This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of 'The Witches of Moonshyne Manor') interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who's involved in bringing a book to market. She's joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as opening page ...
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Ever wonder what goes on in the literary world, especially in this day and age? Want to know who your favorite authors actually are? Open Book, a weekly podcast hosted by Jessica Sorentino, is the literary tell-all you’ve been waiting for.
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1
The Idea of Writing the Book That Doesn’t Exist
1:19:33
1:19:33
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe interviews Claire Jiménez, assistant professor and author of What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez. They discuss the three pivotal moments in Claire's writing career; Claire's experience writing a multitude of POVs; how she went about developing her charact…
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Why You Shouldn’t Make Every Change Your Beta Readers Suggest
1:07:53
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews MK Pagano, author of the YA thriller romance, Girls Who Burn. The two discuss MK's journey to publication; the importance of knowing when to part ways with an agent, even if s/he is a good agent; MK's experience with beta readers and fol…
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Working With an Agent on Edits Ahead of Submission
1:16:14
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe speaks with her very own client, Anamely Salgado Reyes, author of My Mother Cursed My Name. They discuss Anamely's query letter to CeCe and CeCe's response to it; Anamely's experience with her first round of edits from CeCe; the inspiration behind he…
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From Self-Publishing to Traditional Publishing: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
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In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews Kern Carter, author of And Then There Was Us. They discuss the different routes to publication and the differences between traditional and self publishing; how Kern worked to improve his craft while trying to land an agent; the challenges of writing from a perspective that isn’t your own, and why you…
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Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs
1:27:19
1:27:19
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews creative writing professor, essayist, and author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, Alison Espach. They discuss falling into the mode of writing the same sorts of novels repeatedly; the genre that Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance w…
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Giving Yourself Permission to Change and Grow as a Writer
1:15:56
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe interviews Parini Shroff, lawyer and author of the national bestseller and award nominated The Bandit Queens. They discuss, Parini's experience working as a lawyer part-time while also writing fiction; finding it difficult to sustain writing for long…
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Writing Issue-Driven YA Fiction & Considering Alternate Routes to Publication
1:07:36
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews author, editor, head of Writing Ink Publishing, and creative writing teacher, Abigail Wild. They discuss Abigail's latest novel, More Than One Way To Breathe; the extent to which younger readers can handle difficult topics; Abigail's adv…
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The Joy of Writing Without Following a Synopsis
1:08:23
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In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Carly interviews her very own client and best-selling author, Renee Carlino, to discuss her latest novel, This Used to Be Us. They chat about Renee's journey to becoming a published author; how she found her first agent; what it's been like changing her f…
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How to Tackle Writing an Omniscient POV
1:11:53
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly are joined by Jennifer to discuss her thriller submission. They chat about trigger warnings and their necessity in a query; ensuring your stakes aren't too obvious while illustrating the bigger 'why' at hand; framing your query letter in a way that highlights your POV characters and not others; t…
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What Message Do You Want to Convey Through Your Writing?
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In today's bonus episode, Bianca interviews author, Kirsten Miller, to chat about her latest novel, Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books. They discuss writing across different genres and what drove Kirsten to change up her genre; writing with the intention of sharing a message with readers; the inspiration behind the novel; Kirsten's experien…
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How Interiority Makes a Character Come Alive
1:12:27
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a rom-com and a YA submission. They discuss the importance of clarity in your query and avoiding language that might cause confusion; the necessity of a clear major dramatic question in your query; ensuring your protagonists aren't anticipating everything that happens in your pages; the …
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An Inspiring Journey to Publication
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly critique two upmarket submissions, one of which is in the gothic genre. They discuss the reasoning behind placing your metadata at the top of a query; avoiding unnecessary detail in your query; avoiding slipping from pitch to synopsis; the need for interiority, particularly interiority that will …
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly are joined by guest literary agent, Mary C. Moore. They critique a resubmission and a sci-fi query, during which they discuss: the importance of making tropes as fresh and different as possible; how to ensure your pitch isn't too dense, especially in genres that involve world-building; highlighti…
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018: Exploring Historical Fiction and Reader Insights with Maria Sorentino
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by my mom, Maria, to discuss our favorite books and reading habits. Maria shares her love for historical fiction, especially period dramas and World War narratives, and provides insights into how she selects her books, often influenced by covers and word of mouth. The discussion also touches on the accuracy …
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Choosing How to Frame Certain Aspects of Your Work
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by listener, Kelly Fuller, as they critique her book club fiction submission. They discuss picking comps that match the genre you're writing in; using your query to discuss the plot of the book rather than backstory about your characters; ensuring your stakes are high enough; pitching …
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017: Behind the Scenes with Bestselling Author with Fiona Davis
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis. Known for her historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, Fiona delves into her latest book, 'The Spectacular,' set at Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s. We discuss the research and inspiration behind her stories, including interviews wi…
