I've mentioned a few times on here that Twitter / social media are becoming ever more important for writers. Not simply because you can market your writing and increase your reach, but because of the community aspect; the shared knowledge and experience from professionals and colleagues alike. Never before has there been such ease of access to editors, authors, and publishers, all with fantastic things to say and, yes, years of experience under their belts.
Perhaps the best hashtag to follow is #PubTip - a sure fire way to get timely, insightful and - most importantly - practical advice from agents and editors. It's a constantly moving conversation, and you can jump in at any time. I spent a few minutes searching through, to bring just some of the posts to you. Enjoy!
I'm not going to reject you solely for formatting issues. Promise. No need to resubmit your query. #PubTip
When you contact an agent, you try to convince them you can be a professional writer. A professional and a writer. At the same time.#pubtip
Wannabe writers might hold off sending query letters to agents and publishers until the New Year. We'll be ever more receptive. #pubtip
Authors (esp. kid's authors), you may be tempted to write a funny/ridiculous bio, but I need a REAL bio to sell your foreign rights#pubtip
When replying to a manuscript request, it is VERY helpful to reply directly to the request email to keep the thread together! #pubtip
The only thing worse than underexplaining is overexplaining. It can really slow down a story. #pubtip
Remember, when you are working on your bio, that it should pertain to your project! Dogs and x-wives need not be mentioned #pubtip
Yes, it is totally my loss if I pass on your work & you end up a huge best seller. Pointing that out will not make me reconsider. #pubtip
It's been said a million times before, but needs another mention I think: a LOT in publishing is down to personal preference. #pubtip
If you're going to query for a series, it needs to be for the first book. I can't pick up mid-series, esp self-pubbed. #pubtip
There are plenty more - hundreds - over on Twitter. Check them out. As you can see, there are plenty of topics covered, some no-brainers, some things you might not have thought of. At the end of the day, it's just inspiring to see people who care about books spending time sharing their tips without ever actually having to. It's voluntary, useful, and free. What more could you want? Take care, all.
SPC
Thanks so much for sharing, Simon! I enjoy reading all of the advice and help you always give :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, randi! And I really appreciate that you keep reading, too...
DeleteThis is great, Simon. I will be following this hashtag!! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It's a great tag and it's always changing
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