Not sure how to publish? One factor is more important than any other.
I have a lot of conversations with would-be authors. These are people who aspire to put a book out into the world, whether it’s a novel, a memoir, or a self-help non-fiction book. But one issue keeps coming up again and again throughout these conversations. Should...
The first thing a HarperCollins editor said after paying us a 6-figure advance
The first book proposal I helped a client put together earned a six-figure advance. At the time, this kind of result was consistent with what I had known during my days as an editor at Penguin. The non-fiction projects we acquired were typically for six figures – and...
This trick might decide if your query letter gets read or not
I have a simple query letter trick to share with you. It’s one that could possibly make the difference between a publishing professional reading your whole letter and not. And the funny thing is, I’m using this trick in this very post as well. The truth of the matter...
How long should a query letter be?
If you seek to get published, you have probably come up against a great deal of frustration over what should and should not go in a query letter… …and you’re probably totally overwhelmed by the advice you’ve gotten thus far. While this is understandable – among a...
Your rejection letter may be total nonsense. Here’s why.
Imagine that, after three years of agonizing work, you have submitted your manuscript to your dream agent. And then, in their disturbingly concise response, they tell you the reason why they won’t represent you: You used a prologue, and nobody reads prologues. Or… You...
Hi, I'm Neil
I help people find the words to express their unique value. For it is when we can set ourselves apart in a compelling way that others will flock to us and want to know more.