Read More“Something big happened. In mid-February (on my birthday), I signed with a small literary agency. This summer, my agent negotiated a five-book deal with a publisher. Now, she has sold the audio rights for all five books. ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! Keep on working your magic, Patrick.”
It’s every aspiring writer’s least favorite scenario: waiting to hear back from a literary agent.
But it’s possible—hardly even uncommon—to never get a response from your queries, or even after an invite was extended. What gives? Is your work that bad or wrong for them to justify query amnesia? Are agents so inundated that even a form letter rejection is too much to ask? Because, like in dating, getting “ghosted” is by far THE WORST.
Well, I’m going to let you in on some secrets. Or rather,
12 Hard Truths About Getting Rejected (Or Receiving “the Silent Treatment”) from Agents
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Remember how you once dreamed of aimless free time—solitary or otherwise—to jumpstart that novel, revise that troublesome chapter, or do a little necessary research? If only we had more time to work on our craft.
CUT TO… the couch, remote in hand.
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Everyone respects the value of a strong and memorable book title, but have you given much thought to the power of a well-crafted subtitle? It’s often overlooked and woefully underused. And that’s a shame because its purpose is essentially to close the deal.
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As readers, there’s no better feeling than when we can’t put down a book.
But how do you keep readers invested in your work? How do you get them to tune out everything else and gladly get lost in your words?
Here’s a shortlist of vital ways to hold readers’ interest. And they don’t apply to thrillers only, as every work should be thrilling in its own way. Otherwise, the placed bookmark will simply note where the reader moved on.
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When it comes to successful publishing, category is king. Yes, it may sound unsexy or restrictive, but a category does not to take away from your work’s uniqueness. It’s a necessary beacon.
Read MoreEven the most camera-shy should get with the picture. Like an appealing cover and a strong book title, a quality author photo is an essential part of the publication “package” for both indie and traditionally published authors in most any format or genre.
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Writing a strong query letter is a necessary part of procuring a literary agent. But sometimes that one all-important page can feel, well, overwhelming.
Read MoreHow do you know which freelance editor is best for your project?
Read MoreWhen it comes to writing first drafts, beware the self-defeating bar of perfectionism.
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Greatly enjoyed talking all things editing, writing, and publishing at StoryExpo 2018's first NY conference.
Read MoreAs a developmental editor, I'm honored to have been included--and direct quoted--in Reedsy's insightful "How to Write a Book Proposal" article plus super handy template (packed with additional expert tips). Check it out!
Read MoreCrafting the Introduction to a nonfiction book—especially for works of “prescriptive nonfiction” (e.g., how-to, self-help, anything offering advice or insight)—is often one of the hardest tasks writers face. There’s so much self-pressure to make it perfect that many a promising idea is paralyzed or abandoned before even reaching Chapter One. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating.
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