Q: I’ve heard that New York publishers will only accept books written from a third-person limited POV and no head hopping allowed. Does this mean I have to rewrite my manuscript to conform to these rules? A: No! Stop. Don’t succumb to this kind of advice. These rumors can start as the result of an [...]
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Ask the editor: 8 tips for finding your voice
Q : I know that agents and editors look for writers who have strong voices, but I’m having trouble finding mine. Any advice? A : It’s true. Editors, agents, publishers and, above all, readers do respond most to a writer with a great voice. Voice is what gives writing energy, authenticity, it animates the narrator [...]
Ask the editor: 7 techniques for a dynamite plot
Q : I submitted my manuscript to an agent and she said the plot was confusing and needed a lot of work. I was crushed! What should I do? A : Telling a good story is the writer’s most important task. But constructing a great plot with so many ideas, characters and actions careening through [...]
Every non-fiction book needs an index: Here’s why
Does my book really need an index? And I have to pay the indexer? Wait, isn’t that the publisher’s job? OK, well can I just put it together myself? I often hear questions like these from authors I work with. So I explain that an index is an indispensable tool for almost every non-fiction book. [...]
Ask the Editor: The power of the opening sentence – 6 tips
Q : Why is the first line so important? A : Agents and acquiring editors will quit reading if your opening sentence doesn’t zing. Any writer seeking publication or the devoted attention of a reader browsing in a bookstore needs to craft that first sentence, revising, revising, revising, until it just hums. One way to [...]
Ask the editor: 6 steps to writing a memoir
Q : I have so much material for my memoir. How do I sort out what to include and what to leave out? A : This is the key problem a writer faces when constructing a non-fiction memoir. Here are six specific steps to consider when making your decisions: 1. First, skip to the end [...]
Ask the editor: Constructing the “narrative arc”
Q:My writers group thinks I need to strengthen the narrative arc in my novel. How can I do that? A:The “narrative arc” is a fancy way of saying that every story needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you need an act one, act two, act three. Take [...]
The book proposal — here’s what publishers want
It’s the #1 question aspiring authors ask me: How do I get your attention? Here’s how: Send me a compelling, convincing book proposal that knocks my socks off! For those who’ve heard that a query letter should always precede a proposal, my view is that you may want to skip the query entirely and instead [...]
