The Chopping Blog

A truly effective hook doesn't just make promises—it's also the initial evidence that those promises will be fulfilled.

To me, an unpublishable manuscript is simply not publishable yet.

Context plays an important role in fiction and narrative nonfiction. It adds depth to the characters, the setting, and the conflict. Context is also your best tool for creating in readers a sense of participation. The trick lies in subtlety.

Should you get a literary agent? How long should you query before you quit? Is it really better to self-publish these days? What’s your best path forward to publication and book sales?

Readers are diverse; they each bring their own expectations and preferences to any story they read. As such, it's best to get a wide range of opinions about your narrative.

Querying literary agents can feel grueling, especially after spending so much time writing your manuscript in the first place, but the payoff of seeing your book published is well worth the effort.

Agents want to see comps not so much for the sake of comparison, but as a demonstration that you are actively reading within your market and therefore know your manuscript's place within it.

Publishing credentials, well-researched comp titles, and a bit of personalization will certainly help your case, but your pitch is currency. 

"Honestly, if the query spells my name right and falls within the category I represent, that’s enough personalization for me."

Publishers Marketplace is a goldmine for authors who want a better understanding of the current market.

I’m not saying delete rejections are only unhelpful to writers. They are unhelpful to the entire industry, and yes, even to agents themselves.

First, Google yourself. If anyone even semi-famous is already dominating the search results, you may want to consider a pen name.