Today’s Publishing Landscape: What Do You See?

Every once in a while I have to stop my work, look up from my computer, and take a good long look around me. What does the publishing landscape look like from one agent’s perspective? Here are a few things I see: ♦  I see a higher level of stress surrounding publishing than I’ve ever seen in 17 years in this business. ♦  I see authors pulled in too many different directions, no longer having the “luxury” of focusing on just writing the best book they can, but needing to be experts at marketing and social media too. ♦  I see many authors doing an amazing job at both writing and marketing, and I’m in awe of this. ♦  I see amazing opportunities for authors that they’ve never had before: opportunities to reach more readers through digital... [ Read More → ]

6 Reasons Authors Still Want Publishers

In an age when so many of the “big stories” in publishing are about amazing self-pub successes, people are asking more and more, “Why would I want a traditional publisher?” Here are six big reasons. 1. Objective validation To be “chosen” by a publisher means that a group of people who are widely read, and who see dozens of new projects come across their desks every single week, believe your book has value and will find a reading audience. It means that people who see all kinds of writing—from really bad to really great—believe that yours is somewhere in the ballpark of “really great.” 2. Editing and design Virtually all writers, including the very best, will find their writing improves and their books are better because they’ve... [ Read More → ]

Publishing in the Brave New World

Today I’m ranting a little, but I figure you know me well enough by now, you can take it. Here’s the deal: I don’t like the fact that you have to “build a platform” these days, any more than you do. But I get weary of writers constantly complaining about it. I get frustrated by hearing over and over that publishers are “abandoning writers” and “bringing nothing to the table.” I know it’s hard to market your books — I feel your pain — and yet I dislike people saying that publishers are shirking their duties by “leaving it all up to the author.” REALITY CHECK: Publishers did not create this brave new techno-world we live in. It is not the publishing industry that has created this society of ubiquitous... [ Read More → ]

In Which I am Interviewed by Michael Hyatt

Instead of posting here today, I’m sending you to another blog. Michael Hyatt interviewed me via Skype and the video is up on his blog today. Visit Michael Hyatt’s blog by clicking here. In the interview, Michael and I discussed advice for new authors looking for an agent, common mistakes new authors make in approaching agents, the importance of  a formal book proposal, why authors should still consider publishing with a traditional publisher… and more. Drop by and tell him I sent... [ Read More → ]

Author Advances: Is There Such Thing as Too Much?

When an author gets a contract offer from a publisher, the first thing they want to know is, “How much?” And by that they mean, “What is the dollar amount of the advance they’re offering?” Obviously, the standard way to view advances is, the more the better. Right? Well, maybe… maybe not. A large advance is a good thing because it means that no matter how many copies your book sells, you’ll receive at least that much money (minus your agent commission). If we’re taking the short view—the “take the money and run” view—then this is a very good thing. If you’re an author who may not have books beyond this first contract, then getting as much money as possible up front is a great idea (from the author’s perspective). However… If you’re taking the long... [ Read More → ]

What’s Holding You Back?

Guest Blogger: Joanne Kraft Walking towards the help desk, I sized up the assistant manager. Skinny jeans, lip ring, black circular tattoos nicely framing his elbows. “Hi, I’m Barrett” He reached his hand out, “You need some help?” “Nice to meet you, I’m Joanne Kraft. I live in the area and have a parenting book that’s going to be released through my publisher in a few weeks: Just Too Busy—Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. I want to make sure the Borders in my hometown has copies on hand before my book launch party.” I smiled, handing him one of the 1,000 colorful marketing postcards my pub house had sent me. Walking over to a computer, Barrett found my book and confirmed that they already knew about it and even shared where it was going to be placed in their... [ Read More → ]

Add the New Site to Your Reader

If you're reading this blog in a reader, please take a moment to unsubscribe from the old URL, and add the new one: http://www.rachellegardner.com. [ Read More → ]

That Pesky Exclamation Point!!!

