#1—Querying too soon. Okay, I hate to say it, but it’s true. Most writers query too soon. In the past, books could be less ready to go and still get picked up by agents or editors, and there are plenty of agents who still do editorial before they send an author’s work out on submission. Continue reading “Top Ten Mistakes when Querying, continued”
Author Archives: Robin Henry
Readerly Writers Recommend Books!
We asked and you answered… The list below are book recommended by Readerly Tea Break Subscribers. The hyperlinks are to purchase at our Bookshop.org store. Happy Reading! Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Mystery/Thriller Nonfiction/Memoir
Top Ten Mistakes Authors make when Querying, continued…
ICYMI, #10 through #6 are available here and here. As promised, the last five are all content related and so a little more difficult to address than the technical errors. #5—Not connecting the reader to your main character It is vital that the opening connect the reader to the main character. This does not meanContinue reading “Top Ten Mistakes Authors make when Querying, continued…”
New Podcast Episode with Writer First Page Feedback
Check it out! Terry and I received a few more opening pages. Listen to hear our feedback and learn how to create a fantastic first page.
Top 10 Mistakes Authors Make in Submissions, continued…
See #10 and #9 here. #8—Spending time on the set up in the query. Think of the Query as a sales document for your novel. If you spend any of your precious (really) plot paragraph on set up, then you are not selling the actual novel. If you’ve done your job as a writer well,Continue reading “Top 10 Mistakes Authors Make in Submissions, continued…”
Book Review: The Antidote by Karen Russell
Despite rave reviews from writers at NPR and the NY Times, I found myself agreeing more with the writer of this Slate Review. There was beautiful language (check), there were experimental elements (check), there was an attempt to engage with society at large and ask tough questions (check). Problem for me was that it justContinue reading “Book Review: The Antidote by Karen Russell”
Are you making these submission mistakes?
I have been working with History Through Fiction as an Acquisitions Editor for over a year now, and I love it! HTF is a small press publishing well researched and immersive historical fiction. You can see more about the press, its mission, and see whether we might be a good fit for you here. ThisContinue reading “Are you making these submission mistakes?”
New Podcast Episode: Author Interview!
Take a listen to my conversation with Patsy Robertson. She is awesome!
Don’t Cheap Out on Your Renovation or Your Novel Revision
Home Improvement is on my mind lately. I have an old house and it needs some work—I can do some of it myself, but I will have to pay professionals to do the things I cannot do. Looking at what the previous owners did, I have these words of advice: don’t cheap out when youContinue reading “Don’t Cheap Out on Your Renovation or Your Novel Revision”
Book Review: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
This novel is the first entry in a new series by the author of the wildly successful Thursday Murder Club. Osman’s characteristic wit and humor are on display, and the plot was great! This is one of those books, you will compulsively finish. We begin with a murder, of course. Someone is murdering B-list socialContinue reading “Book Review: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman”