Comments on: Ask the editor: 6 steps to writing a memoir http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/ A veteran publishing insider's views on how to get published in today's marketplace Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:15:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alan Rinzler http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-10131 Alan Rinzler Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:14:58 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-10131 Hi Liz, CV means Curriculum Vitae, a summation of your personal and professional background in a more academic style than the usual resume or author "platform". Search on-line for standard templates. You can also read this post on what publishers want in a proposal: http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/06/28/the-book-proposal-heres-what-publishers-want/. It touches on some of the points on your list. But from what your agent has requested I'd recommend that before sending anything back to him, you consider hiring a professional developmental editor to help you put together a proper proposal and, most importantly, to work with you on revising the manuscript to develop the narrative arc, your character and other elements as necessary to bring it to the level an agent and publisher would expect. Hi Liz,

CV means Curriculum Vitae, a summation of your personal and professional background in a more academic style than the usual resume or author “platform”. Search on-line for standard templates.

You can also read this post on what publishers want in a proposal: http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/06/28/the-book-proposal-heres-what-publishers-want/. It touches on some of the points on your list.

But from what your agent has requested I’d recommend that before sending anything back to him, you consider hiring a professional developmental editor to help you put together a proper proposal and, most importantly, to work with you on revising the manuscript to develop the narrative arc, your character and other elements as necessary to bring it to the level an agent and publisher would expect.

]]> By: Liz Hoad http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-10129 Liz Hoad Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:17:48 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-10129 Hi Alan, I have 'finished' my autobiography and have found one of the best literary agents. When he received my manuscript he has given a lot of things to do to put my book right. He commented that I was no longer a household name and that it is too epidsodic. It needs stronger narrative arc and my own character to be fully realised. If I am to work with him I must: 1. 1 page synopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special 2. 1 page cv 3. 1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books realte to the authors own work. 4. i page on sources used 5. 1 page on any specialist marketing outlets ie websites, magazines etc 6. 1 page synopsis per chapter So there we are! Not sure what cv means. Where to I begin to deliver the above Many thanks, Liz Hi Alan,
I have ‘finished’ my autobiography and have found one of the best literary agents. When he received my manuscript he has given a lot of things to do to put my book right.
He commented that I was no longer a household name and that it is too epidsodic. It needs stronger narrative arc and my own character to be fully realised. If I am to work with him I must:
1. 1 page synopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special
2. 1 page cv
3. 1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books realte to the authors own work.
4. i page on sources used
5. 1 page on any specialist marketing outlets ie websites, magazines etc
6. 1 page synopsis per chapter

So there we are! Not sure what cv means.

Where to I begin to deliver the above

Many thanks, Liz

]]> By: Cognitive Connection, July 2: On Memoir « a.k.a writer http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-6726 Cognitive Connection, July 2: On Memoir « a.k.a writer Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:06:37 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-6726 [...] Book Deal Ask the Editor: 6 steps to writing a memoir Editor Alan Rinzler offers excellent advice on writing. Once you read this memoir-specific post, I [...] [...] Book Deal Ask the Editor: 6 steps to writing a memoir Editor Alan Rinzler offers excellent advice on writing. Once you read this memoir-specific post, I [...]

]]> By: Tanesha http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-2434 Tanesha Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:57:08 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-2434 I would like to personally thank you for the critical information. I graduated with my Masters degree about two years ago and I have been so inspired to write a story of my life. It is very unique just like everyones life. So thanks for assisting me with this information as I know I will do well. I would like to personally thank you for the critical information. I graduated with my Masters degree about two years ago and I have been so inspired to write a story of my life. It is very unique just like everyones life. So thanks for assisting me with this information as I know I will do well.

]]> By: Sean http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-2260 Sean Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:25:41 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-2260 This is a perfect flashback and outline for what I needed in college. Thank you. It helped a lot with clearing out multiple forms of informations This is a perfect flashback and outline for what I needed in college. Thank you. It helped a lot with clearing out multiple forms of informations

]]> By: oyin http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 oyin Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:38:26 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-1623 It is so nice this is up. I can finish my assignment in my creative writing class. Yeeeppp!!! Thank you It is so nice this is up. I can finish my assignment in my creative writing class. Yeeeppp!!! Thank you

]]> By: IRIS SANKEY LEWIS http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 IRIS SANKEY LEWIS Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:30:41 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-1497 Thanks for your exceptional short and sweet stepping stone to structuring for memoir... Iris Sankey Lewis Belizean/AfroAmerican Thanks for your exceptional short and sweet stepping stone to structuring for memoir…

Iris Sankey Lewis
Belizean/AfroAmerican

]]> By: lulu http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 lulu Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:47:02 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-1479 Thank You for your advice. I am going to seriously attempt to do what I have wanted to do all of my life, write. You have given me the courage to go for it. Hopefully 65 is not too late. Thank You for your advice. I am going to seriously attempt to do what I have wanted to do all of my life, write. You have given me the courage to go for it. Hopefully 65 is not too late.

]]> By: Kaety Two Birds http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-1414 Kaety Two Birds Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:29:47 +0000 http://alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/07/30/ask-the-editor-6-steps-to-writing-a-memoir/#comment-1414 Thank you so much for this advice. It is precisely what I need. Thank you so much for this advice. It is precisely what I need.

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