What every author needs to know about publishing

Actual word count, since all word processing software automatically counts words. (There is no reason to use an estimate.)

Dedicate a year to writing. Write on a blog. Write on Facebook or Instagram. Give yourself a year to figure out if writing is something you want to focus on.

Yes, go to rachellegardner.com and click on Submissions.

Yes, as long as your arrangement with the previous agent has been terminated.

MANY people get their agents through queries, so this is definitely worth your while.

It’s informative, but there is a lot of interaction and I become familiar with the students, so I can always take a look when your work is ready.

Query = a brief letter sent via email, equivalent of about a page. Proposal = detailed multi-page document submitted upon request from agent or publisher.

There is a presumptive copyright on your work. You have loads of evidence that it’s your own work, in the form of your computer records. Beyond that, you realize it’s unlikely anyone wants your work; everyone’s too busy with their own. You simply get on with it and don’t spend energy worrying about it.

You need a film agent or entertainment lawyer.

You can use the same resources as people living in the U.S., assuming you want a U.S. agent.

It can be hard to tell. Ask a LOT of questions about how much it costs and what you will get for that money. Be realistic with yourself about your chances of recouping your investment through sales of your book. Hint: most self-pub books (but not all) sell less than 1,000 copies.

Whether or not the manuscript is completed, you need a proposal.

Typically you send one if they asked for it.

The course includes Q&A with every session, and lots of interaction in our Facebook group between sessions.

The equivalent of half a typewritten page to a page and a half. Only go long if your nonfiction book requires a big platform.

No, but you receive detailed instruction and tools to write your book, write your query, write your proposal, build your platform.

There are some small publishers that consider authors with modest platforms.

No need to disclose in a query, but definitely in your first conversation with a potential agent.