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Matt Strempel, the grand-prize winner of the 93rd Annual WD Writing Competition, shares his insights on incorporating humor into writing and the value of having a trusted mentor. Strempel's interest in writing began while collaborating with his grandmother, and he now uses his train commutes for dedicated writing time. His winning entry, "Botched," is a humorous short story about anniversary gifts gone wrong. Strempel draws inspiration from writers like David Sedaris and George Saunders, who skillfully balance humor and substance. He advises aspiring writers to find a mentor and seek feedback to improve their craft. The text also provides a list of books and authors in various genres, including humor, inspiration/spiritual, mainstream/literary short story, memoir/personal essay, nonfiction essay or article, non-rhyming poetry, and rhyming poetry, with brief information about the authors and their achievements. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of various literary agents and their specific interests. It offers valuable tips for writers who are querying agents, emphasizing the importance of tailoring query letters to match the agents' preferences. The article features agents such as Amanda Orozco, who is particularly interested in representing BIPOC authors and enjoys stories with strong main characters and unique hobbies. Other agents mentioned include Leah Pierre, Sandra Proudman, Monica Rodriguez, Nour Sallam, Alexa Stark, Stuti Telidevara, Kelly Thomas, Maria Vicente, Paula Weiman, and Jazmia Young, each with their own specific interests and submission guidelines. This resource is a valuable tool for writers seeking representation and provides a diverse range of perspectives and genres to explore. [Extracted from the article]

Among the areas where you should scrutinize providers include literary agents, freelance editors, and self- and hybrid publishing companies. For instance, editors generally work on an hourly or project fee, literary agents make a commission, traditional publishers take a percentage of sales (no upfront fee), self- and hybrid publishers provide services for a set fee or percentage. A common scam is an "agent" reaching out to self-published authors saying they can place your work with a major publisher, but you need to pay a fee first. But before the authors could get this fat contract, they must pay the "literary agent" a fee of, say, $3,000. [Extracted from the article]

Other genres that excite me include historical fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, magical realism, thrillers, and YA fiction. RECENT SALES: A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power (adult literary fiction); Never Whistle at Night ed. by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (anthology); White Lies by Eternity Martis (satire); a body more tolerable by jaye simpson (poetry); The Beauty of Us by Farzana Doctor (YA); Detention by Marty Chan (MG); Blood, Bannock, and Beads by Amber Boyd (creative nonfiction); This Book Is a Knife by Lori Fox (creative nonfiction). I enjoy historical fiction (Beverly Swerling's City of Dreams and Philippa Gregory's books are among my faves), but am particular in this space and would be most interested in gripping plots based on historical fact; I'm rarely interested in World War fiction or the American West. Trinity McFadden (she/her; Hon: Ms.) The Bindery Agency COLORADO SPRINGS THEBINDERYAGENCY.COM IG: TRINITYJMCFADDEN FICTION INTERESTS: Select children's picture books and in select suspense, upmarket, literary, and book club fiction. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the changes in the publishing industry and how they have affected the responses that authors receive from literary agents. With the increase in submissions and the shift to digital submissions, agents often send form rejections that provide no specific feedback. However, some agents offer personalized rejections that may include compliments and insights. Another type of rejection is a "revise and resubmit" (R&R), where agents provide substantial feedback and invite authors to revise their manuscripts. The article also mentions the importance of a call with an agent, as it allows both parties to determine if they are a good fit for each other. The author concludes by sharing a personal anecdote about receiving a rejection followed by an invitation for a meeting with her agent. [Extracted from the article]

Indie Author Project IndieAuthorProject.com A publishing community that strives to connect authors and readers, IAP has partnered with public libraries, authors, curators, and readers to form a network for indie authors to have their work discovered. Best known for its longstanding "The Indy Author Podcast", the website is home to a blog, other recommended resources, and tips for authors to start their own podcast in support of their self-publishing endeavors. The Writing Community Chat Show TheWritingCommunityChatShow.com Born from the positive experience of Twitter's writing community, this podcast is hosted by indie authors Christopher Aggett and Chris Hooley and focuses on spotlighting indie authors and connecting them with other indie authors who've been writing successfully for years. Alliance of Independent Authors Advice Center SelfPublishingAdvice.org The self-publishing ally for indie authors, this site hosts a free blog dedicated to publishing. [Extracted from the article]

