Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

The blog for writers

The Book Deal

Wake up your readers! How to thicken a plot

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Here’s a situation that editors encounter frequently: manuscripts with a large cast of potentially interesting characters, sparkling dialogue, and the glimmer of ideas churning just beneath the surface. But after a little while the scenes become repetitious, the characters and their machinations … [Read more...]

The “New Author Platform” – What you need to know

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The author platform isn't what it used to be. A new definition is emerging, based on the reality that in the 21st century, readers don't depend on the Today Show or the feature pages of the New York Times to find a new book to read. Instead, they're looking online and expecting to find a more … [Read more...]

Ask the editor: Trusting the reader

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Q: How can i be sure my readers will understand my core message, my purpose for writing the book in the first place – unless I help out with a little commentary or explanation? A: Authors need to respect their readers and allow them their own reactions to the narrative. This issue comes up … [Read more...]

Good day sunshine for writers

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This is the best time ever to be a writer. Especially for those in the vanguard: the self-publishing writers at the cutting edge of the brave new turbulent world of literary art and commerce. I say that with some authority. As a worker bee from deep within the trenches of the book publishing … [Read more...]

Is there gold in your backlist? Self-publish and find out!

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If you're an author of books that have gone out of print, you could be sitting on a goldmine. Savvy writers – especially those with an online following -- are reveling in unexpected profits by self-publishing their defunct backlist titles as new e-books. If you think you don't have the money, … [Read more...]

Tweets, texts & posts: New sources for memoir writers

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Tweets, text messages, blog posts, and missives left on forums, in comments and on social networks have become a rich mother lode of raw personal material to mine for authors who are writing memoirs. It's the way we communicate now It's how we express and absorb information and emotion, in … [Read more...]

Advice for Amanda Hocking from authors and agents

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When Amanda Hocking, the 26-year-old poster girl for self-publishing, revealed her $2 million book contract with St. Martin's Press, she defended the deal on her own blog to legions of fans and militant, mystified indie authors. "I only want to be a writer," Hocking said. "I do not want to spend … [Read more...]

Strategic tweeting for authors

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If you're an author who isn't active on Twitter, you're making a huge mistake, say savvy book-marketing gurus. Some activist authors and screenwriters like Roger Wolfson are getting onto social media to attract an audience, but they're using the likes of Instagram and Facebook as their go-to … [Read more...]

The writer’s toolkit: Breaking the rules of the narrative arc

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Feeling boxed in by the rules and expectations of the conventional narrative arc? Tired of the old 1st act, 2nd act, 3rd act routine? Itching to break out and try something new? If so, this post is for you. Ordinarily, I'm a staunch believer in the basics of linear story structure: keep it … [Read more...]

Book bloggers can help sell your book: Tips for authors

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"Something truly magical happened." That's how Amanda Hocking describes the impact book bloggers had on sales of her self-published paranormal romances. When she rolled out the first of nine books in March of last year, Hocking had no idea what to expect. Over the next couple of months, her … [Read more...]