| From the Editor: New Giveaways For the New Year
Happy New Year! 2013 has arrived -- full of new possibilities and opportunities.
If you're continuing your writing journey in 2013, I want you to know that I am blessed to have your readership along the way. The Guide to Literary Agents Blog recently passed 2,000 posts (crazy!), and I am hosting a massive giveaway to celebrate. All you have to do is comment on the celebration post , and I will pick 3 random blog winners in several days. The winners can choose any one of my 4 writing books that they want and get it for free. Take your pick!
Also, since we're on the topic of 2013, know that the 2013 Writer's Digest Conference in New York (April 5-7, 2013) now has a registration page . I've already got more than 50 literary agents confirmed to attend our gigantic Agent Pitch Slam -- and our target number is actually 75! I hope to see you there. The event has tons of agents, authors, sessions, and more. (Random cool fact: Did you know that at least three authors signed with literary agents after pitching them at our 2012 event? It's true!)
Until next time, good luck writing, agent hunting, and building your writer platform!
Chuck Sambuchino
Editor, 2013 Guide to Literary Agents
Editor, 2013 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market
Author, Red Dog / Blue Dog: When Pooches Get Political (Aug 2012)
Author, How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack
Author, Create Your Writer Platform (Nov. 2012)
literaryagent@fwmedia.com
www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog
Twitter: @chucksambuchino
Chuck on Facebook |
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| More Contests & Giveaways
Besides the big blog giveaway of the 2013 GLA and other writing guides, there are currently 2 contests running on the GLA Blog. All you need to do to enter is comment on either post or both! (I know there have been some commenting issue in the past, but those issues have been resolved. So that's some good news.)
1. Picture book author Gina Bellisario (THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS) explains "What to Expect When You're Promoting: Notes From a First-Time Author." She also gives away a free book.
2. Jane Higgins, author of the YA debut THE BRIDGE, says we must first read great fiction to write great fiction. That is just one of her 7 best pieces of advice for writers. (She also gives away a free book.) |
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| New Agents to Query
Reminder: New literary agents are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.
1. Samantha Dighton of D4EO Literary
She is seeking: Sam is looking for character-driven stories with strong voice. She likes characters who are relatable yet flawed, vibrant settings that take on a life of their own, and a story that lasts well beyond the final page, generally falling within the categories of Literary fiction, Historical fiction, Mystery/suspense, Magical realism, Psychological thrillers, Young adult (realistic), Narrative nonfiction.
2. Jordy Albert and Brittany Booker form The Booker Albert Literary Agency
Jordy is seeking: Romance (contemporary, historical/regency, and paranormal). YA contemporary/historical or dystopian, sci-fi/fantasy with romance weaved throughout. She is also open to YA GLBT within those genres. Jordy would love to see unique, well-developed plots featuring time travel, competitions, or travel. She enjoys intelligent, quirky characters with a self-deprecating sense of humor, and wants to get lost in a story.
Brittany is seeking: She is looking for page turning historical fictions, contemporary romances, and urban fantasy. In YA, she is looking for all genres, but is specifically looking for a time travel story. 3. Jennifer Udden of the Donald Maass Literary Agency
She is seeking: science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries - and is particularly interested in finding works that creatively combine aspects of all three genres.
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| Let Literary Agents Regina Brooks and/or Kate McKean Critique Your Writing
There are lots of great Writer's Digest webinars coming up in January 2013 to get the year started off right. This is your year to get published, so let us help you! Literary agents are teaching webinars and critiquing the work of attendees.
1. Publishing & e-media guru Jane Friedman, formerly the publisher of WD, teaches"How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2013" on Jan. 3, 2013.
If you want to get your book traditionally published in 2013-be it fiction, nonfiction, a children's book, or memoir-increase your chances by knowing how to evaluate the commercial potential of your work and learning the best way to approach editors, agents, and publishers. This intensive and information-filled 90-minute webinar helps you think like an industry insider who makes decisions every day on what work merits print publication. You'll get practical advice and tools to help you develop strong pitch letters and proposal materials for both fiction and nonfiction-plus back-door methods for networking with agents and editors. Learn more and sign up here.
2. Literary agent Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary teaches "You Should Really Write a Memoir: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir" on Jan. 10, 2013.
If you've ever been told that "you should really write a book" and you've decided to give it a try --is webinar is for you! Instructor and literary agent Regina Brooks will hone in on the three key measures necessary for aspiring authors to conceptualize and pitch their memoir to an agent or editor. You'll learn all about the six major memoir categories, and what works in each genre, the key elements of working with a ghost writer and/or collaborator, the key elements of a proposal for a memoir, how to strengthen your own memoir proposal, and how to develop a strong hook for your memoir.
