3 Most Frequently Asked Questions About the Writing Business

To my (happy) surprise, I am guest-blogging today over at the Writers Center blog, First Person Plural, with a re-posting of my answers to the three most frequently asked questions about the writing business. More anon.

On the Writers Center Blog: Agents, Publishers & Book PR

My blog post for the Writers Center is up. Read it here. (The fog of war? How about "the fog of book publishing.") Comments welcome.
More anon.

Guest-blogger Lindsay Reed Maines on Top 5 Literary Agent Blogs

I met journalist Lindsay Reed Maines when I took her pretzelly-fun one day workshop at the Writers Center in Bethesda MD on Yoga and Writing, which I warmly recommend to anyone interested in improving their writing. In addition to teaching yoga, she maintains the Rock and Roll Mamma blog, where you can read more about her endeavors, which include two books in progress, a novel and nonfiction book about the ways moms maintain their musical identities after having children, and the role music plays in parenting. Over to you, Lindsay!

Like all writers, I've spent time deeply immersed in the voodoo art of finding a literary agent. While conventional wisdom always dictates researching them as carefully as possible, how exactly does one go about doing that? I mean, sure, you can look up their most recent sales on Publishers Marketplace, but what does that REALLY tell you about them?

Oh, it's useful for specific, factual information, (yawn) but does it tell you who eats popcorn while reading submissions? Who hates being addressed as Ms.? Or any of the countless other proclivities one glimpses only through a window into another's mind? No. I think not.

Enter: The Agent Blog. It's so refreshing to meet the humans behind the letters, and to see the passion that goes into the books they sell. Here's my 5 faves, but there's many more. Enjoy, and happy querying!

Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency
Self-described "nice Mid-Westerner", Kristin Wheels and deals from Denver. From her track record, she dispels the myth that you've gotta be in New York to be a player.

Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary
Janet Reid has a lovely no-nonsense way about her, and a wicked sense of humor.

Jennifer Jackson, The Donald Maass Agency
Ms. Jackson has a wealth of greatly detailed information that's sure to strengthen your query.

Nathan Bransford, Curtis Brown Ltd.
Mr. Bransford's in San Francisco. As well as providing information about the particulars of querying and the issues they involve, he often offers an interesting view on the world of publishing at large.

Miss Snark
Anonymous and defunct, but oh so well loved. Spend some time in her archives, you'll not be disappointed.

Add them to your readers, my friends, and look at the numbers of the queries they're wading through as you wait the torturous 2-6 weeks. It makes the waiting go faster. All the best! You can do it! xoxo,

--- Lindsay Reed Maines

--->For the archive of Madam Mayo guest-blog posts, click here.

P.S. Madam Mayo's answer to the "Do I need an agent" question is here.

"Living on Words": Washington Writers Conference

Here's the schedule for Saturday, June 9, 2007:
"Living On Words: Get Inspired, Get Writing, Get Published!"
The 2007 Washington Writers Conference
Location: the Cafritz Center at George Washington University

The plenary speaker is Peter Bowerman, author and self-publisher, who is known for his books The Well-Fed Writer and the The Well-Fed Editor. In addition to the opening speech, Peter will lead a workshop based on his books and will provide practical steps and tips on marketing and selling your writing.

Our keynote speaker is Francine Prose, award-winning author of 11 novels, including Blue Angel, a finalist for the National Book Award. Her latest book is Reading Like A Writer. She has also written four children's books and co-translated three volumes of fiction. Prose is a contributing editor of Harper's Magazine and writes regularly on art for The Wall Street Journal.

We are offering 14 different sessions throughout the day, covering everything from the practical aspects of writing to the creative process. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with agents (both fiction and non-fiction) and, most importantly, to network and learn more about this outstanding organization that supports writers in the greater DC area.

Each panel is 75 minutes. Writers confirmed include Pulitzer-winning biographer Kai Bird, environmental historian Linda Lear, travel writer C.M. Mayo, and novelists Leslie Pietrzyk and John Gilstrap, among others.

It's all happening on Saturday, June 9, 2007, in the Cafritz Center at George Washington University. For more information on the conference and how to register, please visit www.washwriter.org.

Breakout Sessions Schedule

10-11:15 a.m.
1—Well-Fed Self-Publishing: Lose Your Fear of S&M (Sales and Marketing) & Put Your Book on the Map!
2—Research Sources: Library of Congress, National Security Archives, FOIA and Personal Investigations
3—Fiction Writing Tool Kit
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
1—Speechwriting: Process and Profit
2—Fiction Agents Roundtable
3—Non-Fiction Agents Roundtable
4—Refresh & Restart Your Writing Career

2:30-3:45 p.m.
1—Writers and the Web: Marketing and Promotion in Cyberspace
2—Health Writing for the Non-Health Professional
3—Travel Writing: Articles, Essays and Books
4—Johns Hopkins University Craft Session

4-5:15 p.m.
1—Biography: The Writing Life of Writing Lives
2—A Novel Balance: Writing Great Fiction and Maintaining A Serious Day Job
3—Johns Hopkins University Craft Session