(And Other Annoying Devices) When I’m editing manuscripts, I somehow turn into the cruel and heartless eliminator of… exclamation points!!! Seriously, I’ve developed a hatred for them! People tend to WAY overuse them! Not to mention italics and bold, and that oh-so-effective use of ALL CAPS!!!!!!! Here’s a hint to avoid coming across as amateur: Use the above devices sparingly in any writing intended for publication. (I’m being specific here, because in blogs, emails, social networking and text messaging, you’re free to go crazy.) If you tend to use a plethora of exclamation points, do a search-and-replace in your manuscript and put a period in place of every single one of them. Yep, every one. Then you can go back and add an exclamation point... [ Read More → ]

Notes From the Beach

I just returned from my summer vacation and am still trying to re-integrate into normal life so I don’t have any profound insights for today’s blog post. (My last seven posts were pre-scheduled before I left town. I love modern technology.) But I do have a couple of observations from my time away, and here they are: 1. People are still reading. Everywhere! And they’re reading… books! Paperback books mostly. In the airports, on planes, and during an entire week of observing people on the beach and by the pool (covertly trying to read their book titles) I saw people relaxing with reading material and it was overwhelmingly fiction. The whole week I only saw one Kindle by the pool, and a couple people reading books on their iPhones on the plane.... [ Read More → ]

Difficult Conversations – Part Three

“Don’t Take This Personally – But It’s Personal” So this week we’ve been covering “difficult conversations agents have with their clients.” We’ve already discussed “This book isn’t going to work” and “I shopped your project but I can’t get a publisher to buy it.” Phew, heavy stuff! Oddly enough, I dread today’s difficult conversation more than any of the others. It goes something like this: I hate to bring this up but: …your headshot doesn’t look friendly or inviting…your website needs an overhaul…your blog content could use improvement…your Facebook page needs work Honestly, this stuff IS personal, and I don’t like to talk to writers about it. But I’m here (as we’ve said a hundred times) to help the... [ Read More → ]

Difficult Conversations II

“I Shopped it Till I Dropped, But Nobody’s Buying” Let’s start with the obvious: I only take on projects I believe I can sell. So it’s pretty depressing to go through two or three rounds of submissions to publishers and not get any interest. Believe me, this happens. Because of the rapidly changing marketplace, we simply can’t predict success with the accuracy we used to. It’s tough to have this conversation with an author, because their inevitable and immediate response is, “Aren’t there more publishers you can send it to?” Usually, by the time we decide we need to have this conversation, the answer is no. Each editor and imprint is looking for certain kinds of books. We can’t just send your manuscript to “everyone,” we can only send it to those who are... [ Read More → ]

If You "Like" My New Facebook Page…

I’ll start posting things there!Click HERE.Thanks! [ Read More → ]

What Genres Do You Read?

We’ve had a lot of talk about genres lately, and I’ve tried to discuss which genres you’re writing as well as which genres seem to be selling best. But recently a blog reader mentioned it would be interesting to see which genres you’re READING, not just writing. This is actually a good point, because while I always assume people are reading widely in the genre they’re writing, I’m repeatedly surprised when writers tell me they’re not. I’ll talk to someone who writes thrillers and ask them who their favorite thriller writers are, and they’ll say, “Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t read many.” Aarrgghh!!! How can you expect to learn your genre if you’re not studying it by reading it? So I have three questions for you: 1. What is your... [ Read More → ]

*Special Saturday Extra*

A Follow Up to My Shark Tank Post Earlier this week I talked about the TV show Shark Tank and how it has so many great lessons for writers. Blog reader Allison Williams left a comment that was so good I decided to feature a post from her. She was a contestant on Dragon’s Den, the Canadian equivalent to Shark Tank, and confirms the many lessons it has for writers. Here’s Allison: I’m an “overnight success.” In the space of seven days, I made a video pitching my creation—an indoor touring circus—to the Canadian reality show Dragon’s Den, got a call from the producers, went on the show, and won $250,000. And it only took me a week to make the video, five months to research the show and prepare my presentation, a year to craft a business plan, six... [ Read More → ]