AMAZON CLOSES ALL OF ITS PHYSICAL BOOKSTORES Amazon's first bookshop opened in Seattle in 2015 and, as of this year, it operates 24 bookstores. (Such books make up 2 percent of all books signed by commercial publishers.) SUPPLY CHAIN WOES PLAGUE BOOK AND MAGAZINE PUBLISHING Book printing schedules are taking twice as long as they used to, and costs have risen by 30 percent since 2020 for printing, paper, and transportation. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides information about literary agent Pam Gruber. Gruber began her career as an editor and later became a literary agent, specializing in working closely with authors and artists to shape their stories and careers. She represents clients in various genres, including adult contemporary rom-com, science fiction and fantasy, and children's and young adult literature. Gruber is interested in finding grounded fantasy, stories exploring under-represented mythologies, twisty speculative fiction, fantastical realism, and coming-of-age stories. She prefers sample pages in query letters and dislikes belittling language or the omission of comparable titles. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Writer's Digest explores the concept of wonder and its connection to writing. The author reflects on the sense of awe they feel when flying in an airplane and marvels at humanity's ability to progress from cave drawings to air travel. They also discuss the limitless creativity of writers and storytellers throughout history. The article offers techniques for finding wonder in everyday life, prompts to reconnect with childlike awe, and advice for nonfiction writers. Additionally, the issue features interviews with literary agents, profiles of children's writers, and a winning short story. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the wonder in the act of storytelling itself. [Extracted from the article]

In terms of selling your work, don't lose sight of the fact that publishing is a business, and contracts are written to protect the publisher. FEATURES WRITING THE END Strategies for Success Everything about writing, selling, and promoting a book is hard. Focus on the Quality of the Book I was the chair of the prestigious Nero Award when first-time author, John Verdon, won - and I couldn't find him to tell him the good news. It's an agent's job to know the business, to protect their authors' rights, and to garner the best deals. [Extracted from the article]

For instance, editors generally work on an hourly or project fee, literary agents make a commission, traditional publishers take a percentage of sales (no upfront fee), self- and hybrid publishers provide services for a set fee or percentage. Among the areas where you should scrutinize providers include literary agents, freelance editors, and self- and hybrid publishing companies. A common scam is an "agent" reaching out to self-published authors saying they can place your work with a major publisher, but you need to pay a fee first. Many self-publishing and hybrid companies offer expensive marketing and publicity packages, but these can be ineffective. [Extracted from the article]

For adult fiction, I'm looking for commercial fiction with depth (I'm a sucker for a good dual timeline), high-concept rom-coms, thrillers, and grounded speculative fiction. DOES NOT WANT: Memoirs, sports stories, space operas, Amish fiction, angel/ demon narratives, ancient historical fiction, high fantasy, military/FBI/ CIA/espionage thrillers. NONFICTION INTERESTS: As with fiction, Miranda represents nonfiction books for children and teens, from board book through young adult. We've found 20+ literary agents whose interests range from picture books, middle-grade, and YA to genre fiction for adults, from literary fiction to historical nonfiction, true crime, and cookbooks. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the changes in the publishing industry and how they have affected the responses that authors receive from literary agents. The volume of submissions has increased significantly, with agents receiving more queries than ever before. As a result, form rejections have become standard, as agents do not have the time to provide personalized feedback on each query. Personalized rejections are rare but offer valuable insights, while a "revise and resubmit" rejection means that the agent is considering offering representation if the author is willing to make revisions. The article also emphasizes the importance of the agent-author call, where both parties decide if they want to work together. The author shares a personal anecdote to highlight the subjective nature of the industry. [Extracted from the article]

Molly Ketcheson is a new literary agent at Wolfson Literary Agency (WLA) with a background in creative writing and publishing. She is passionate about uplifting authors and helping them achieve their dreams. Molly is particularly interested in upmarket, book-club fiction that explores complex relationships and different types of love. She also represents commercial fiction, literary fiction, YA, and fantasy. Molly has a preference for concise query letters and advises authors to have a one-sentence elevator pitch for their book. She is drawn to projects that are ultimately hopeful and has a particular interest in rom-coms, speculative upmarket novels, and stories involving creepy/magical trees and nature. [Extracted from the article]

TWITTER PITCH EVENTS This year, the volunteer group that ran #PitMad has decided to stop hosting the event, but there are many other possibilities if you're looking to pitch your book via Twitter. - Rocchi PITCHES THAT WORKED Mannes Murray has signed two authors she found during #PitMad events. It's becoming more and more common for aspiring authors take to Twitter, distilling their books down to 280 characters or fewer, in hopes of attracting the attention of an agent or acquiring editor. This phenomena is known as pitch parties - organized events with the goal of helping unpublished authors with completed works query agents and publishers using a tweet. [Extracted from the article]

