Latest posts from Chip MacGregor
-
After a Conference: Next Steps
I’ve talked before about the value of a good writer’s conference as a place to connect with mentors/writing partners and as a reward/motivating factor in meeting your writing deadlines. Since I just got back from a writer’s conference, I thought … -
It's "Ask an Agent" time!
I’ve got a new book coming out very soon — How can I find an agent? (and 101 other questions asked by writers). In celebration of that, I thought we’d take the month of March and just answer the agent …
-
The Perks of Being in a Writing Group (a guest blog)
I posted on Facebook once: “Spending the day with my laptop. I know you all think I’m sipping Dom Perignon and writing the next great American novel from the top of the Eiffel Tower, but I’m actually down at the …
-
What have you always wanted to ask an agent?
In the month of March we’re going to invite writers to send in the questions they have always wanted to ask a literary agent. Normally we tackle one question per day, and try to go into it in-depth, but in …
-
Ask the Agent: Should I write for a specific publisher?
Questions from around the world today, in our International Version of Ask the Agent…
Someone from the UK wrote in to ask me, “Should I write my proposal for a specific publisher? I was at a conference recently and an …
-
What it means to be an ethical author (a guest blog)
I’m shocked at the behavior of authors recently. One story after another features an author responding badly to a review, manipulating numbers or stalking their readers.
I’m baffled at what my response should be to this bad behavior. I …
-
Before You Write: Part 6, Next Steps
I’m wrapping up my “Before You Write” series today with a post that’s a bit of a cheat, since it actually has more to do with the end of the writing process than the beginning; that is, what you’re going … -
Ask the Agent: What's the biggest news in publishing?
I’m trying to catch up on all the questions people have sent me, so let me see if I can tackle several of them having to do with current affairs…
First, a couple of people have asked what I think …
-
Writing an Inspirational Memoir (a guest blog)
I remember running down the road by my house one day in fall, the fields ripe with gold, red silos on the horizon and the smell of chaff, the sound of the combines whirring. And I heard God say, “I …
-
Before You Write: Part 5, Surefire Ways to Fail
I’ve been spending the past few weeks outlining some before-you-write strategies that can help position you for greater success during the novel-writing process. Today, I’m talking about what is probably the easiest step in the whole writing process: quitting! Seriously, … -
Ask the Agent: What's hot and cold in publishing these days?
Whenever I speak at conferences, I get the “what’s hot?” question asked me. I generally offer what I’m seeing, but I try to always temper it with, “That’s just my opinion, of course… others might see things differently.” So I …
-
Speaking at some upcoming conferences…
People have been asking what conferences I’ll be at this year. I plan to be at the Left Coast Crime conference in Portland, March 12-15. LCC is one of the really fun conferences for fans of mystery and suspense, so …
-
Before You Write: Part 4, Assembling a Writing Strategy
Continuing my series on pre-writing techniques that can help position you for a more successful writing experience, I’m talking today about assembling a strategy to help answer the “when,” “how,” and “so what” of your writing process. A lot of … -
5 Things Africa has Taught Me as a Writer (a guest blog from Curt Iles)
Lagniappe. It’s a French word denoting, “A little extra.” And it’s a common expression in Louisiana’s Cajun culture. In the local Lugandan language along Lake Victoria’s northern shore, the word is enyogeza. It means a little extra at the …
-
My Ten Publishing Predictions for 2015
Okay, so I’m a little late… I always try to make some predictions for the coming year, just to test out of my gift of prophecy. This year it took me a while longer to put together my list, but …
-
How My Lack of Platform Helped Me Get Published (a guest blog)
It was every hopeful author’s dream. I had just finished pitching my book idea in front of seven other hopeful authors and (more to the point) an acquisitions editor. As we all stood up to leave, he discreetly handed me …
-
Before You Write: Part 3, Plotting with a Purpose
Continuing my series on pre-writing, I’m talking today about different ways to plot your novel before sitting down to write. Figuring out your plot at the beginning of the writing process can help you:- distribute your writing– knowing in advance
-
Ask the Agent: What are you looking for in a query?
I’m getting ready to head out to speak at a writing conference at San Diego State this weekend, and someone who is going to be attending wrote to ask, “Can you tell me what you’re looking for in a query?”…
-
On Crime Fiction and Sales (a guest blog)
Analyzing sales trends is a tricky business. Predicting them is almost impossible. But when thinking of what type of crime novel sells, be it the cozy or the more violent thriller novel, there are a few clear issues that emerge. …
-
Before You Write: Part 2, Developing Your Characters
Last week, I started a new series about some pre-writing strategies that can help you preemptively fix problem areas in your manuscripts. Since not every author is going to find every strategy helpful, however, I included a list of questions …
