Easy-to-follow guide with step-by-step articles about how to get a fiction book published, for authors of all types of novels.
What happens if your literary agent leaves their agency? Most articles focus primarily on whether the author can, or should, stay or follow. This article also explains why your representation, active submissions, existing deals, commissions, rights, and records might...
Book word count ranges for literary agents and publishers have changed over time—and some are changing again. Word counts evolve as genres expand, new formats emerge, publishers experiment, and readers respond differently to books of various lengths. This article is...
Most advice about the author–literary agent relationship focuses on finding an agent, signing an agency agreement, communicating, or ending the relationship. All that is important. But one underlying belief shapes nearly everything that happens between an author and...
Most articles about author income streams or how authors make money beyond book sales simply provide a list of options. This article goes beyond that. It explores all opportunities but also which ones suit different authors, what they require, how they might...
Discovering how to write chapters that move your book forward is essential for writers of all genres: fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. It's just as important as having a strong opening page. I discuss what agents notice, and where writers often lose them, in...
This updated guide about book-to-screen adaptation explains how books become movies and television shows, when screen interest can occur, who handles film and TV rights, what being optioned really means, where authors can find credible opportunities, and when a...
Most writers who ask how to copyright a book aren’t simply asking how to complete a government form. They’re asking: Can someone steal my manuscript? Should I register it before querying literary agents? Will a literary agent copyright it for me? Will a traditional...
Learning how to write chapter summaries for literary agents sounds simple. After all, you wrote the book. You know what happens in every chapter—or what each chapter teaches. How difficult could summarizing it be? Generally, a lot more difficult than most writers...
Many writers have heard the question, "Are you a plotter or a pantser?" but there's more to it than that. In other words, it's not just about whether you outline before you write, or if you write “by the seat of your pants” and discover your book as you go. There are...
Does a writer’s race or ethnicity affect literary agents and publishers? Yes, sometimes. Literary agents are usually looking—first and foremost—for a compelling concept, a clear audience, strong writing, and a book they believe they can sell. But a writer’s background...
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MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark's authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and see Mark Malatesta Reviews.