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Agents and Books is a comprehensive guide for writers on the literary industry, offering detailed advice on finding an agent, writing books across genres, the publishing process, creating and utilizing a platform, and handling the personal challenges of writing. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and strategic planning in a writer's journey.

Literary Agents Writing and Publishing Advice Personal Development for Writers Book Marketing and Promotion Reader Engagement Literary Industry Insights

The hottest Substack posts of Agents and Books

And their main takeaways

The Answer to Editing

2712 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📚 Literature Editing Writing Tips Craft Books
  1. Write a reverse outline after finishing the first draft of your book to help with editing.
  2. What works for one book may not work for another, so be open to trying different techniques.
  3. Continuously learn and adapt your writing process to find what works best for each project.

How to Reset

1316 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Wellness Mental health Self-care
  1. After completing a big project, take a break and reset your brain with something fun and non-deadline driven.
  2. It's okay to have a longer rest period after finishing a project, indulge in activities like binge-watching, reading, or painting.
  3. Don't feel pressured to start something new right away, reset in your own time when you feel ready.

How Does This Idea Sound To You?

2240 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Book Publishing Editing
  1. When pitching a book idea, it's more than just a quick question or statement. Take the time to fully develop and flesh out your idea.
  2. Don't solely rely on others for validation or success of your idea. Invest time and effort to explore its potential on your own.
  3. Excitement and personal investment in an idea matter more than getting a quick answer or guarantee from someone else.
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Q&A Thursday

668 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Publishing Novels
  1. Focus on finishing your book before worrying about your query letter.
  2. You may change the beginning of your book several times during the drafting process.
  3. Don't stress about revealing too much in your query letter; keep an eye on publishing news instead.

The One Who Got Away

1709 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💼 Business Publishing Romance Career Rejection
  1. Agents can get rejected too, even after offering representation.
  2. Rejection in the publishing industry is common, but it's important to stay positive and professional.
  3. Not landing every opportunity is okay, there are always more chances ahead.

Q&A Thursday

334 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Writing Publishing Freelancing
  1. Q&A session with Kate McKean about writing and publishing
  2. Kate McKean provides advice on finding new writing projects
  3. Subscription required to read the full post and access archives

Don't Be Dr. Frankenstein

1690 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
📚 Literature Fiction Non-fiction Querying
  1. Comp titles in pitching are about giving an idea of the flavor of your book, not the recipe.
  2. Non-fiction comp titles should be carefully chosen to avoid market saturation or irrelevance.
  3. Avoid using overly complicated or grandiose comp titles, keep them simple for more success.

An Abdication of Should

1533 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs
  1. People don't have to follow everyone's opinions - you have the freedom to decide what to do with them.
  2. Instead of focusing on what people 'should' do, focus on taking actions that make a difference.
  3. Encourage others to read and engage positively with books you like, rather than prescribing what they should read.

Q&A Thursday

314 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The post is about a Q&A session on reading habits of an agent
  2. The author discusses how agents read full manuscripts
  3. Readers can access the full post with a 7-day free trial subscription

Secret Query Tips

1139 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🚌 Education Writing Tips
  1. Agents may overlook minor details in a query letter if they really like your book.
  2. It's important to include key information about your book in a query, such as title, genre, and word count.
  3. Including your email but not your phone number won't necessarily lead to rejection by agents.

Kate McKean’s Rules

2319 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. There are no emergencies in publishing.
  2. Don't leave bad reviews or tag authors in bad reviews on social media.
  3. Spend more time revising than writing.

Think of the Reader

1297 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
📚 Literature
  1. Think about how your book will be read in different formats like hardcover, paperback, or e-reader.
  2. Consider the attention span of your reader and engage them early with compelling content.
  3. Communicate the stakes of your story early on to make readers care about your characters and plot.