Latest posts from Chip MacGregor
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Confessions of a Conference Junkie
BY GUEST WRITER ANE MULLIGAN
President of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, she’s worn many different ones: hairdresser, …
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Maegan Beaumont on her novel, Carved in Darkness
GUEST WRITER MAEGAN BEAUMONT is the author of CARVED IN DARKNESS, the first book in the Sabrina Vaughn series (Available through Midnight Ink, spring 2013). A native Phoenician, Maegan’s stories are meant to make you wonder what the guy standing …
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How To Make Google Work for Your Blog
BY GUEST WRITER LUCY MORGAN-JONES
Lucy Morgan-Jones is a stay-at-home mum to four precocious children by day and a snoop by night, stalking interesting characters through historical Colorado and writing about their exploits.
She enjoys meeting new people from all …
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What does an unpublished writer do with her completed manuscript?
Someone wrote to ask, “If a writer has never published before, but has a completed novel manuscript ready to go, what would you recommend he/she do with it?”I like this question, since it’s a situation I see frequently. If… -
An Orkan becomes a Human
A guest post from novelist Ann Tatlock
“Jesus told his disciples a story….” Luke 18:1, NLT
Remember the Mork Report? In the 70s sit-com “Mork and Mindy,” Robin Williams played the alien Mork from Ork who was sent to earth …
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What's the latest in the world of publishing?
Keeping up on some of the latests news for authors…I loved this article on Harvard Business Review — “Should You Write a Book” http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/06/think_you_want_to_write_a_book.htmlAnd this is wonderful — DBW on “The Top Ten Book Recommendation Platforms”And,… -
What's the best way to approach an editor at a conference?
I’ve been trying to catch up on all the questions people have sent in, so let me share a handful of queries: “When speaking with an editor at a conference, what is the best way to approach the allotted 15 …
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What is a "best-selling" author?
Recently I got behind on a bunch of questions readers sent in, so I’m going to try and catch up by offering shorter answers to a host of questions…
Someone wrote to say, “I’ve seen a number of writers call …
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What is "new adult" (and other questions from a conference)
I just got back from a writing conference, and I kept track of several interesting questions that writers wanted to ask me…
“What is New Adult?”
A number of people asked me about this relatively new term — we’re using …
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How can I create a purpose statement?
Someone wrote and asked, “Chip, can you help me create a purpose statement for me as a writer? I think I need to clarify my purpose statement. I’m a literary novelist… can you assist me in moving forward?”
If you’re …
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Remember field trips? Did you get to go to a Literary Office?
Today our office was inundated with small children. Because, you know, kids love hanging out in literary agencies.
“What do you do?”
“Do you make books?”
“Do you know the guy that wrote Diary of a Wimpy Kid?”
“Can …
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Does an agent treat authors differently?
Someone wrote to say, “You obviously enjoy your job. But does an agent have to treat authors differently than you would clients in another business?”
It’s true — I love my job. In fact, the one time I stepped away …
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A Guest Post: How a Book Publicist Launches Her Own Debut
Jessica Dotta has always been fascinated by the intricacies of society that existed in England from the Regency through the Edwardian era. She writes in a manner that blends past and modern fiction techniques. She lives in the Nashville …
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How do you stay on top of trends in publishing?
Someone wrote to ask, “What sources are there for authors to keep an eye on writing and publishing trends?”
Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Lunch, Publishers Weekly, Digital Book World – all of those resources will keep you up to date on …
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What's selling right now?
A regular reader of this blog sent me a note that read, “Chip, I know you’ve been to BEA and RWA in the past month. Can you simply tell us what books are selling right now? What are the trends …
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How does a new writer get noticed?
A regular reader of the blog sent in this question: What can a new author do to get noticed by an agent or editor?
The most essential thing you can do as someone new to the industry is to be …
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Would great writers get published today?
A wonderful writer friend sent me a note that read, in part, “Those of us in the industry tend to laud writers like Graham Green and Flannery O’Connor, but would anyone publish them now? No Whiskey Priest or Hazel Motes. …
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Thursdays with Amanda: Taking Topic Suggestions
Amanda Luedeke is a literary agent with MacGregor Literary. Every Thursday, she posts about growing your author platform. You can follow her on Twitter @amandaluedeke or join her Facebook group to stay current with her wheelings and dealings …
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"It's the Power of Words"
A novelist wants to know, “What keeps you going? You’ve spent years as a writer, editor, publisher, and agent – what fuels your passion?”
I love books and words. I believe in the power of words. I believe in the …