The Publishing Process

About CBI’s Above the Slushpile Submission System

Dear Reader,

Starting in January 2022, we have implemented a new system for our special Above the Slushpile submissions. We’re confident this will open up submission opportunities to a larger number of agents and editors, and help you write your best query. But before we explain “how” the

Crafting the Perfect Query: Editor & Agent Panel Video

This month, we bring you a true world exclusive….

A little while back, Laura was a faculty member and featured speaker at Big Sur of the Rockies, a wonderful writing conference presented by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. One of the highlights of the weekend was a free-flowing discussion

VIDEO – My Manuscript is Finished. What Do I Do Now?

Writer’s coach Teresa Funke explains what to do with your completed book manuscript, including both traditional and self-publishing choices and some tips on marketing and promotion.

To get more great advice from Teresa, visit teresafunke.com

Understanding Copyright and Fair Use

COPYRIGHT

Did you know that you have invoked a copyright as soon as you write something—putting it on paper or other media? For many years I didn’t understand this concept. I thought I needed to take out a copyright on each short story, article, or book I wrote.

Plan Your Career as You Would a Synopsis

Do you hate to write synopses? I do. After 34 books, you’d think that I could get it right, but writing synopses still gives me the heebie-jeebies. Maybe that’s why I also struggle in trying to plan a writing career. (A career plan—what’s that?)

Writing a synopsis and planning a

The Writing Conference Success Guide

You have the opportunity to attend a writers’ conference. You’re more than excited; you’re also a bit nervous. What can you do to make the most of it? What can you do to prepare for it?

After attending many conferences, I’ve come up with what I call my “conference success

VIDEO: How to Find the Perfect Literary Agent

In this video, our writing coach Teresa Funke walks you through the steps needed to find the perfect agent to represent your work. This video also appeared on our writeforkids.org site, but it’s so good we wanted to make sure Insiders saw it as well. And as a special gift

Glossary of Common Publishing Terms

What’s your writing IQ? Do you know the lingo used in the writing and publishing business? Take a look at the following definitions and see how many you know.

Let’s start at the beginning with basic terms:

Antagonist: the anti-hero or force who works to keep the protagonist from

Increase Your Writing Income (and Even Make a Decent Living!)

Unless you have a full time job writing, whether for a newspaper, a technical journal, or somewhere else, making a living wage by writing is tough. In fact, everything about writing is tough.

So, how do you go about making a decent living with freelance writing? The short answer

Understanding the Editor/Writer Relationship

What should a writer expect of an editor? What should an editor expect of a writer? What expectations are reasonable? And what are unreasonable?

Let’s examine the questions one by one.

What should a writer expect of an editor?

A timely response. A writer should be able

The Writer as Businessperson: How to Take Your Career Seriously

My husband owns a business that makes power supplies. He operates it as would any business person, with attention to inventory, marketing, record-keeping and, always, professionalism.

Did you know that writers are also business people? Sometimes, however, we forget that, focusing on the creative side and neglecting the business one.

VIDEO – Writing Coach Teresa on How to Accept Feedback on Your Work

Getting feedback, whether it’s from a writer’s group or a professional editor, is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a published author. In this video, Teresa tells you what to look for in a critique, how to handle constructive criticism, and how to work with an editor at a publishing house.

Video Quickie: Want to Know Where Publishing is Heading? Listen Up….

MEMBERS ONLY:

View Julie Hedlund's vital video Don’t Fear the Future: Embrace It!
for some real inside scoop about the future of publishing!

https://cbiclubhouse.com/clubhouse/dont-fear-the-future-embrace-it/

How a Bestselling Children’s Book Series Was Created

Natasha Wings's Night Before…. series regularly tops the Picture Book charts. In this exclusive video, Natasha shares how she came up with the idea!

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Natasha Wing has been writing children's books for 20 years and has published 22 books with more on the way. She

The Smart Writer’s Guide to Publishing Contracts

You’ve done it. You’ve sold your book and or a short story. Hooray! You’ve accomplished something that most people only dream of.

Now comes the fun part—signing the contract. Before you place your John—or Jane—Hancock on the dotted line, however, take a look at the language of the contract.

What Happens After You Sell Your Manuscript

When I sold my first book, I thought my work was done. Obviously the editor loved it and would not change a single word. Then came the revision letter. The editor wanted me to cut ten pages, change some matters regarding character motivation, and a host of other things.