Publishing

Teresa Nielsen Hayden has found some really dreadful advice on writing cover letters: Tip Four: Still worried? Never published anything? Lie a little. Yes, lie. A cover letter is a persuasive document designed to do one thing: entice an editor or agent to read your … [Read more...] about Cover letters for asshats

Bywater Books manuscript submission notes, found in Learn Writing with Uncle Jim. On proper formatting… If there is some really good reason, like you are using a typewriter, and not a computer and it's a royal pain to re-format, then you can be the exception. Note … [Read more...] about On manuscript submission

I think the tale of Elizabeth Bear's novel sale is going into Writing & Publishing 101. … [Read more...] about first novel sales

Again at Absolute Write, an interview with Victoria Strauss: Q: Why must writers never trust agents or publishers who ask for money up front (reading fee, evaluation fee, representation fee, etc.)? A: The basis of both the author-agent and the author-publisher … [Read more...] about Why fee-charging agents suck, and common slush mistakes

Via Making Light, we learn that the Department of the Treasury has placed a ban on editing services related to manuscripts from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Cuba. Jim Macdonald: So how do they get around the Bill of Rights? Answer: This isn't a law, it's a regulation. And … [Read more...] about American Publishers Censored

Now I remember why I hate submitting short fiction. Voices in My Head (to editors): Didja get it? Didja get it? Huh? Huh? Me (to voices): Oh, hush up. It's probably still on the mail truck. ViMH: But… it might be there. Me: Zip it. ViMH: Will they like it? It's … [Read more...] about Didjagetit

Over at the Rumor Mill, SFWA has announced that it's changing the rules on which publications are categorized as professional. Writers might wish to weigh in on the discussion. … [Read more...] about Lines in the sand

Cory Doctorow discovers Making Book. … [Read more...] about Today on BoingBoing…

Go read Scott's new story at Ideomancer. Do not pass go, etc., etc…. … [Read more...] about “Strange Girlfriend”

Six SF/F agents answer questions from SF Crowsnest. The questions themselves are fairly standard, but what's fascinating is the opportunity to compare answers side-by-side. … [Read more...] about Agent Q&A