Inkwell The Writer's Digest team was thrilled to get back to New York City for our Annual conference in the summer of 2022. Bob Eckstein is a New Yorker cartoonist, NY T/mes-bestselling author, and adjunct professor at NYU. Jackson told the story of participating in the WD .1 Annual Conference as an attendee before she wrote her way into becoming a New York i Times-bestselling author. [Extracted from the article]

RECENT SALES: A Mermaid Girl by Sana Rafi, illustrated by Olivia Aserr (Viking, picture book); Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Nicole Wong (Charlesbridge, nonfiction picture book); Peculiar Primates by Debra Shumaker, illustrated Claire Powell (Running Press Kids, nonfiction picture book). RECENT SALES: Shake the Dust by Reema Patel (Atria, upmarket fiction); The Most Precious Substance on Earth by Shashi Bhat (Grand Central, literary fiction); A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt (Norton, literary fiction); My Volcano by John Elizabeth Stintzi (Two Dollar Radio, speculative fiction); Becoming a Matriarch by Helen Knott (Knopf/Random House, memoir/creative nonfiction). NONFICTION INTERESTS: "I'm looking for narrative nonfiction or memoir about adventure or extreme sports; popular science; high-interest nonfiction about histories or issues or people whose stories haven't been told before; cookbooks and culinary histories; and science-or culture-focused memoirs or narrative nonfiction." BRADFORDLIT.COM @JENCHENTRAN FICTION INTERESTS: "I'm looking for contemporary women's fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction (particularly by marginalized writers), and select rom-coms with BIPOC, LGBTQIA, or otherwise marginalized characters. [Extracted from the article]

Helping Writers Become Authors HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com There's a reason why author K.M. Weiland's website is an annual staple on this list - since 2007, she has published over 1,200 blog posts on the craft of writing. Find a blog about improving your writing and growing your business, freelance writing job board, list of 100 websites that pay writers, roundup of writing contests that pay cash prizes, and more from Freelance Writing Jobs. But, after sorting through a vast array of websites nominated by WD readers, sites that made the list in previous years, and websites we personally use and enjoy (sometimes multiple times a day), we present the 23rd Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers. THE WRITER'S DIGEST COMMUNITY OF WEBSITES Writer's Digest maintains a collection of websites to serve your writing needs. [Extracted from the article]

You may have noticed that sometimes authors pitch publishers directly without an agent, so we're at that step for those authors now. However, timing can change from author to author: "I'm on a book-a-year schedule, so things need to happen quickly", reports Riley Sager, author of The Only One Left. "As a foreigner and as a novice writer, I had no idea that the publication of a book was such a long process in the U.S.", says Mirinae Lee, author of 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster. [Extracted from the article]

COLUMNS AGENT SPOTLIGHT Seasoned literary agents on the business of publishing. GENRES: Picture book, chapter book, middle-grade, young adult, graphic novel, narrative nonfiction, commercial and upmarket adult fiction, literary fiction CLIENTS INCLUDE: A. S. King, Malinda Lo, Lisa McMann, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Sarah Schulman Michael Bourret came to Jane Dystel Literary Management as an intern in January of 2000. "Frankly, I had no idea literary agents existed until I took the job", he admits. [Extracted from the article]

Let's take a closer look at the reasons why a prologue might be a splendid narrative choice, and as well as a few reasons why those prologue-deniers might be right. A good prologue is one that slips down and mingles with your own memories so that, when you finish the book and then open it again, you're surprised that the prologue was the beginning. When one considers how often readers skip prologues, I think the challenge is to make sure a prologue is absolutely necessary, does a great deal of work, and is essential to the story". Freelance editor and former literary agent Mary Kole admits that "Prologues can be great because they tend to start a story off on high tension. [Extracted from the article]

Sophie Cudd, a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English literature, is a literary agent at The Book Group. She is primarily interested in upmarket commercial and literary fiction, as well as moving memoirs, food writing, essay collections, and narrative nonfiction. Cudd values collaboration with writers and emphasizes the importance of a personal touch in query letters. She advises writers to read widely and write consistently, while also being cautious about sharing early drafts with non-professionals. Cudd believes that finding representation with mutual trust and respect is crucial for a successful writing process. [Extracted from the article]

The article in Provincetown Arts magazine highlights the work of photographer Nan Goldin, who captured the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis. Goldin's retrospective exhibition, currently touring Europe and the UK, includes her renowned piece, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. The magazine also features the work of other filmmakers and photographers from Provincetown, as well as articles on the revival of the historic Forum series, gallerist Berta Walker, and new leadership at Twenty Summers. The issue includes poetry, excerpts from a memoir, and news about upcoming publications. The magazine relies on reader support and generous donors to continue its publications. The issue is dedicated to the late photographer Renate Ponsold Motherwell, and the publishing party will be held in July at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. [Extracted from the article]

