Greetings and welcome to another edition of Editor AMA! I asked my followers if they had any questions for me about writing, editing, designing, or publishing. Without further ado, let's explore the queries that have sparked your interest.
(Jump to a question by clicking the links below.)
What is an epilogue for?
An epilogue serves as a final scene that provides closure to the story, offering readers a glimpse into what happens to the characters after the main events of the plot have concluded. It can tie up loose ends, offer resolution, or provide insight into the characters' futures. A good epilogue should:
Be brief; it is a coda, not a second ending.
Give a sense of closure or finality to the story.
Provide insight into the characters' futures—near or distant.
Resolve any remaining questions or conflicts—or, alternatively, hint at a new one to foreshadow a sequel.
Match the tone and style of the story—it should still feel like a part of the book.
How do I find literary agents who are open to enquiries?
A literary agent is a professional who represents authors and their written works to publishers. They act as a liaison between the author and publishing houses, negotiating deals, providing career guidance, and helping to market the author's work. Literary agents typically work on commission, earning a percentage of the author's earnings from book sales.
You can find literary agents through in convenient directories such as QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace. These platforms provide information about literary agents, including their preferences, submission guidelines, and contact details.
You can also directly find literary agents on the websites of the publishing houses and agencies they represent. Most agents have profiles on these websites, detailing their interests, genres they represent, and whether they are open to inquiries.
When looking for an agent, make sure to consider factors like their genre and story preferences, on top of their experience, client list, and success rate.
You'll also need to craft personalised query letters for each agent, highlighting why your story is a good fit for that particular agent. Agents read a lot of pitches, so aim to strike their interest within the first paragraph!
I want to create a newsletter, but what kinds of things should I put in it ?
Newsletters are a brilliant marketing tool for authors due to their ability to establish direct communication channels with your readers. By sending regular updates, you can cultivate and nurture relationships with your fans, boosting your sales in the process. Newsletters also help enhance an author's authority and credibility in their field, while keeping readers engaged and informed about upcoming releases and events.
So, what should you include in your newsletter? Author Zoe M. McCarthy actually has a great list of 50 ideas right here. In short, your newsletter can contain whatever you want it to, and it doesn't always have to relate to the books you're writing or have written. Your readers subscribed because they want to hear from you, so don't be afraid to get personal. Talk about your hobbies, a trip you took recently, or things you're passionate about.
I keep seeing the same models on fantasy book covers. Isn't that copying?
There are several reasons why the same model may appear on different book covers, and in short, it's not copying.
Covers are frequently designed using licensed stock images, which are accessible for purchase by anyone from sites like Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock (when creating book covers, I use Shutterstock). When sourcing images from these sites, finding a model who has never and will never be used on anything else is unavoidable. As long as the images are utilised differently, it can't really be deemed as copying either.
If you prefer unique images for your cover, you could explore alternatives such as hiring an illustrator to draw your cover from scratch, taking your own photographs and requesting an artist use them, or acquiring exclusive rights to images from photographers.
What writing craft books do you recommend?
My answer to this depends on what you're looking for. However, here are a few of my favourites for newer writers:
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
Understanding Show Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell
Point of View (Busy Writer’s Guides Book 8) by Marcy Kennedy
Deep Point of View (Busy Writer’s Guides Book 9) by Marcy Kennedy
Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
A Writer’s Guide to Active Setting by Mary Buckham
GMC: Goals, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
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