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How to Write a Synopsis for Your Novel

We hate writing synopses for our novels, and we're not the only ones. We regularly hear from writers who are stumped about the dreaded synopsis. How do you write a synopsis for a novel? What even is a synopsis? How long should it be? We answer viewers' questions about   more»

How to Title Your Book | Steps to a Brilliant Title

A great title and/or subtitle can land a book sale. Your title must make readers want to pick up your book, buy it, and read it. Play our Title Word Pool Game with your friends to find a brilliant title for your book. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSERTING POLLS 📊   more»

How much does it cost to self-publish?

Writers ask us, "How much does it cost to self-publish? "You can self-publish for nearly nothing or spend thousands. Can you self-publish on the cheap? Yes. But you could need to spend money to make money. Spend too much on the wrong thing and MAKE becomes LOSE   more»

Scam or Legit Publisher? A Literary Agent Explains How To Know The Difference

Author David Henry Sterry and literary agent Arielle Eckstut give you step-by-step instructions to spot if a "publisher" is legitimate or a scam. Don't let scammers bilk you out of your publishing dreams. WHAT WE COVER Writer beware! Unscrupulous operators prey on writers' publishing dreams. They might   more»

How to Get a Blurb For Your Book

A book blurb is an endorsement from a famous author or well-known expert. It's shocking how a quote from the right person can lure an agent, editor, or reader. Here's HOW to get blurbs and WHEN you need them. BLURBS: WHAT WE COVER 📘 WHAT IS   more»

Literary Agent Explains Why You Haven't Received a Response to Your Query

Just because an agent hasn't responded to your query letter doesn't mean she's not interested. Arielle (a literary agent) and David (author) explain why agents are silent and what authors can do about it. RELATED VIDEOS How to Follow Up with a Literary Agent https://youtu. be/HP_6RkTbXNsCheck out our QUERY   more»

Beat The Stay-At-Home Blues Webinar

Ask us any question about publishing in this free one-hour workshop. Make the most of your time at home and get your work ready to get out into the world! UPDATE: Click here to view the recording of this webinar. Join usClick this link to view the webinar live   more»

How Long Will It Take to Publish My Book?

? Writers always ask, "How long will it take to publish my book? " Learn the hard truth in this week's video. Then position yourself for success. WHAT WE COVER 0:13 How long does it take to publish a book? How long does it take to get a   more»

AMERICAN DIRT + Barnes & Noble | Why Publishers Are Stupid: Part 2

We've said before that publishers can make BIG mistakes. Then came AMERICAN DIRT. Here's our take on controversies rocking publishing in 2020. Links mentioned in the video are below. WHAT WE COVER - REASONS PUBLISHERS ARE STUPID 0:49 An overview of the AMERICAN DIRT controversy. 4:22   more»

Public Speaking Tips for Authors

Authors, do you need to hone your presentation skills for your next speaking engagement, pitch, or interview? Maybe you're joining us for Pitchapalooza? In today's video, we share simple public speaking tips for authors. Do authors need public speaking skills? As an author, you're called upon to do   more»

Self-publishing Scams or Legit Publishers?

Writer beware! Disreputable author service companies often masquerade as legitimate publishers. Here's how to publish a book without getting scammed. WHAT WE COVER0:20 What's the difference between a publishing scam and a legitimate publishing company? Arielle shares an example from an author whose "publisher" didn't do any   more»

Networking for Authors

? So many writers, unpublished to bestselling, are networking-phobic. They didn't become writers to schmooze, mingle, and hobnob. If this is you, and you want to NOT get published, and NOT find readers, by all means, continue to ignore this seemingly heinous but totally essential part of the   more»

Writing Communities - Interview with Poet Patricia Spears Jones

We met Patricia Spears Jones at Rutgers Writers Conference and knew we had to share her wisdom with you. She talked with us about poetry, writing communities, and her advice for writers. Filmed at Rutgers Writers Conference 2019. RELATED VIDEOSNaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza Author Waytu Moore on Publishing | When Art   more»

Writing Advice from Grant Faulkner, NaNoWriMo Executive Director

We met up with our dear friend Grant Faulkner, executive director of National Novel Writing Month, at BookCon. Grant talks about fostering the right creative mindset, building a writing community, and his writing advice. Filmed at BookCon 2019. WHAT WE COVER0:15 What is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? 2:14   more»

When Art & Commerce Meet - Interview with Waytu Moore

Waytu Moore, author of SHE WOULD BE KING and founder of the nonprofit One Moore Book, shares the publication journey for her debut novel and reflects on art, writing craft, commerce, and more. Filmed at Succeed2gethers Montclair Literary Festival 2019. WHAT WE COVER0:35 Writing a draft of SHE WOULD BE   more»

Brad Parks on Journalism, Literary Agents, and Publishing Thrillers

We sat down with award-winning thriller author Brad Parks atSucceed2gethers Montclair Literary Festival. We picked his brain about how being a journalist influenced his fiction writing, the mistakes he made on the path to publication, and how he found the right literary agent and set himself on the road   more»

David Gilmore on Finding Love in Strange Places, Writing About It, and a Colonoscopy

