Tag: publishing
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Want to write a business book? Read this first.
When you’re writing a business book, you need to be clear on your unique offering for the reader. Do you have years of experience in sales, or are you presenting a new approach by blending two disciplines? Do you have a method for the reader to follow? One of the main problems I see with […]
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5 Ways to Get Your Writerly House in Order
In the northern hemisphere, autumn is now officially upon us. We’re experiencing a rare run of dry, sunny weeks in the Pacific Northwest, but soon the rains will be upon us. “Novembruary” means the rains start in October/November and don’t let up until February (or more often, May). So right now is a great time […]
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Publishing ecosystem
It’s no longer enough for your book to be “out there.” It needs to live in an ecosystem. Ecosystems are living, interdependent entitities—once your book exists in the world, it starts to live in a world of its own. Readers are part of the ecosystem. You can’t rely on your publisher to do all the […]
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Do you write with your head or your heart?
Early in my training as a fiction and non-fiction editor at Penguin Random House, I received a key piece of advice from my publisher and mentor Anne Collins. Anne’s advice changed my editing approach. I was stuck on a problem with a fiction manuscript. Anne said, “You’re editing with your head. Edit non-fiction with your […]
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Manuscript consultation
I completed a manuscript consultation for a first-time writer. I read his manuscript, offered a memo with revisions, and then chatted with him. He’s writing in the field of sports psychology. He has competed in sport, and coached athletes, so his examples were from the perspective of both an athlete and a coach. Makes sense. […]
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Editing in layers
Editors work as teams, and they edit in layers, moving from big picture to small details. First the substantive editor (sometimes called a developmental editor) works with the author to shape the big idea. They help the author identify the audience, the narrative arc, and the author’s intention in writing the book. They often coach […]
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Now booking coaching clients for July
I had a Publishing Plan coaching call with this writer who was feeling overwhelmed by their book idea and frustrated by their lack of “progress.” Here’s what they said about our session: “In our first hour of coaching, Amanda got right to the heart of the key issue that was holding me back, devised a […]
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Dear Editors: Kilometrestones
Dear Editors, Book publishing moves so slowly, doesn’t it? There’s rarely an opportunity to yell “Stop the presses!” as we have plenty of lead time to update manuscripts and check proofs. Also, with the exception of some exceptional small presses (Coach House in Toronto, I’m looking at you), most publishing houses don’t have an actual […]
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What is a book proposal, and do you need one?
When an editor “acquires” a book, that means they buy it. An acquisitions editor usually works in house, for a traditional publisher. Penguin Random House, Milkweed Editions, and Scholastic are examples of traditional publishers. Generally, but not always, when they buy your book a publisher pays an advance against royalties, in several instalments tied to […]