Finding an agent who is excited to work with you is more like dating than choosing a skilled doctor to visit. It’s personal. It’s subjective. It’s about first impressions, common interests, and establishing mutual excitement to build a bright future together. Ideally, it’s a committed, long haul relationship, prepared to weather any bumps. It’s no wonder that there can be frustrating rejections of “I like but just don’t love enough to pursue.”

BUT there are smarter ways to vet and curate your wishlist—to tip the scales a little closer in your favor. And it boils down to doing your homework. Sometimes lots of homework to tailor your search, so it seems like “fate” has landed your query in said agent’s in-box.

Ask a Book Editor, Patrick Price, Publishing Resources, How to Get PublishedPatrick PriceOctober 26, 2020Ask an Editor, how to find an agent, query letter, How to Get Published, literary agent

Patrick Price as Featured Guest on the Startup Hustle Podcast

I recently had a lot of fun being a guest on the Startup Hustle Podcast to talk about the process of publishing a book and the business behind it. There’s loads of practical advice regarding making the leap from idea to manuscript. Plus we give plenty of attention to the rise of indie authors.

Ask a Book Editor, How to Write a Book, Patrick Price, Book Publishing, Media InterviewPatrick PriceJune 3, 2020Ask a Book Editor, Patrick Price, How to Get Published, Start Up Hustle Podcast, Publishing Service, Freelance Editor, Ask an Editor

Trying (Failing?) to Stay Creatively Motivated During the Pandemic

Remember how you once dreamed of aimless free time—solitary or otherwise—to jumpstart that novel, revise that troublesome chapter, or do a little necessary research? If only we had more time to work on our craft.

CUT TO… the couch, remote in hand.

Ask a Book Editor, Client Success, How to Write a Book, Patrick Price, Writing InspirationPatrick PriceMarch 30, 2020Ask a Book Editor, Patrick Price, Freelance Editor, Creative Wrting, Publishing Advice, Book Coach

Ask a Book Editor: 4 Surefire Ways to Keep Readers Turning the Pages

As readers, there’s no better feeling than when we can’t put down a book.

But how do you keep readers invested in your work? How do you get them to tune out everything else and gladly get lost in your words?

Here’s a shortlist of vital ways to hold readers’ interest. And they don’t apply to thrillers only, as every work should be thrilling in its own way. Otherwise, the placed bookmark will simply note where the reader moved on.

Ask a Book Editor, Writing Advice, Patrick Price, Book PublishingPatrick PriceJuly 1, 2019Writing Fiction, Creative Wrting, Publishing Advice, How to Write Better

Ask a Book Editor: How to Title Your Book

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, titling your book can feel:

Easy (“I’ve known the perfect title since Day One.”)
Challenging (“There’s a working title but it doesn’t feel quite right yet.”)
SUPER HARD (“Kill me now—this is impossible.”)

For most, it falls between challenging and hands-up despair. Why do these few words create such turmoil when you’re able to otherwise craft entire books? It’s because a title is the work’s most hardworking calling card.

And while a bad cover may turn off a prospective buyer/reader, a bad title can bury your book.

No wonder it feels like a lot of pressure.

Ask a Book Editor, Writing Advice, Patrick Price, Indie Author, Writing a Book, How to Write a BookPatrick PriceFebruary 20, 2019Writing Advice, Patrick Price, Ask a Book Editor, Freelance Book Editor, Book title help, How to write a bookComment

Ask a Book Editor: 7 Reasons to Start Writing Your Book Today

I know it’s hard. It’s a little scary to put yourself and your words out there.

As creative people, thoughts and ideas are often pulling us in every direction…except forward. Sometimes we just need a little push.

Ask a Book Editor, How to Get Published, Patrick Price, Writing Advice, Indie AuthorPatrick PriceJanuary 5, 2019Writing Advice, How to Write Better, Patrick Price, Book Editor, Ask a Book Editor

Ask a Book Editor: “Is It a Book or a Magazine Article?”

To increase the odds of getting a book offer, it’s essential to think like an acquiring editor.

Ask a Book Editor, Book Publishing, Patrick Price, Self-Publishing, How to Get PublishedPatrick PriceDecember 3, 2018New York Book Editors, Book Editor, Patrick Price, How to Get Published, Freelance Book Editor, Book ProposalComment

Ask a Book Editor: Why Category Matters

When it comes to successful publishing, category is king. Yes, it may sound unsexy or restrictive, but a category does not to take away from your work’s uniqueness. It’s a necessary beacon.

Ask a Book Editor, Book Publishing, Patrick Price, Self-Publishing, Indie AuthorPatrick PriceNovember 5, 2018Publishing Advice, query letter, Patrick Price, Book Proposal, how to find an agent

Ask a Book Editor: Everything You Never Thought to Ask About Your Author Photo

Even the most camera-shy should get with the picture. Like an appealing cover and a strong book title, a quality author photo is an essential part of the publication “package” for both indie and traditionally published authors in most any format or genre.

Book Publishing, Writing Advice, Patrick Price, Ask a Book EditorPatrick PriceOctober 22, 2018Publishing Advice, Book Publishing, Book Editor, query letter, Patrick Price, how to find an agentComment

Ask a Book Editor: Mastering Query Letters

Writing a strong query letter is a necessary part of procuring a literary agent. But sometimes that one all-important page can feel, well, overwhelming.

Ask a Book Editor, Book Publishing, Patrick Price, Writing AdvicePatrick PriceJuly 26, 2018query letter, literary agent, Publishing Advice, Book Editor, how to find an agent

I recently had a lot of fun being a guest on the Startup Hustle Podcast to talk about the process of publishing a book and the business behind it. There’s loads of practical advice regarding making the leap from idea to manuscript. Plus we give plenty of attention to the rise of indie authors.

Remember how you once dreamed of aimless free time—solitary or otherwise—to jumpstart that novel, revise that troublesome chapter, or do a little necessary research? If only we had more time to work on our craft.

CUT TO… the couch, remote in hand.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, titling your book can feel:

Easy (“I’ve known the perfect title since Day One.”)

Challenging (“There’s a working title but it doesn’t feel quite right yet.”)

SUPER HARD (“Kill me now—this is impossible.”)

Ask a Book Editor

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I recently had a lot of fun being a guest on the Startup Hustle Podcast to talk about the process of publishing a book and the business behind it. There’s loads of practical advice regarding making the leap from idea to manuscript. Plus we give plenty of attention to the rise of indie authors.

Remember how you once dreamed of aimless free time—solitary or otherwise—to jumpstart that novel, revise that troublesome chapter, or do a little necessary research? If only we had more time to work on our craft.

CUT TO… the couch, remote in hand.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, titling your book can feel:

Easy (“I’ve known the perfect title since Day One.”)

Challenging (“There’s a working title but it doesn’t feel quite right yet.”)

SUPER HARD (“Kill me now—this is impossible.”)

Ask a Book Editor