Landing a traditional publishing deal is challenging especially if you dream of working with a literary agent. Rejection and failure are par for the course and aspiring writers need to quickly develop a thick skin to reach their goals. There are distinct schools of thoughts regarding whether professional editing before submitting your book is required. Now that I’ve landed a deal for my debut adult contemporary novel, Sweet Redemption, I thought I’d weigh in on the debate. Continue reading “Professional editing before submitting your book”
Types of publishing
I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a kid. I always knew I wanted to be an author, but I didn’t know much about the business of writing or different types of publishing. In my naivety, I assumed that writing the book would be the hard part. Boy, was I wrong. And as Elizabeth Gilbert tells us in Big Magic, it took a lot of bravery and willingness to face my fears in order to move forward. Continue reading “Types of publishing”
How to prepare for a writing conference
Networking can be scary, especially if you’re introverted like I am, which is why it’s so important to consider how to prepare for a writing conference before attending one. My natural predisposition to my own company is likely why I gravitated towards writing in the first place, which is a very solitary activity.
How to deal with jealousy
We’ve all met the green eyed monster at some point in our lives and when the beast rears it’s ugly head, it can make you feel anxious and inadequate. In an extremely competitive industry like authoring romance novels, it is helpful to learn how to deal with jealousy so it doesn’t affect your path to success (but these lessons can apply to essentially anyone).
How to handle rejection
Writers hear no more often than yes and learning how to handle rejection is a necessary life skill for every author, both aspiring and successful. Even after you’re published, bad reviews are a form of rejection, so it can be tough to maintain motivation. This is why I read Big Magic on repeat and anyone who creative aspirations should do the same! Other awesome books include You are a Badass, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (see Buster pictured with it here!), The Power of Positive Thinking, and The Power of Now.
How to pitch literary agents live
I recently attended two writing conferences in short succession, one in Toronto and one in Boston. Below I share my best tips on how to pitch literary agents live because I had the opportunity to do so at both conferences. Continue reading “How to pitch literary agents live”
Strategies to reach a goal
It’s critical to have strategies to reach a goal to keep you on track. When you’re trying to reach a goal (or considering getting started on one), it can be challenging to get yourself in a positive frame of mind. It’s easy to get bogged down in regrets about what you should have done differently, that you should have started sooner, how long it’s going to take, or how hard it’s going to be. I have gone through all of those excuses (and more) in my journey towards self-improvement. It’s easier and a lot more comfortable to stay the same, but remember that doing nothing is also a choice and a risk. Continue reading “Strategies to reach a goal”
Submission package to query literary agents
When I completed Sweet Redemption, I was uninformed about the business of writing. I love writing, so I wrote a book. I love writing books, so I continued and know that I want to keep doing it forever. As for how to get my work out into the world, well, I admit I wasn’t exactly sure. Continue reading “Submission package to query literary agents”