Anne R. Allen's Blog, page 29
September 8, 2019
How Not to Screw Up An Agent Pitch Session
An agent pitch session can feel like pitching in the World Series. by Linda Maye Adams When I did my first agent pitch session with my then co-writer, I was so nervous I thought my clothes would break out in wrinkles! You can read a lot about how to do the elevator pitch but no […]
The post How Not to Screw Up An Agent Pitch Session appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
September 1, 2019
10 Kinds of Critique Groups that Can Drive You Bonkers
by Anne R. Allen I recommend that new writers take advantage of critique groups in order to learn about the publishing business and the craft of writing. Writing courses are expensive and often not as helpful as a good critique group. But there are bad critique groups too. Really bad. I’ve seen authors stop writing […]
The post 10 Kinds of Critique Groups that Can Drive You Bonkers appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
August 25, 2019
How to Write a Page Turner: Master the 7 Rules of the Cliffhanger
by Ruth Harris We all know the pleasure of getting lost in a book. We have all experienced that compulsion to turn the page to find out what happens next. In fact, that irresistible urge to keep reading—to turn the page—might be one of the reasons we wanted to be writers. Just one more. Just […]
The post How to Write a Page Turner: Master the 7 Rules of the Cliffhanger appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
August 18, 2019
Is a “Personal Relationship” with Authors What Readers Want?
Maybe what readers want is peace and quiet and good books. by Anne R. Allen The latest trend in online marketing is building a “personal relationship” with customers and readers. Sending newsy emails about your fab summer vacation isn’t enough anymore. Now you have to ask them about their fab summer vacations. This is supposed […]
The post Is a “Personal Relationship” with Authors What Readers Want? appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
August 11, 2019
Hometown Book Marketing: How to be a Star Author in your Hometown
Book marketing–we all have to do it. Don’t neglect your hometown! by Sue McGinty Whether you’re an indie or traditionally published writer, you can do a lot to promote and sell your book in and around your hometown. Here are some things that have worked for me. Get acquainted with the folks at your local […]
The post Hometown Book Marketing: How to be a Star Author in your Hometown appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
August 4, 2019
The Decline of Mainstream Fiction: Why Authors Need a Genre in Today’s Fragmented Publishing World.
by Anne R. Allen Choosing a genre for your novel is one of the toughest challenges for many new writers. This week both former agent Nathan Bransford and current agent Jessica Faust wrote posts telling authors their books must have a genre. But new writers may not know why this has become such a hard-and-fast […]
The post The Decline of Mainstream Fiction: Why Authors Need a Genre in Today’s Fragmented Publishing World. appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
July 28, 2019
Razzle-Dazzle: The Art and Craft of the Elevator Pitch
Elevator pitch: Can you sell your book in one quick phrase? by Ruth Harris Give ’em the old razzle dazzle Razzle dazzle ’em Give ’em an act with lots of flash in it And the reaction will be passionate What works on Broadway in the hit musical, Chicago, also works for selling a book because you […]
The post Razzle-Dazzle: The Art and Craft of the Elevator Pitch appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
July 21, 2019
8 Reasons Why Your Manuscript May be Getting Rejections
Rejections hurt. And all writers get them. But you can reduce the number. by Anne R. Allen I’ve been perusing some agent sites recently to see if their advice has changed since I was on the query-go-round a couple of decades ago. But things seem to have remained much the same. The top reasons for […]
The post 8 Reasons Why Your Manuscript May be Getting Rejections appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
July 14, 2019
How to Waste Money When Self-Publishing a Book
by Nate Hoffelder Self-publishing a book can get quite expensive. A good cover designer can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and the editorial costs can set you back even more. While there are many important expenses, there are also many ways to spend money and get nothing useful in return. For example, take the […]
The post How to Waste Money When Self-Publishing a Book appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
July 7, 2019
Declutter that Novel! Is it Time to Marie Kondo Your WIP?
by Anne R. Allen Recently I’ve seen sad posts by a number of new writers who are having trouble marketing a self-published debut novel, or are discouraged by numerous rejections. Some are furious at the world for not loving their stuff. In a lot of their work, I see the same problem. It’s usually right […]
The post Declutter that Novel! Is it Time to Marie Kondo Your WIP? appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
