Latest posts from Chip MacGregor
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About that million seller…
So today I received a proposal that included these words: “This is a sure-fire million seller!”Uh-huh. Everybody thinks they’re going to sell a million copies. They hear about Fifty Shades of Gray and Hunger Games, and they think, “My …
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Literary Devices for the Real World: Flashbacks
Hello, class, and welcome to week 1 of “Literary Devices for the Real World.” Over the next several weeks, I’ll be talking about how to best use literary devices in your writing to better serve your story and improve your …
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Lessons from the Diving Board (a guest blog)
When I was a kid, my mom signed me up for a diving class. All the beginner classes were full, so she put me in an advanced class. I guess she thought I could learn to dive from the end… -
Literary devices for the real world
Welcome back to my Tuesday blog on craft! Thanks to Aubrey for giving me the idea for my new series by suggesting I post on foreshadowing and flashbacks– when to use them, when to avoid them, etc. I thought I’d …
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The Most Important Thing You’ll Write in 2016
Well, after that shamelessly click-bait title, let me go on record right away that I’m not about to tell you what the next million-dollar-idea is and how to write it– sorry. After taking a break over the holidays (“holiday” being …
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Predictions for Publishing in 2016 — the Year of “More”
Behold! Our new-look website. We've done a complete revamp of the site, with the goal of making things easier to read, easier to research, and to get back to having a cutting-edge blog that tackles the questions authors have about the world of publishing. Glad you are joining us!
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A Christmas Break
Merry Christmas! We are overhauling out website, so in the next few weeks you will see some major changes. Check back often!
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A Thank You to the English Teachers
In honor of Thanksgiving I thought I'd take the opportunity today to say thank you to some folks who played a big part in helping me become a person who loves words and stories and commas and gets to work with them every day; namely, my high school English teachers.
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What do I need to know about agents?
Someone wrote to ask, “With all the changes in publishing these days, what do I really need to know about agents?” Let me offer a dozen thoughts…
1. Do your homework before selecting an agent. DON’T sign up with somebody …
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A Natural Born Writer (a guest blog)
Last spring, I was sitting in a class offered by a nationally renowned writing coach at a local writers conference. The coach was leading us as we brainstormed a story. The set-up—an English teacher who hated his job. “Why does …
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How can we create a great launch party?
A friend wrote to say, “I’ve been told we should have a launch party when my book comes out. Is that a good idea? And what what makes a good launch party?”
I think a book launch party is a …
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Four No-Fail Ways To Market Your Book And Grow In Confidence (a guest blog)
When I decided to become a writer, I did it mostly because I liked silence. I liked the idea of sitting with my own thoughts and sculpting words in my preferred order.
But then I got published. And I realized …
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Nonfiction that Stands Out
“Apart from platform, how can I stand out to an agent or editor? There’s a lot of demand for books in my subject, but also a lot of similar titles already in print.”
Great question! It shows especial savvy that …
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How do I create a great book proposal?
Your novel is ready to go. Your nonfiction book is fleshed out. NOW WHAT?
We’ve got a brand new book releasing to help all writers who are trying to create the best book proposal possible. Step by Step Pitches and …
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Ask the Agent: How do I approach someone at a conference? (and other questions)
I’ve been trying to catch up on all the questions people have sent in, so let me share a handful of queries: “When speaking with an editor at a conference, what is the best way to approach the allotted 15 …
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Ask the Agent: How do I approach someone at a conference? (and other questions)
I’ve been trying to catch up on all the questions people have sent in, so let me share a handful of queries: “When speaking with an editor at a conference, what is the best way to approach the allotted 15 …
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Craft and Process Lessons from NaNoWriMo
If the title of today’s post sounds like gibberish to you, you must not hang out with very many writers. NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a month-long writing challenge performed by any author who wants to participate during … -
What you need to know before deciding on an agent
If you were having a medical problem, you’d undoubtedly want to get the problem diagnosed so that you can see a specialist who can help resolve the problem. (No sense going to an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor for a …
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Editing for Authors: Part 9, Writing Lessons from Editing
Here we are at the final installment of my “Editing for Authors” series. If you’ve been following from the beginning, you know we’ve talked about several different editing styles and strategies and that the overall goal in employing any of … -
How do I fire my agent without hurting any feelings?
Someone wrote to say, “I have published one nonfiction book, and have a contract for another. But I’m not happy with my agent, and would like to change. What suggestions can you give me to make this happen without hurting …
