Publishing Pulse: 6/2/2010

Success Stories


Congratulations to Lori T. Strongin, Kelsey Ketch, and Tracy March -- three QueryTracker.net members who have just landed agents! Click their names to read their success story interviews!


ADULT FICTION CONTEST - TWITTER STYLE!!!

Suzie Townsend of FinePrint Literary Management has graciously agreed to judge an adult fiction contest. (For completed manuscripts only!)

What to enter: A Twitter-style pitch (140 characters or less, including spaces.)

Entries WILL NOT be capped. (Yay!)

Entry period will be 24 hours: From noon Tuesday, July 6 - noon Wednesday, July 7.

These are the genres Ms. Townsend will be judging:

• Adult Science Fiction
• Adult Fantasy
• Adult Urban Fantasy
• All subgenres of Adult Romance
• Adult Thriller

To enter this contest:

1. You must have a free QueryTracker membership
2. You must be a follower of the QueryTracker blog (Followers Widget at right)
3. Your submission will be accepted onthe submission form (won't be available until the contest opens)
4. DO NOT EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSION DIRECTLY TO THE AGENT. You will be disqualified if you do.

Helpful links on pitching:

At Elana Johnson's blog
From literary agent Laura Rennert, on building your pitch.
Literary agent Rachelle Gardner reveals secrets of a great pitch.
Literary agent Chris Richman has a word about pitches and what makes them work.


Highlights from Around the Web

Moonrat has a fantastic post on the secrets (there are two) to Book Publicity.  A really great, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is post.

Psychologist and writing/publicity coach Larina Kase explains how Trying to Do Too Much is also a form of procrastination.

Before you decide that self-publishing is for you, you need to sit down and ask yourself some serious questions.  Jane Friedman tells you which ones, and why.

Kristin Nelson tells you about the Latest Trends in Query Letters and Sample Papers (in other words, watch out for the latest cliches!) in Pub Rants