The 5 Components of a Query Letter

March 25th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  13 mins 9 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

Writing Query Letters seems intimidating, but it's just a business letter. Past the gimmicks and bios, here are the 5 things you really need.

9 Terms All Querying Authors Should Know

March 18th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  8 mins 44 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

While many publishing terms are used to mean multiple things, these are a few basic concepts that the industry mostly agrees on.

Querying Versus Submitting: What's the Difference

July 31st, 2023  |  Season 7  |  10 mins 32 secs

agents, beta-reading, books, critique, publishing, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

If you're trying to get an agent or publisher, you've probably heard these terms. While even many industry professionals can be found using the terms interchangeably, they do actually have different meanings!

The 10 Types of Queriers: In The Query Trenches

March 6th, 2023  |  Season 6  |  8 mins 41 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

For those writers trying to get traditionally published, there are about 10 general approaches, and some are better than others. Which are you?

Agents and Editors Share–Pitches We’re Sick Of!

June 21st, 2021  |  Season 2  |  14 mins 50 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, query tips, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

Different agents and editors want different things. Take these answers with a grain of salt, because, as we all know, if you do it well enough, they'll throw their own guidelines out.

What Good Is An Agent? Answers From Writers.

June 14th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  12 mins 16 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, query tips, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

with all the risks, why would I want a literary agent?

Well, at Balticon 52, I got to hear a variety of perspectives from published authors who’ve had every sort of agent possible. Here are the stories of Leah Cypess, Keith RA DeCandido, CS Friedman, Tee Morris, and their hunt for a quality agent.

How To Find An Agent For Your Novel

May 10th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  13 mins 37 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, query tips, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

Talking about where to find literary agents, ways to vet them, and a not-so-gentle reminder to Follow The Directions when querying them.

3 Things To Consider... BEFORE 'Fixing' Your Manuscript

January 18th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  7 mins 4 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, editing, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

How Do You Please Everyone With Your Writing? Spoiler Alert: You can’t.

In the query trenches, you see agents posting about what they don’t want and there’s this knee-jerk reaction, when I recognize a trope from my writing in their ‘no thank you’ list. The feeling of, “Oh! I can fix it! And then you’ll love it!” Especially when you see so much of your story in their ‘please send me’ list. But, before you do, listen to this episode where I discuss 3 reasons NOT to 'fix' your manuscript.

Top 7 Tips For Quick Query Rejections

October 19th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  5 mins 56 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, querying, writers, writing, writing tips

If you're querying agents, on your way to becoming traditionally published, there are 7 things you can do to guarantee a quick rejection.

Waiting For Rejection -- or Selection.

October 16th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  6 mins 24 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, fears, pitchwars, querying, rejection, writers, writing, writing tips

As writers, we spend a lot of time waiting to find out if we've been rejected. But being selected has its own stressors. In this episode, Morgan addresses both fears.