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  My Adventures in Myrtle Beach …

  1610 readers Got back recently from the South Carolina Writers' Workshop, a big ol' conference down in Myrtle Beach.  One of the first things I did when I got there was run on the beach.  So.  Awesome.  Being from Ohio, I never take beach time for granted. The conference went well, and lived up to its claim to fame by bringing in

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  The Holidays: To Query or Not to Query?

  1340 readers There's an interesting little article over at Writer Unboxed discussing whether or not you should query agents during the holidays.  Some different agents, including Nathan Bransford, Jennie Dunham, and Janet Reid, weigh in on the subject. A good read as the holidays approach! Happy Holidays, Everyone!

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  Holidays and Queries to Agents: 5 Perspectives

  2557 readers"So Virginia, Should You Query During the Holiday Season?" That’s a question writers ponder with the first whiff of Christmas trees and mistletoe. You may be worried that everyone's out of the office, or agents are rejecting nearly everything now, thinking that many unpolished NaNoWriMo submissions are flowing in. To help make your decision, I've pulled five perspectives from

• Should You Hire a Professional Editor?

  2577 readersI’m seeing more queries these days where writers claim their manuscript has been professionally edited. And it’s no surprise. People inside the industry—like myself!—are known for emphasizing the importance of submitting a flawless manuscript. Rather than a reassurance, though, queries that mention a professional edit can leave me feeling less confident about the work. I’ve heard agents

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  24 Agents Who Want Your Work

  1916 readersEvery year, Writers Digest asks me to assemble a short list of agents who are actively seeking new work from writers.  (I call it "The List.")  Well, The List came out in the Oct. 2009 issue of Writer's Digest.  But it is now online for all to see.  It's a special grouping of literary agents who’ve confirmed they’re open to

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  Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript (My New Book!) is Out!

  2983 readers This is so cool.  Very soon after holding a copy of the new 2010 Guide to Literary Agents in my hand thsi summer, I got some more good news: my other new book, Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed. is out and available now.  Awesomeness. When asked if I would helm the third edition of Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed., I

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  Black Holes: Powerful, Attractive, and Non-Responsive

  1448 readersWhat are your expectations toward agents who have submitted a manuscript to you? I didn’t have one for my country because authors approach the publishing houses directly but I now have an agent from an established firm. This agent is keen and enthus...

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  The Value of Critique?

  2356 readersI have a question about conference critiques. At our regional conferences, attendees can pay a little extra ($35) to have one of the editors or agents attending the conference critique up to ten pages of a manuscript. Writers are encouraged to do this--to have their work read carefully by someone in the publishing industry.

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  Agent Secrets

  1962 readersIn the old days, writers in search of an agent usually began by consulting printed directories—often at public libraries because the directories were so expensive. Not so anymore. Now, thanks to the Internet and some helpful sites, you can conduct an intelligent search on your computer. Begin with three sites that offer detailed information on literary agents. Agent

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  Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript: The Awesome Third Edition

  5866 readers This is so cool. Very soon after holding a copy of the new 2010 Guide to Literary Agents in my hand last summer, I got some more good news: my other new book, Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed. is out and available now. Awesomeness. When asked if I would helm the third edition of Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Ed.,