The Publishing Information You Need
Have you seen my DEFINITIVE post on How To Get Published?
Have you ever wondered what you should say if an agent calls to offer representation?
A great title is an important aspect of attracting an agent’s or editor’s attention. Here’s how to create a perfect title for your book.
Did you know I have a list of qualified freelance editors on my website?
By the way, all those pages can be accessed by clicking on the tab at the top of the blog that says “Popular Posts.”
Would you like to follow more agent blogs? I have an agent blogroll.
Want to check out Mary DeMuth’s e-books on writing book proposals?
You can find those under the “Resources for Writers” tab.
I get emails everyday asking for information that I’ve already covered somewhere on the blog, so I’m trying to help make it a little easier for you to find what you need.
Those links in the red bar across the top have drop down menus with incredible resources for you!
Under the Submissions tab you’ll find:
Want to learn about writing query letters? Click “Find Post by Subject” and scroll down to click on Query Letters. You may want to start with these posts:
Query Letters: Not That Complicated
If you’re looking for a particular topic, you can use those tabs above (in the brown band) that say “Find Post by Subject” and “Search this Blog.”
Hope that helps you navigate your way around my blog!
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If you're new to publishing, please start here: How To Get Published.
You may also want to watch this 14-minute video: Advice for New Authors.
My Twitter name is @RachelleGardner.
My passion is partnering with authors to bring worthwhile books to publication. I started this blog as a way to create a community of writers, both published and seeking publication. I write about a wide variety of topics of interest to writers, and I consider the reader comments even more important than my own posts.
Click photo for my full bio.
Excellent! Bookmarking this post for future reference (and easy link-following). Thanks, Rachelle!
d ^_^ b <– Thumbs up
I can’t even begin to tell you how much your blog helps aspiring authors. Posts like this are just so fantastic and informative. Thank you so much!
Thanks again, Rachelle. I submitted a query too early, about 3 months ago, without carefully reading your submission guideline, when my novel was at only 58K words. Reading your blog daily helped me to make major improvements. It’s now at 73K words and in the “contemporary commercial women’s fiction”. It can also be in “contemporary romance for the christian market” if this market is open for something really new. A woman who worked for a book publisher is helping me now with substantive editing and line editing. I am posting this comment for those reading today, to learn from my experience. In this very competitive market, it’s crucial to follow all the guidelines and rewrite and edit many times, and not to send too early. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I, too, got impatient and queried too early. Am I correct that I’m not allowed to re-query the same people when the ms is perfected?
Marji, let me respond in a way that will be close to your heart. In Matthew 18:22, Jesus encourages a Second Chance. So I guess that if you made major improvments you can send again, while asking for a second chance. Best wishes.
It doesn’t hurt to try! The worst they can do is say no. If you’re re-querying, make sure you mention that, while you’ve queried the agent before, you’ve significantly revised the project and you’d like them to take another look.
You also might want to re-title it.
I have always been good at reading directions….I just wish that I followed them a little bit better. lol
Thanks!
Now all you have to do is repost this once a month and it should keep all the blog newbie’s up to date. =)
That’s a good idea! I think I’ll do that.
You are a goddess.
This is perfect timing! I hadn’t seen your post on titles, but I need a new title and your article was a great guide! Think I’ll set aside a few hours for that this week.
Rachelle, many thanks! I’m also going to suggest that more writers use Goodreads to get feedback before querying. The support is excellent!
A Marked Past is with an editor now from your list now and will be released for sale October 1st.
http://www.lesliedeaton.blogspot.com
I’ve heard about Goodreads. What is it about and how does it work?
Marji, for this type of question – or any question you can easily get answered by Googling – it’s best to just go ahead and look it up yourself. In this case, none of us could really explain Goodreads to you in a brief comment on a blog. Just go to Goodreads.com and you’ll find everything you need to know! Happy reading…
Great list, Rachelle. It’s nice to have all of these answers in one place. Bookmark. Check.
This information is invaluable. Thanks so much for putting into such an easily accessible form.
This is a goldmine! Thanks so much Rachelle.
I’m working my way through this little goldmine. One question. In “How to Get Published” you said, “If you’re writing fiction, your manuscript must be complete…”
So if my book is 75% done, am I to assume that I should NOT start querying an agent yet?
Thanks in advance.
Absolutely – and I hope you don’t start querying the moment you type “the end” either. You’ll want to edit… get feedback… edit again… polish…
I know you’re anxious to get this show on the road, but if you don’t take the time to do your very best work, you’ll be wasting your time, and the time of everyone you send it to.
Show us your best stuff!
What an encouragement, Rachelle! I’m neck-deep in that very second draft revising…getting feedback…revising process right now, and–though I love my MS as is–other people see things that I miss! Getting feedback from trusted and respected writers gives me the umph to make my novel the best it can be. I wouldn’t trade this time for anything (though I’m eager to get to the looking-for-an-agent phase).
)
I was just looking around for info on querying…thanks!
I read the blog about titling one’s book with interest, because this is what I’m struggling with now with my new WIP. I don’t have to be married to it; it just has to be something that I can live with. For some reason, I can’t get motivated to work on a book called “WIP #4.”
This post was super helpful! I remembered reading one of the posts you have a link to here, and couldn’t remember where to find it (and needed it) so THANK YOU!!
Bookmarked? Check. Shared. Check, check. A wealth of information at my fingertips. Thanks for being a blessing.
Wow, wow, wow, wow. Oh, and thank you.
Bookmarked – Yeah! Along with the other posts of yours I’ve bookmarked.
It’s like a college course…and requiring the due dilligence. Do the homework, absorb the material. See the results. I think I’ll pass the test and get my diploma any day now!
Great stuff, Rachelle!
Too. Much. Great. Information. I think my brain sprung a leak. I’m going to bookmark this and finish it up later. Anyone have any duct tape?
This is exactly what every author needs – a one-stop shop that cuts through the crud and mixed voices of the how-to and whyfore of what we’re all so itching to get right.
God bless you, my child!
Awesome links, your emails should go right down now lol.
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Hi there, I found your site via Google while searching for a related topic, your site came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.