by Michelle | Feb 25, 2014 | agenty stuff, authors, bookselling, publishers, publishing, querying, writing
There’s so much more that goes into the decision to represent or acquire a book than simply whether it’s a good story that’s well written. I and probably most others in publishing wish it weren’t, but it’s an inescapable fact that not every book we like or even love...
by Michelle | Feb 4, 2014 | publicity, publishing, querying, self-promo, social media, writing
Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re thinking. “But haven’t you told us before that there aren’t rules when it comes to writing, and that there are always exceptions?” Okay, well, you got me there. But these rules are so simple and so, like,...
by Michelle | Aug 27, 2013 | agenty stuff, authors, craft, not for me, publishing, querying, reading, storytelling, writing
Let’s start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start. Or not. Thing is, how your novel opens is vital to telling the rest of your story. Start in the wrong place, and you might never catch a reader’s attention enough to get them to more...
by Michelle | Aug 18, 2013 | agenty stuff, editing, I like, kidlit, MG, MSWL, publishers, publishing, querying, reading, recent, respect, writing, YA
Publishing is in flux. Anyone who pays attention to the industry knows that. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With change comes opportunity, and some of the smaller independent publishers out there are in a prime position to innovate and try different...
by Michelle | Jul 10, 2013 | agenty stuff, authors, blogging, bookselling, nitty gritty, publicity, publishing, rant, reading, respect, reviewing, self-promo, social media, writing
I was reminded again recently of a discussion I started a year ago about writers blogging about writing. The original tweet that started the discussion: I wish more writers would blog/tweet about things OTHER THAN WRITING. When you’ve READ as many as I have,...
by Michelle | Apr 28, 2013 | agenty stuff, authors, I like, MSWL, NA, publishing, querying, rant, reading, storytelling, writing, YA
This was originally a comment I made on the HuffPost article “Lovesick and Tired: Unnecessary Romance in YA,” but it encapsulates my thoughts on romance and relationships within YA that I’m reposting it here. YA literature is, at its heart,...