Visit their website for program delivery updates, pre-programming events, faculty news, course offerings, book orders, and to sign up for their newsletter. We'll continue to bring you the very best writing education possible in person at our conferences, content through our website, articles in our magazine, and through our online education Keep writing and stay safe and healthy! COLUMNS John R. Milton Writers' Conference For its 12th biennial event, the 2021 conference theme, "Prospecting: Uncovering New Veins and Voices in Identity, Genre, and Place" will explore important issues of place, form, and representation. Sometimes the rates also include airfare (AF), some or all meals (M), accommodations (AC), ground transportation (GT), materials (MT), or fees (F). [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses that if authors want to grab the attention of literary agents and even Hollywood, finding a high concept idea for the book is the way to do it and focuses on finding the basics and how to hone one's pitch. Topics include a high concept idea is based on a simple "what-if" premise that can be pitched in one to three sentences and the view of Paula Munier, senior literary agent and content strategist at Talcott Notch Literary Services on the same.

The article explores few ways to submit a manuscript, book or proposal without an agent to a traditional small press for publication. Topics discussed include challenges faced by authors in approaching the big publishers without an agent; benefits of publishing with a small press; and importance of understanding a press's submission guidelines.

the article discusses ethics of submission package of the nonfiction book for effective selling among agents and editors. Topics discussed include justifying the value of idea for while appealing and addressing audience; mention about proposal with simple cover page which detailed with title and subtitle of the book; and also talks about clearly detail the contents for book proposal.

EDITOR'S LETTER Writing a novel or short story feels a bit like solving a mystery - even if you're not writing a capital-M genre Mystery. On the business side of things, the September/October issue always features our roundup of literary agents who are accepting submissions. The mystery - capital-M genre Mystery - isn't quite a mystery at this point; it feels too obvious, which makes it, well, a mystery to me. [Extracted from the article]

You can also participate in Advance Read Submission ProCritiques™ to have a portion of your work read/reviewed/edited by literary agents and/or professional editors who will meet with you at the event to review. CALIFORNIA ANNUAL GREATER LOS ANGELES WRITERS CONFERENCE, produced by West Coast Writers Conferences. Live critique workshops include Great Beginnings for Novels & Screenplays, Query Letters, and more. [Extracted from the article]

Caetano remains in Toronto today as a writer and literary agent at CookeMcDermid Literary Management. COLUMNS Cody Caetano was born in Toronto. He began his publishing career at Transatlantic Agency in fall 2019, working as a contracts administrator, receivables clerk, agent assistant, editorial agent, and associate agent. [Extracted from the article]

SEIZE THE DAY Following up on Lenore's thought is Mike Sacks: "You're in a position now as a writer where, for the first time, you can put out a book, a podcast, an article, whatever it is, on your own. INKWELL I know, another writing tip list, and yes, I realize how depressing publishing survival tips can sound, but that's why I reached out to not just my wisest, but funniest friends in publishing. "Take another author out for a coffee", says Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids. [Extracted from the article]

CALIFORNIA ANNUAL CALIFORNIA CREATIVE WRITERS CONFERENCE™, produced by West Coast Writers Conferences. Our 34th event will feature creative writing programs for fiction & nonfiction, as well as genre writers, from our popular Genre-LA™ event for Speculative Fiction, and an expanded track for screenwriters. CLASSIFIEDS: WE TYPE MANUSCRIPTS Advertising rates for a WE TYPE MANUSCRIPTS (6 line listing): $200 for one issue; $525 for three issues; $800 for eight issues. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information about ethics of attracting literary agents. Topics discussed include having contributing member of community is beneficial for clout within the boards; talks about migration of community from writer's forums to online location through blogs for wider audience; and commenting on social media and retweet of others will also help in getting explore.

PRE-ABWL: The romance genre became my greatest stress reliever during dental school, and it inspired me to start writing again as a break from the intensity of the program. ABWL received a lot of rejections from editors (thankfully, almost all came with kind and thoughtful explanations of why), and there were many moments that I felt like giving up. COLUMNS Mazey Eddings A Brush With Love (Adult romantic comedy, March, St. Martin's Press) "Two dental students trade fillings for feelings as they navigate the messy complexities of adulthood, anxiety, and exceptionally meddling friends.". [Extracted from the article]