Tag: publishing advice
-
Why To Include Small Indie Presses in Your To-Query List
If you are a querying author, chances are you’ve poured over agents’ manuscript wish lists. You have probably looked at social media posts and websites hoping to find perfect matches for your manuscript. And while that is what you should be doing, it’s not all you could be doing. Many querying authors overlook small independent…
-
How to Title Your Manuscript When Querying: Tips That Catch an Agent’s Eye
When you’re querying agents, your title is your story’s handshake—your first impression. A great manuscript title doesn’t just sound good; it hints at genre, tone, and emotional promise. While titles can change during the publishing process, a strong one helps your submission stand out from the slush pile. So how do you craft one that…
-
Mastering Live Book Pitches: Tips for Success (Plus a Free Template!)
Pitching your book at a live event is like stepping into the spotlight with your creative soul on display. You’ve got minutes to capture the attention of literary agents, each one looking for the next big thing. It’s an adrenaline rush—a mix of public speaking and storytelling—with the tantalizing hope of hearing, “I’d love to…
-
2024 Publishing Highlights: My Journey and Future Plans
Hi Writing and Publishing Community! I hope your 2024 was positive and productive. I wanted to share a summary of my 2024 accomplishments and of some of the resources I created for emerging and seasoned authors. I’m also sharing my plans for 2025. 2024 Highlights January 2024: Presented at Power Publishing Day at NOVA Southeast…
-
A Self-Editing Guide for Authors Part 2 – Line Edits
Once we get our stories developmentally healthy (Part 1), it’s time to analyze our word choice. And every single word matters. I’m gonna geek out on this part. Because I LOVE revising on a line level. It’s literally my favorite part of the revision process. You might be thinking, she’s being picky and petty. And…
-
A Guide to Publishing: From Initial Idea to Execution
The Purcell Agency, where I’d been an assistant all summer, recently promoted me to associate literary agent. As soon as I announced, several aspiring authors with amazing ideas reached out and wanted to know how to get started writing the book that’s been bouncing in their brains for years. As a debut author myself, I…
-
Author(ish) Podcast Episode 01 – Writing Community
Authors Amy Nielsen and Dana Hawkins discuss the importance of building a Writing Community and give actionable steps in how to do it.
-
Author(ish) Podcast Trailer
Authors Amy Nielsen and Dana Hawkins introduce each other and the types of content listeners can expect on their upcoming podcast.
-
5 Tips to Manifest Your Author Career
Manifestation is the conversion of thoughts into reality. Believing you will achieve your dreams and goals. Then taking the actions necessary to ignite them into existence. If you are a writer in the query trenches, it’s easy to get trapped in a negative mindset. Publishing is ripe with rejection. It’s no wonder so many authors…
-
Querying Part 2: Query in Batches
Once you’ve poured over Twitter, Manuscript Wish List, Query Tracker, agent’s websites, and more, you’ve probably got a list somewhere from fifty to a hundred agents and small presses ranging from Perfect Fit to ones that say “Surprise me! I’m always looking for something new.” Before you get excited and cast your net wide, let’s…
-
Querying Part 1: Tools to Find Agents
My YA novel, WORTH IT, debuts in 2024. Querying was stressful. But I think the approach I used is what helped me to land my publishing deal and I’d like to share it with other querying authors in this multipart series. If you haven’t yet finished your query, please check out Query Master Class with…
-
S. E. Reed Author Spotlight
MY HEART IS HURTING, by S.E. Reed, chronicles Jinny Buffett, a white-trash teen with a Harvard-worthy IQ, who lives with her sex worker mostly absent mama. Thankfully, Jinny stumbles into a found family who push her to do the impossible, and rise up from the grip of her mama’s fake nails. (You’ll find the full…
-
My Journey to a Book Publication Deal
Authors’ journeys to publication have always fascinated me. And even though each author’s roadmap is unique, they all have one thing in common—they reach the same destination—a published novel. If you are a querying author, I hope my journey will provide you some inspiration as you continue to chart your way toward your final destination—your…
-
How to Get Publishing Credits Before Publishing Your Debut Novel
For two years, you pounded on your keyboard, breathing life into a story only you could tell. But even as you typed every author’s favorite phrase, The End, you knew it was far from over. You rolled up your sleeves—edited and revised and revised and edited. Then you charged into Facebook writing groups and rallied…
Amy Nielsen 