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Headshot of author Helen Wan

Interview with Author Helen Wan

Interviews

When I was introduced to author Helen Wan, I’d just moved to the same town and was on the lookout for literary connections and community. […]

Interview with Author Helen Wan Read More »

Headshot of author Robert Levy

Interview with Author Robert Levy

Interviews

When I first met author Robert Levy on my MFA (at the bar, as I recall—instant appreciation over red wine), I remember getting such a

Interview with Author Robert Levy Read More »

Headshot of author Jennifer Dupree

Interview with Author Jennifer Dupree

Interviews

During the early phases of my book tour for my debut novel, The Road to Dalton, I had the pleasure of connecting with author Jennifer

Interview with Author Jennifer Dupree Read More »

A padlock to symbolize how to copyright your writing

Should You Copyright Your Writing Before Submitting?

Submissions

Copyright is a curiously prevalent—and frankly, bizarre—preoccupation for writers preparing to submit their work to literary agents. Writers are really worried about copyright. Like, far

Should You Copyright Your Writing Before Submitting? Read More »

Pages in a thick book as a book length word count guide

How Long Should Your Book Be? A Word Count Guide to Getting Published

Publishers

How long should your book be? Does it even matter? Isn’t the art as long as the art needs to be for you to tell

How Long Should Your Book Be? A Word Count Guide to Getting Published Read More »

Hand knocking at green door with lemon wreath to represent query letter follow-up etiquette

Query Letter Follow-Up Etiquette: When and How to Follow Up With a Literary Agent

Query Letters

You’ve done the hard work with your query letter, and now comes the excruciating wait, the self-doubt, the endless questions around query letter follow-up etiquette.

Query Letter Follow-Up Etiquette: When and How to Follow Up With a Literary Agent Read More »

A lonely desert road and blue mountains to inspire scene writing prompts

101 Scene Writing Prompts

Craft

Continuing our writing prompt series (check out our wildly popular 101 character writing prompts), we’re moving on to scene writing prompts. Scene writing is writing.

101 Scene Writing Prompts Read More »

Headshot of author Shannon Bowring

Interview with Author Shannon Bowring

Interviews

Author Shannon Bowring is special. Not only is she a contributing editor to Aspiring Author, she has also been a fierce champion and brilliant friend,

Interview with Author Shannon Bowring Read More »

Hands holding coffee mug, notepad, and book to represent query letter vs. book proposal

Query Letter vs. Book Proposal: What’s the Difference?

Query Letters

You may have heard about the great query letter vs. book proposal debate. Which one should you choose to pitch your manuscript or project to

Query Letter vs. Book Proposal: What’s the Difference? Read More »

Comparing two apples to represent the role of comp titles in query letters

The Role of Comp Titles in Query Letters

Query Letters

Comp titles in query letters are essentially the titles of published books that are similar or comparable to your manuscript. They are designed to help

The Role of Comp Titles in Query Letters Read More »

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