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There is a certain perception from the outside that the publishing industry is a near insurmountable fortress, with gatekeepers and naysayers manning the turrets looking for any way to fire a flaming arrow at the dreams of an aspiring writer. Funny You Should Ask, based on the popular Writer's Digest column of the same name, assists to deconstruct, inform, and illuminate the path to publication and beyond, all while dispelling the rumor that those in the industry are better than thou. And even though each writer's publishing journey is like a game of PLINKO--you can drop the chip in the same slot every time and get a different result--there are still common constructs and confusions that can be shared and explored together in order to help inform all writers. From understanding the nuts and bolts of a query letter, to learning how to process the soul-searing envy of watching someone else's career flourish, to how to talk to your editor, veteran literary agent Barbara Poelle covers the approach and execution of the common and uncommon bumps along the traditional publishing path. Includes • More than 100 questions answered including expanded answers to topics that didn't get the full treatment in a column • Writing exercises, submission checklists, and publishing BINGO for every publishing milestone

Writers talk about their work in many ways: as an art, as a calling, as a lifestyle. Too often missing from these conversations is the fact that writing is also a business. The reality is, those who want to make a full- or part-time job out of writing are going to have a more positive and productive career if they understand the basic business principles underlying the industry. The Business of Being a Writer offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding of the industry. Writers will gain a comprehensive picture of how the publishing world works—from queries and agents to blogging and advertising—and will learn how they can best position themselves for success over the long term. Jane Friedman has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, with an emphasis on digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is encouraging without sugarcoating, blending years of research with practical advice that will help writers market themselves and maximize their writing-related income. It will leave them empowered, confident, and ready to turn their craft into a career.

By way of a case study of one of the oldest French book agencies, Agence Hoffman, this book analyzes the role played by French literary agents in the importation of US fiction and literature into France in the years following World War II. It sheds light on the material conditions of the circulation of texts across the Atlantic between 1944 and 1955, exploring the fine mechanisms of agents'negotiations which allowed texts, and ideas, to cross borders. While providing comparative insights into the history of publishing in France and in the United States in the immediate aftermath of the war, this book aims at foregrounding the role of the book agent, an all-too often neglected intermediary in the field of book history. Grounded in archival work conducted both in France and the United States, this study is based on previously unexamined correspondence. Considering the concept of mediation as central in the field of print culture, this book addresses the dearth of scholarship on literary agents on both sides of the Atlantic, and intersects with the current scholarship on transatlantic, internationalm and transnational cultural and trade networks, as evidenced by the recently emerged field of sociology of translation in Europe.

One of the most comprehensive guides currently on the market, MASTERING THE BUSINESS OF WRITING is an insider's guide to the business of being a professional writer. All aspects of the publishing industry are explained, both for the aspiring author and the established writer wishing to jump start a professional career. This guide includes everything you need to know about publishers, agents, and the track to success, including: What agents do and how they develop relationships within the publishing industry that can be beneficial to your career; the best way to formulate a book proposal that sells; what publishers are really looking for in a book—and what they aren't; understanding technicalities of advances, contracts, multibook deals and subsidiary rights; the significance of sales conferences and bookstore chains; essential manners and protocols for establishing positive relations with your agent, editor and publisher, legal issues, copyright, and much, much more....

The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Literary Agent!If you dream of scoring the best possible deal with a traditional publisher and seeing your book in print, you need literary representation. Filled with practical, straightforward advice and insider tips, Get a Literary Agent is a one-stop resource for writers of both fiction and nonfiction. You'll learn how to: • Research agents and target the best ones for your work • Navigate the submission process--from best practices to possible pitfalls • Craft a polished query letter and pitch your work effectively • Assemble a book proposal like a pro • Form a lasting partnership with your agent You'll also gain the advice of more than 100 literary agents who share their secrets for securing representation. If you've ever wondered what a literary agent can do for you--and why you need one--this invaluable guide provides the answers.

'Perseverance is much more important than talent. Because so many talented people fall by the wayside.'--James MichenerThe history of writing is full of authors striving to succeed in a hyper-competitive publishing world, contending with agents, editors, publishers, critics, and sometimes the greatest challenge of all - overnight success. For all of the extaordinary changes that have recently taken place, however, there are a few things that remain the same. Getting published still requires persistence, preparation, and smarts, as well as an understanding of how the business works, where it's been, and where it's going.An Insider's Guide to Publishing pulls back the industry curtain for millions of published and aspiring authors, revealing Hemingway's famous feuds, Poe's raving madness, Capote's vengeful wit, and much more. With clever insights and dark humor to spare, David Comfort, a thirty-year veteran of the publishing trenches, explores the achivements and faultures of literary masters and editorial workaholics to show readers how they, too, can: • Use their creativity and composure to overcome publishing pitfalls. • Work with agents, editors, publishers, and critics like a pro. • Deal with rejection - and success - while avoiding the madhouse. • Navigate the pros and cons of both traditional and self-publishing.An Insider's Guide to Publishing shares the wicked wit and wisdom of some of the craziest and most ambitious authors and editors of all time - proving that even the talented need luck, pluck, persistence, and the inside scoop on this rapidly changing industry in order to succeed!

Written by a top literary agent who gives writers an insider's view of how to find and work with an agent throughout the process of getting published. Includes:-- How to know that you're ready for an agent-- 7 ways to find an agent-- Writing a cover letter that grabs attention-- What to do with an agent once you've got one-- What you can expect and what you'd better not hope for-- Making sure this is the right agent for you-- Congratulations, now you have an agent AND an editor-- How to avoid the 7 worst pitfalls for aspiring writers-- And much, much more. In today's highly competitive publishing industry, literary agents are more important than ever. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, reference or children's books, here is everything you need to know about using an agent to launch and sustain your literary career.a