Timing
A huge range of time-related factors can profoundly affect how an editor responds to your work: recent sales of other writers’ work on the topic; the amount of current competition; what else the editor... [Read more]
Persistence and Publishing
I often remind my writing students of the power of persistence. “Publishing is a game of percentages,” I tell them, “and the more times you swing, the more likely you are to get a hit.” I’ve... [Read more]
