How Long Should a Book Be?
Audience, Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft, Picture Book Draft, Nonfiction Draft Guest User Audience, Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft, Picture Book Draft, Nonfiction Draft Guest User

How Long Should a Book Be?

Writers have a love-hate relationship with word count. It’s one of the necessary evils we deal with to determine if a manuscript meets an acceptable published length. So how long should a book be? Here’s a guide to help you answer.

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Changing Literary Agents
Market, Community, Agent, Writing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Guest User Market, Community, Agent, Writing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Guest User

Changing Literary Agents

One of the most difficult experiences for an author is changing literary agents. Sometimes, as much as many hate to admit it, seeking out new representation becomes necessary. If a relationship between an author and their agent isn’t productive, it can often be worse than having no agent at all.

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Writing Under a Pseudonym
Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Writing Under a Pseudonym

Many authors write under a pseudonym, also known as a pen name. If you think writing under an alias is in your future, here are some criteria to help you decide. I’ve also got some tips on how best to come up with one.

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Marketing To Libraries
Marketing, Community, Market, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Marketing, Community, Market, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Marketing To Libraries

If you’ve written a book, you’re probably considering marketing to libraries—especially if you’re a self-published author. As such, you’re the direct link between your work and the rest of the world—no fancy marketing departments to help you out.

So how do you approach marketing to libraries?

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Episode 30: Benjamin Roesch, YA/MG Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Short Story Draft, Short Story Publishing, Short Story Submission, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Short Story Draft, Short Story Publishing, Short Story Submission, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 30: Benjamin Roesch, YA/MG Author

Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer.

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Episode 20: Rachel Orr, YA and Children's Literary Agent
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Episode 20: Rachel Orr, YA and Children's Literary Agent

Decades-long agent, Rachel Orr, talks about real life clients as she shares what agents and editors are looking for, what to include in your query letter, and how to challenge the status quo.

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Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert

Insights from industry veteran Chuck Sambuchino on how to become a well-informed writer, build a platform, and get published.

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Writing Your Debut Novel with Benjamin Roesch
Writing, Craft, Character, Revision + Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, Short Story Editing, Short Story Publishing, Novel Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, Revision + Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Submission, Short Story Editing, Short Story Publishing, Novel Draft, Short Story Draft Mary Kole

Writing Your Debut Novel with Benjamin Roesch

Benjamin Roesch joins us to talk about his debut novel—but not his first novel—published with LGBTQ+ young adult indie publisher Deep Hearts. We talk about turning short stories into a novel, coming of age fiction, and being an older debut writer.

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Episode 12: John Cusick, Agent and Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Picture Book Submission, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Picture Book Submission, ER/CB Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 12: John Cusick, Agent and Author

A conversation with John Cusick, literary agent and MG/YA author. We delve into writing for MG and YA readers, what agents are looking for, and breaking writing rules.

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Self Publishing in Five Easy Steps
Marketing, Community, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah Marketing, Community, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah

Self Publishing in Five Easy Steps

Turns out, there’s more to self publishing than just putting your book out there and seeing what happens. Ideally, you’ll have other people’s help as well. Here, we’ll run through the basics of self publishing in five steps.

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Episode 8: Jeff Lyons, Writing Teacher
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Freelance Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Freelance Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 8: Jeff Lyons, Writing Teacher

Writing teachers Jeff Lyons and Mary Kole in conversation about craft, from the big picture to the nitty gritty.

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Getting Started with Social Media for Writers
Community, Marketing, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Marketing, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Getting Started with Social Media for Writers

Have you started on your writing journey and want to know how to handle the dreaded social media options? Think of social media as a way to connect to others in the writing community. While there are many platforms to consider, it’s important to pick and choose what you like and enjoy. Here’s a checklist to help you get started. 

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Publishing Advances
Market, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Market, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Publishing Advances

Publishers can pay people. The upsetting thing is who they choose to pay, how they choose to pay them, and whatever calculus they've used to arrive at those decisions doesn't seem equal. This is going to be a hard ongoing conversation, but a necessary one.

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Podcast Episode 29: Leslie "LAM" Miller, CEO of Girl Friday Productions
ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Podcast Episode 29: Leslie "LAM" Miller, CEO of Girl Friday Productions

CEO of independent publisher Girl Friday Productions Leslie Miller talks all things publishing, marketing, and building your platform as an author. She discusses the differences between traditional publishing, self-publishing, indie publishing, and hybrid publishing, and how to know which option is right for your project.

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Episode 15: Cidney Swanson, Good Story Grant Recipient
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 15: Cidney Swanson, Good Story Grant Recipient

A conversation with Cidney Swanson, sci-fi author and recipient of the 2020 Good Story Grant.

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DIY Author Marketing 101
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Michal Leah

DIY Author Marketing 101

You’re published. Now what? However you got your book out into the world, you’re probably looking for more readers. Here are some DIY tips for author marketing.

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Episode 28: Ronald L. Smith, Children’s Book Author
Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft Mary Kole Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft Mary Kole

Episode 28: Ronald L. Smith, Children’s Book Author

Award-winning children’s book writer Ronald L. Smith joins the Good Story Podcast. We talk about writing dark and unconventional stories for middle grade, his writing routine, and marketing yourself as an author. And, of course, he tells all about what it’s like to write in collaboration with Marvel.

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Posting Writing Online
Community, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Community, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

Posting Writing Online

Should you post your writing online to attract attention? What are the risks and benefits? Learn all about posting writing online with this video.

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What Readers Want
Audience, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Audience, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

What Readers Want

A short, information-packed writing class on what readers want. It's simple. By thinking about what readers want from their stories, writers can harness the power of reader emotion to write amazing stories, novels, screenplays, picture books, poems, and more.

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How to Have a Career in Publishing
Market, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole Market, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Mary Kole

How to Have a Career in Publishing

How do you have a career in publishing? This is the question on a lot of minds. Do you have to move to NYC? Do you have to be incredibly lucky? Learn how to have a publishing career with this video.

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