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In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca chats with Courtney Preiss to discuss her debut novel, Welcome Home, Caroline Kline. They speak about the inspiration behind Courtney's novel and her journey to publication; her experiences with rejection during the querying process; being aware of cultural moments that could propel your novel forward when you’…
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a YA submission and a literary coming-of-age horror. They discuss avoiding using repetitive language in a query; considering SEO when choosing a book title; the concept of 'scene work'; the need for disruption to occur in opening pages; matching word choice to genre when writing your que…
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016: From the Law to Storytelling Through Writing Thrillers with Bill Myers
32:22
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Bill Williams, a lawyer and author, about his unique approach to balancing his law career with his passion for writing. Bill shares his daily routine, including how ideas come to him during walks with his new puppy and how he utilizes emails and voice notes to capture these thoughts. He discusses the impo…
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Insights from Publishing Phenomenon, Veronica Roth
53:40
53:40
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a literary fiction query and a high concept YA fantasy query. They discuss the necessity of being specific with plot details and your protagonists' motivations in your query; honing in on world-building when your novel takes place in a reality that's different from ours; the issue with n…
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by Paige to discuss her query for her action-adventure romance novel. They discuss the importance of spelling out your protagonist's motivation in your query; the need for story-forward plot escalation; accurately positioning your novel’s genre; making an agent's job easier by picking …
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015: Self-Expression and Self-Publishing: A Conversation with Author Rachel L. Ertassi
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Rachel L. Ertassi, a first-time author from Sacramento, who discusses her debut novel that explores the impact of a new serial murderer on the city of Sacramento from multiple perspectives. One of the characters, living with Type 1 Diabetes, is inspired by Rachel’s own experiences as she has been living w…
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by two guests, author Rachel Kapelke-Dale and her agent, Sarah Phair. They discuss ensuring your comps align with each other and with your work; making sure your query is representative of your whole novel and not just one part; using your author bio to help show why you're the one to …
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014: Navigating Book Development and Design with Linda Secondari
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Linda Secondari, the principal and creative director of Studiolo Secondari, a New York-based design firm specializing in book development and digital communications. With over 25 years of experience, including a significant tenure as the creative director at Oxford University Press, Linda shares insights …
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April Bonus Episode: Writing Without a Pricetag
1:11:31
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In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews poet, novelist, and Chair of the Amherst Writers (AWA), Sue Reynolds. They discuss the AWA workshop method and how it differs from other workshops; what occurs in an AWA workshop; the importance of giving writers a safe and encouraging space to share their work; the concept of strength-based feedback…
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Caroline Leavitt’s Insights and Encouragement
1:04:10
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In today’s Book with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two listener queries, a resubmission and a YA fantasy. They discuss the issue of starting with a protagonist that has a 'simple, stable' life; a great example of an inciting incident; ensuring your major dramatic question is strong enough; good storytelling as the promise of change; making your pr…
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013: The Story Behind 'Getting Thru: The Worst Possible Thing' with Jim Williams
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Jim Williams, who discusses his book 'Getting Thru: The Worst Possible Thing', inspired by his son Kyle's battle with neuroblastoma. Jim shares the devastating journey of his son’s diagnosis, subsequent fight with cancer, and the profound lessons of strength, resilience, and hope learned through Kyle's jo…
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Figuring Out What Genre You Should Be Writing In
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a children's picture book and a literary fiction query. They discuss avoiding vagueness, no matter the genre; using illustrator notes in a picture book pitch; the need for tension, even in a children's book; framing your novel in your query so agents aren't confused when they get to the …
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012: The Essence of Innovation, Creativity and Passion with Janine Bolon
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Janine Bolon, a prolific author, educator, and entrepreneur who shares her journey from working in the pharmaceutical industry to homeschooling her children and managing multiple side businesses. She discusses the importance of managing time well to prevent burnout while juggling family life and professio…
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Choosing the Best POVs for a Multi-POV Novel
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In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by guest agent, Jo Ramsay, to critique two queries. They discuss the issue of withholding too much plot in a query; highlighting the stakes in your query; the importance of first lines in a novel; the need for psychological depth and acuity in your characters; the issue of comping to titles tha…
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011: Identity, Branding, and Innovation in Writing with Ben Purkert
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Ben Purkert, a celebrated author known for his debut novel 'The Men Can't Be Saved'. We discuss the themes of self-worth and identity in the context of job loss, drawing from the experiences of the novel's main character, Seth. Ben shares insights into the impact of branding and professional identity on i…
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss choosing a unique title for your work; having a strong plot connection between your main characters in a multi POV novel; avoiding situations where the agent has to make too many assumptions in a query; choosing between italics and dialogue tags when having a character talk to themselves; …
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010: From Ring Fights to Mic Nights: Run With the Bull with Eric Johnston
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In this chapter of Open Book, I’m joined by Eric Johnston, an award-winning comedian, actor, emcee, and best-selling author. Eric shares his journey through the intersecting worlds of sports and entertainment, highlighted by his family legacy in professional wrestling. He discusses his debut book 'Run with the Bull', which navigates three generatio…
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss keeping your author bio paragraph concise; the need for causality in a plot paragraph; paying attention to the language you use in a query so you don't create confusion surrounding the book's premise; knowing who your protagonist is and highlighting their interiority and inner life over o…