We first met David Gilmore many years ago during a writing conference in Tucson, Arizona. He stood out among the other attendees in part because he was just so smart, funny. He had already done so much work as a writer, and he was a fantastic listener.   more»

Peter Ginna on Getting Published, Saying No, and What Editors Do

We were absolutely delighted when we got a request from editor extraordinaire Peter Ginna to write something for a new book he was putting together called What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing. Because Arielle is an agent and writer, and David is a writer   more»

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2022

UPDATE: APRIL 26, 2022THE WINNER ISSIMPLY THE BEST BY CATHERINE YANGCatherine will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for Simply the Best. Listen to the announcement. Listen to the winning pitch and our feedback. Read the winning pitch. OUR FAN FAVORITE GOES TOTHE POWER OF SHADOWSBY ABBY   more»

TWELFTH ANNUAL NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA

You wrote your 50,000 words (or close! ). Youre a winner. You felt the high. Now what are you going to do with your precious manuscript? Thats where we, The Book Doctors, come in. Join us for our twelfth annual NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza to learn how   more»

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2021

UPDATE: APRIL 1, 2021The winner is. . . ESTHER HANADAS MEGA MANGA MIX-UP BY MARIANNE ROBIN-TANIMarianne will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate forEsther Hanada's Mega Manga Mix-up. Listen to the announcement. Read the winning pitch. Our Fan Favorite goes to. . . TEMPESTUOUSBY SAANVI AGARWALSaanvi will   more»

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020

UPDATE: Congratulations to our 2020 winners! Thank you to every writer who participated and the fans who voted. The 2020 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winner is The Eighth Wonder of Pine Mountain by Jenny Murray. Fan Favorite goes to Operation Polar Revenge by Tara Erredge. You can watch the full NaNoWriMo   more»

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2018 Winners!

Nano Nation: You are all WINNERS! We had such a blast with this yearsNational Novel Writing Month Pitchapalooza. So many pitches with AWESOME imagination and an ASTOUNDING display of talent. Thank you so much to all the writers who participated in this years NaNoWriMoPitchapalooza! AND THE WINNER   more»

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2018

Nano Nation delivered yet another batch of pulse-pounding pitches for NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2018! A Midwest Strangler and Chupacabra; inheritance and identity, love and conspiracies; a beatnik disc jockey and the threat of nuclear annihilation; a 12-year-old author; opium smugglers and sex traffickers: once again, we were totally blown away   more»

Stay Home. Stay Healthy. Keep Writing. | Working During COVID-19 pandemic

Times are hard. The Book Doctors share how to keep writing while you're home during the COVID-19 pandemic. How are you handling changes due to coronavirus? Tell us in the comments. WHAT WE COVER0:05 Checking in with The Book Doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic 0:48   more»

The Book Doctors Announce a New Partnership

Write Articles to Help Get Your Book Published, Build Platform, & Promote Your Work. The Book Doctors are proud to announce were starting an exciting new partnership with Shawna Kenney, journalist, author, writer, coach and teacher. We regularly tell our clients that writing and publishing short pieces is a great   more»

The Book Doctors Holiday Gift Packages

Are you, a relative, or a loved one dreaming of a White Christmas, a Kool Kwanza, a Happy Hanukkah or a Festivus Miracle that involvesgetting a book successfully published? Luckily for you, the Book Doctors have put together a stocking stuffer for the naughty and the nice. TheBook Doctors   more»

100th YouTube Video = Giveaway Time

UPDATE: Our winner is Michelle Reynoso! Thank you to everyone who participated. Keep watching to learn how to write your book, sell it, and market it successfully. We look forward to chatting with you in the YouTube comments. After months of tutorials and interviews, vlogs and   more»

No Sweat Book Marketing Series with Eva Natiello

Learn how to make your book discoverable so that it can land in the hands, heads and hearts of readers all over the world. These days, beyond writing a good book, an author has to build, maintain, and drive the engine that sells the book. Luckily, The Book   more»

Stockholm Writers Festival

Join us for Stockholm Writers Festival (SWF), May 28 - 30, 2021. This year's conference will be online, opening the doors to writers anywhere in the world. SWF is a celebration of writing where you can find your community, hone your skills and learn the intricacies of the industry!   more»

Get Published ...Today! Workshop

It is the greatest time in history to be a writer. The barrier to publishing has been torn down and now anyone can get published. But to get published successfully is a whole other matter. We will take you through the entire publishing process. This step-by-step,   more»

The Book Doctors Present at Kauai Writers Conference

The dramatic coastline of Tunnels Beach offers outsanding views of the iconic Mt. Makana (Bali Hai). [/caption]Aloha! The Book Doctors are headed to Hawaii. Pack your swimsuits and manuscripts and join us at the Kauai Writers Conference, November 4 - 10, 2019, where we'll be presenting with a   more»

Book Doctors Master Classes

How to Get Your Book Successfully PublishedLIMITED TO 8 WRITERSWe have helped hundreds of writers get successfully published through our workshops and our book, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. Now we are opening up our home and taking to the web to host two six-week master   more»

The Book Doctors Master Class

How to Get Your Book Successfully Published8 Weeks, 8 Writers, 8 BooksWe have helped hundreds of writers get successfully published through our workshops and our book, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. Now we are opening up our home to host an eight-week master class that will   more»