The Chopping Blog

"I will work with my client on as many revisions as are needed until we’re both happy with the work going out on submission."

It's easy to spot a manuscript that hasn't been reviewed by critique partners. Always get a second, third, fourth set of eyeballs on both your writing and your query letter/submission materials.

I tend to think that when too much telling is happening, the manuscript simply isn’t ready to be submitted.

If a manuscript isn’t ready for representation, it generally does not indicate a lack of skill. It indicates a lack of time and feedback.

Nonfiction these days demands a strong author platform.

There needs to be a strong story arc throughout the book, as well as smaller arcs of change within each chapter or even within each scene. Characters should be growing and evolving with every new plot development.

When I first became an agent, I made myself a promise: that I would never forget what it feels like to be on the other side.

Set up the urgency about why this book now and why you are the perfect person to write it. Then I’ll definitely want to read!

"I want to feel like I'm a part of this world, so when you stop to take a page and half to tell me about the inner workings of things, it doesn't feel like I'm living it."

I’m always drawn in by the known unknowns—when I can tell something’s off, but I don’t know what it is yet, or there’s a detail which doesn’t make sense and I need to keep reading to find out what it is.

I’m old-fashioned enough to be put off by terrible grammar and sloppy technique.

It really is 99% about the writing.