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009: A Glimpse Inside Publishing's Secret World with Carly Watters
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In this chapter of Open Book, Carly Waters, a literary agent, talks about the multifaceted aspects of her work and insights into the publishing industry. Carly discusses her daily life balancing roles as a literary agent, podcast host, and writer. She emphasizes her commitment to educating authors about the industry and how every week brings new, v…
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In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews game designer, curator, and writer, Holly Gramazio to discuss her debut novel, The Husbands. The two discuss Holly's journey to publication; the novel’s inspiration and genre; how game design lends itself to novel writing; how she structured the novel; the importance of causality; Holly's approach to…
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How Research Should Inform a Novel Without Leaving Too Many Fingerprints
1:06:23
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In today's Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by Ron, to discuss his query submission. They chat about Ron's curiosity-inducing first query paragraph; the line between giving away too much plot and sharing just enough in a query; how subjective agents’ opinions can be; the right emotional calibration within your characters; the is…
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008: Visual Storytelling and Cover Design with Emma McGoldrick
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In this chapter of Open Book, Emma McGoldrick, founder of ESM Creative Studio, discusses the significance of visual storytelling in brand and personal identity. Emma shares her insights on the blend of strategy and aesthetics in crafting memorable brands, the role of design in consumer choices, and the influence of book covers in the world of readi…
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Balancing Curiosity Seeds and Tension Without Making the Reader Feel Cheated
1:01:36
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the need for external pressure in your major dramatic question; the three sets of questions that create tension at the beginning of a story; surprising your reader in your first five pages; the accuracy of third party manuscript wishlists; the need for world-building in a fantasy query; b…
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007: From Digital Marketer to Self-Published Romance Author with Mary Belle
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In this chapter of Open Book, Mary Belle shares her journey of transitioning from a versatile career in various industries to pursuing her passion for writing. Her debut novel, ‘Vivi il Momento,' inspired by her vacation to Italy, reflects her love for romance, family, and food. Mary Belle discusses her decision to self-publish, highlighting the im…
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Insights from Acquisitions Editors & Working on Author Collaborations
1:10:59
1:10:59
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In today's Books with Hooks segment, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by two acquisitions editors at Atria Books, Elizabeth Hitti and Melanie Iglesias. Melanie is a senior editor at Atria Books and has worked on various bestselling titles, including It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover. Elizabeth joined Atria in 2022 and has worked on various best…
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006: Influencer Marketing & Booktok with Tom Stefanuik
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In this chapter of Open Book, Tom Stefanuik, founder of SmallScreen, a global influencer management agency, joins me to talk about booktok and influencer marketing. Tom shares his journey starting with making YouTube videos in 2013, gradually building an audience and turning his passion into a full-time career. He discusses how content creation bec…
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Being Intentional With Your Novel's Timeline
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In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss the importance of specifying between awards for published and unpublished manuscripts; the difficulty with trying to sell a book whose main character’s race and culture differs from the author’s lived experience; the need for a main character’s interiority to accurately reflect the…
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In today's Bumper February Bonus Episode, Bianca kicks it off by interviewing interviews tech anthropologist and author, Nikki Payne. They discuss her latest novel, Sex, Lies, and Sensibility, a retelling of the classic, Sense and Sensibility; how Nikki approached writing her retelling, one which specifically centred diversity; decentering whitenes…
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How Some Stories Need You to Become a Better Writer Before Telling Them
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In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by emerging author, Sarah. They discuss ways to make a novel sound less quiet in a query; the necessity of a hook; when it's acceptable to comp to a hugely successful novel; how to convey a longer timeline; how to share pivotal plot points in a query without spoiling the novel;…
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Torturing Your Characters in the Second Act
1:07:03
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly discuss small tweaks for an overall 'fantastic' query; a good example of framing and planting curiosity seeds; starting a novel with a scene where the protagonist is waking up; being careful about word choice in a query; being mindful of when you're being vague vs specific; and the importance of …
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How Writing Contests Can Help Launch Your Career
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly critique an upmarket/southern-gothic query and a book club romance. They discuss a "perfect" first query paragraph; the importance of accurate framing in a query; when a content warning is necessary; tips for elevating your line level writing along with examples of sophisticated writing; writing …
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Insights from NYT Bestselling Authors, Ali Hazelwood and Kiley Reid
1:33:42
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In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the need for specificity with regard to plot details when you have a more psychological book/concept; avoiding too much backstory in the opening pages; the need for your first chapter to be as strong as your prologue (if you have one); being as specific about your genre as possible; and h…
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005: The Power of Investing in the Business of You
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In this chapter of Open Book, we cover the criticality of viewing authorship as a business and explain how this perspective can amplify promotional efforts and reader engagement. Delving into personal branding, I give guidance on identifying unique habits and characteristics to develop a reputation and foster trust. I emphasize consistency and comm…
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In today's January Bonus Episode, Bianca interviews Jami Attenberg, author of 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. They discuss Jami's 1000 Words of Summer newsletter and the idea of being a good literary citizen; the essays from Jami's latest work; writing for other reasons than to get published…
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