What Is Your Magic Number?
All aspiring writers want their magic number to be one. The first novel a writer ever wrote is perfect from conception. The first novel lands a literary agent. The first novel is so awesome, it...
View ArticleNew Article Series: 9 Story Openings To Avoid
By Kristin Nelson & Angie Hodapp Last month, Angie Hodapp and I co-taught an opening-pages workshop at a day-long education event for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. First time ever Angie and I...
View ArticleCan White Authors Write Characters of Color?
This question is sparking conversation in the adult-fiction world, but it seems to be front and center in the children’s realm. Attend any SCBWI regional or national meeting and this topic is sure to...
View ArticleIs Your Manuscript Ready? By Danielle Burby
You’ve done your research and know the basics of writing an excellent query letter, but what comes next? What happens when that query letter works and an agent requests your novel? At the end of the...
View ArticleFantasy Openings To Avoid or To Very Carefully Consider
By Kristin Nelson & Angie Hodapp We had such a blast chatting about the 9 story openings to avoid, we didn’t want the fun to end. So here’s a bonus installment for all you fantasy writers out...
View ArticleWhat Is a High Concept, and Do You Need One? by Danielle Burby
Agents and editors are always saying they want a high-concept story, but what does that mean? And if you don’t have one, can you still land an agent and sell your book? The definition of high concept...
View ArticleWriters! 5 Survival Tips For The Holidays
The natural delays during the submission process are agony enough for authors, and the whole waiting game gets even worse as we move into the winter holiday season. But there are some things you can do...
View ArticleThe Power of Persistence By Danielle Burby
We are in the season of hot chocolate, sweaters, and storytelling late into the night. Because of that, and because this is the last NLA newsletter of 2017, I wanted to share a story of authorly hard...
View ArticlePivot Like A Pro
It is a truth universally acknowledged by writers everywhere: every success in publishing is built on stacks of rejection letters. Authors by Agents. Authors by Editors. Agents by Editors. Part of that...
View ArticleThe Most Common Pitfalls in Middle Grade Manuscripts
Middle grade is a very robust area of the market and an exciting place to be as an author. Middle grade readers (usually ages 8 to 12) are enthusiastic and passionate about books and the writers they...
View ArticleWhy I’m So Picky About Fantasy
As someone who not only represents adult and YA/MG SF/F, but also grew-up reading it and continues to read it regularly, I’ve gotten to a place where my standards for these genres are higher than for...
View Article12 Trends in the Query Inbox
In July, I attended the Colorado Writing Workshop. I knew I would be asked about what’s hot or trending. So Angie, Maria, and I put our heads together to create a handy list of what we’re seeing in the...
View ArticlePracticing Self-Care in the Face of Rejection
When I was first looking for a job in publishing, I was fresh out of college and had a sparkling, perfect, carefully curated resume filled with everything a potential employer in this industry could...
View ArticleEvery Writer is Equal When Facing the Blank Page
(Just a note, this article was a feature in our newsletter from a few months ago. If you would like to receive our articles first, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.) Tis the season for eggnog...
View ArticleThe Thing That Makes You Special
I’ve been preparing for a conference where I’ll be presenting on plot structure and voice, among other things, and, in getting ready, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes an author a cut above the...
View ArticleAre We Ready for Pandemic Stories Yet?
Here, in my neck of the woods, we’re heading into our eighth week of lockdown. The longer I’m in this new reality, trying to balance work with homeschool and family life, the more I’ve been pondering...
View ArticleInternal vs. External Conflict
(Just a note, this article was featured in our April 2020 Newsletter. Some references may not correspond with recent events. To receive our articles first, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.) I...
View ArticleYour Protagonist Must Fail
Throughout your story but especially in Act II—that yawning abyss between your story’s beginning and end sometimes referred to as “the swamp” or “the mushy middle”—your protagonist must fail. They...
View ArticleA Brand-New Website & Recent Query Trends
(Just a note, this article was featured in our September 2020 Newsletter. To receive our articles first, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.) Hello to all the PubRants readers sheltering at...
View ArticleSo You Want To Use That Song Lyric in Your Novel
(Just a note, this article was featured in our May 2019 Newsletter. Some references may not correspond with recent events. To receive our articles first, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.) I...
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