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Don't fear the synopsis, The Book Doctors

How to Write a Synopsis for Your Novel

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

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 synopses in this week's video. Keep reading for an example synopsis for a famous novel. WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO What happens if a literary agent asks for a synopsis? Don't panic. Here's a beginner's guide [...] more
Book Title Game, Book Doctors photo

How to Title Your Book | Steps to a Brilliant Title

Monday, July 13, 2020

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 📊 Facebook https://www. facebook. com/help/1575289. . . 📊 Instagram Stories more
how much does it cost to self-publish

How much does it cost to self-publish?

Monday, July 6, 2020

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 so fast your head will spin. Here's how to spend money the right way and avoid scams. Self-publishing costs could include Editor/copy editor Proofreader Cover designer Interior book [...] more

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

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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 promise to publish your book, but theyre really only interested in getting your money. RELATED VIDEOS Self-Publishing Scams or Legit Publishers? https://youtu. be/gG2px2KD91A [...] more

How to Get a Blurb For Your Book

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

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 A BOOK BLURB? 📘 Why book blurbs matter 📘 How to get book blurbs 📘 When to get book blurbs RELATED VIDEOS Query Letter Webinar & Critique with The Book [...] more
why you haven't received a response to your query; woman typing on laptop; Query Letters text|

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

Sunday, June 21, 2020

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_6RkTbXNs Check out our QUERY LETTER PLAYLIST https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=L7Ncx. . . [...] more
David pleading with writers to stay home and keep writing during COVID-19

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

Thursday, March 19, 2020

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 COVER 0:05 Checking in with The Book Doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic 0:48 Our tips for working from home 1:08 Use your commute time for [...] more
Beat The Stay-At-Home Blues Webinar graphic featuring The Book Doctors

Beat The Stay-At-Home Blues Webinar

Thursday, March 19, 2020

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 us Click this link to view the webinar live on YouTube and ask us anything. Ask questions Sign in using a YouTube/Google account to chat with us and ask questions. Tech trouble? If you have any trouble, email our web guru at [...] more
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) logo

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2020

Sunday, March 15, 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 Pitchapalooza 2020 below. ? 10 years. A decade. A tenth of a century. Thats how long The Book Doctors and Nano Nation [...] more
how long will it take to publish my book?

How Long Will It Take to Publish My Book?

Saturday, March 7, 2020

? 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 book deal? How long does traditional publishing take? 1:17 How long does it take to publish a [...] more
American Dirt and Why Publishers are Stupid video still|American Dirt and Why Publishers are Stupid screen shot

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

Friday, February 28, 2020

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 There are many books by Latinx authors. So why aren't Latinx [...] more
collage of video thumbnails

100th YouTube Video = Giveaway Time

Saturday, November 23, 2019

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 voice-overs, we've reached a milestone on The Book Doctors' YouTube channel: We shared our 100th video! To celebrate, we're running a giveaway, and one lucky winner will get a free 30-minute consultation with us (a $150 value). Here's how [...] more
public speaking tips for authors

Public Speaking Tips for Authors

Saturday, September 21, 2019

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 live performances or appear in media. As Truman Capote counseled young writers: "Socialize. Don't just go up to a pine cabin all alone and brood. You will reach that stage soon enough anyway. "And when you're [...] more
Patricia Spears Jones

Writing Communities - Interview with Poet Patricia Spears Jones

Saturday, July 27, 2019

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 VIDEOS NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza Author Waytu Moore on Publishing | When Art & Commerce Meet Author Brad Parks on Journalism, Literary Agents, and Publishing Award-Winning Thrillers Joshua Mohr on Writing and How to Publish a Book PATRICIA SPEARS JONES [...] more
Photo of Grant Faulkner smiling

Writing Advice from Grant Faulkner, NaNoWriMo Executive Director

Friday, July 19, 2019

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 COVER 0:15 What is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? 2:14 NaNoWriMo success stories & NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners3:43 Opening up the publishing gates: NaNoWriMo crashes through the gatekeepers and encourages everyone to embrace their identity as a writer. 5:58 Writing advice: writing is about persistence and [...] more
Book cover of She Would Be King

When Art & Commerce Meet - Interview with Waytu Moore

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

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 COVER 0:35 Writing a draft of SHE WOULD BE KING and exploring identity as an African in America and as an African-American2:19 Pressures writers put on themselves, writing craft, and not resenting your art3:26 Writing discipline and respecting your art4:01 Publishing industry trends4:23 Waytu Moore's next novel is about mermaids5:32 Publishing SHE [...] more
Brad Parks, author

Brad Parks on Journalism, Literary Agents, and Publishing Thrillers

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

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 to publishing success. Watch the video or read the transcript below. David: Hello. We're the Book Doctors. Brad: I'm not a Book Doctor. D: No. We're talking to Brad Parks, who just told us that he has all his own teeth, and I [...] more
self-publishing scams or legit publishers?

Self-publishing Scams or Legit Publishers?

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Writer beware! Disreputable author service companies often masquerade as legitimate publishers. Here's how to publish a book without getting scammed. WHAT WE COVER 0:20 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 marketing and publicity for the author's first book. Now the author can't sell the rest of the series to a legitimate publishing company. Turns out, the author used a disreputable author services company. 1:09 What is an author services company? [...] more
networking for authors figurines

Networking for Authors

Friday, January 26, 2018

? 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 publishing business. Lucky for you, dear friends and writers, we have anew Book Doctors video to help you stop being allergic to promoting and marketing . When [...] more