Plus, Regina is critiquing the query of all memoir-writing attendees and even looking at proposals! Learn more and sign up here.
3. Literary agent Kate McKean of Howard Morhaim Literary teaches "The Anatomy of a Query Letter: What to Put Where, When, and Why" on Jan. 31, 2013.
Your query letter is often the first thing an agent or editor sees, so it is vital that your query is informative, clear, entertaining, and-awesome. Even after writing a complete novel or work of non-fiction, some writers are completely stumped by the query letter. In this live webinar, you'll learn how to break down this simple letter into its basic parts so you can craft the best query for your book. Whether you're writing fiction, memoir, self-help, or picture books, you'll learn how to write a query letter from the ground up. Learn everything about the webinar here .
Also, Kate is critiquing the query letters of all writers who attend the webinar!
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| How to Deal With Writing Critiques
Remember That Your Payoff is a Better Final Draft
If the comments are critical, I resist the impulse to defend my story. In my first writing class, we wrote short stories and brought them to class to share. My instructor laid down one rule - "If it isn't on the page, it isn't on the page. Don't waste time trying to prove it is." I try to make listening to a critique my first instinct. It's not always easy, but the rewards of clearer prose, a better story, and a richer experience for the reader are worth it.
Don't Cling to Compliments
Positive comments come with that wonderful warm and fuzzy feeling, but they can be even more dangerous. Just like I try not to push against criticism, I work hard not to cling to tightly to one person's compliments. Good can often get in the way of great. (Click here to read the rest of this GLA Blog guest column by novelist Kay Honeyman.) |
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| Get Your Writer Platform Critiqued
Do you know who your audience is? Do you have a way to reach them? Can you convince them to buy your book? If not, check out WD's Author Platform Consultations to help you sell more books!
If you're trying to get published, having an effective platform can make the difference between getting a pass and getting a contract - particularly if you write nonfiction. If you're already published, having a platform can help drive sales and build a network of fans - that's critical to your success given that most publishers don't provide the publicity and marketing support that they used to (if any). And if you're choosing to self-publish, a platform is even more critical to your success.
With this special Writer's Digest service , you'll work one-on-one with a platform specialist who will help you define your audience, engage with them directly, promote your products and services, and establish yourself as an authority in your chosen area of expertise. The Writer's Digest Platform Consultation Service does that and more! Click here to learn everything about WD's Author Platform Consultations. |
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| Agent-Conference Opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2012. Remember: Meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or book proposal, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration.
Know that there are two types of conferences. There are general writers' conferences, that address a variety of subjects, and then there are specialized conferences, which usually tend to focus on a single genre—such as western, romance, or mystery. You will find both kinds in this list below.
San Francisco Writers Conference, Feb. 14-17, 2013, San Francisco, CA
Attending agents: Kimberley Cameron (Kimberley Cameron & Associates); Verna Dreisbach (Dreisbach Literary); Mandy Hubbard (D4EO Literary); Michael Larsen (Larsen/Pomada); Taylor Martindale (Full Circle Literary); Jill Marsal (Marsal-Lyon Literary); Laurie McLean (Larsen/Pomada); Elizabeth Pomada (Larsen/Pomada); Katharine Sands (Sarah Jane Freymann Agency); Ken Sherman (Ken Sherman and Associates); Nephele Tempest (The Knight Agency); Gordon Warnock (Andrea Hurst & Associates); and Ted Weinstein (Weinstein Literary).
(Note: I am teaching a special session on "Platform, Blogging & Twitter" at the end of the San Francisco Writers Conference, Monday, Feb. 18. Details here. Join me!)
Writer's Digest Conference NYC, April 5-7, 2013, New York, NY
The website is being constructed as we speak but this event usually has 500 attendees and has 60+ literary agents at our huge Agent Pitch Slam. I can tell that as of me writing this (Dec. 2012), we have 49 confirmed agents. More will sign up soon!
Kentucky Writers Conference, April 19-20, 2013, Bowling Green, KY
This event is in partnership with the Southern Kentucky Book Fest (Saturday). Best of all, it is FREE. I will be there instructing.
DFW Writers Conference, May 4-5, 2013, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
PennWriters Conference, May 17-19, 2013, Pittsburgh, PA
Attending agents: Donald Maass (Maass Literary); Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary); and Becky Vinter (FinePrint Literary).
Clarksville Writers Conference, June 6-7, 2013, Clarksville, TN
Attending agents: Two always attend and take pitches. Agents will be named soon.
Agents and Editors Conference (Writers League of Texas), June 21-23, 2013, Austin, TX
Attending agents: Many agents (probably a dozen) are typically in attendance. Specific names as they are announced.
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