Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

  • Home
  • About
  • Author List
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Contact

The blog for writers

The Book Deal

Ask the editor: The #1 issue for writers today

June 8, 2010 by Alan Rinzler

Q: There’s so much for a writer to think about: platform, query letters, agents, marketing. What’s the most important thing to focus on? A: That’s easy. Focus on the content of your book. There’s nothing more important. Content is king Before all else, keep your attention on the core … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published

Ask the editor: Tips for blending in the backstory

February 8, 2010 by Alan Rinzler

Q:  There's some background information I need to include so my narrative makes more sense.  How can I do that without breaking the flow of the story? A:  Many writers struggle with blending in historical context and a who's who of key characters from the past whose influence has led up to their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing

Ask the editor: Help with transitions and bridges

December 28, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q: Someone in my writers group complained that my plot is hard to follow. Can you help? A: You might need to work on the transitions -- the glue that makes a seamless narrative.  You might need to add a few words of clarification or entire new passages to bridge the gaps. Your reader could be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing

Ask the editor: The top 5 secrets to getting a book deal

October 29, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q: I haven't had any luck finding a publisher for my book. What's the secret to getting in the door? A: Here's my advice on how you can beat the odds and overcome the biggest reasons most books get rejected. But first, I'd like to give you an idea of what it's like behind the scenes at a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published

Ask the editor: Help! I can’t seem to finish my book

August 23, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q : Everyone says I need to wrap up my manuscript and stop writing already. But I'm really stuck. Any advice? A : This isn't unusual. You may have taken a wrong turn early in the story as a result of poor planning. Or you may have painted yourself into a corner. Or you could be suffering from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published

Ask the editor: Do publishers have rules about POV?

May 26, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q:  I’ve heard that New York publishers will only accept books written from a third-person limited POV and no head hopping allowed. Does this mean I have to rewrite my manuscript to conform to these rules? A:  No! Stop. Don’t succumb to this kind of advice. These rumors can start as the result of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published

Ask the editor: 8 tips for finding your voice

March 22, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q :   I know that agents and editors look for writers who have strong voices, but I'm having trouble finding mine.  Any advice? A :   It’s true. Editors, agents, publishers and, above all, readers do respond most to a writer with a great voice. Voice is what gives writing energy, authenticity, it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing

Ask the editor: 7 techniques for a dynamite plot

January 30, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Q : I submitted my manuscript to an agent and she said the plot was confusing and needed a lot of work. I was crushed!  What should I do? A : Telling a good story is the writer's most important task. But constructing a great plot with so many ideas, characters and actions careening through your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published

Every non-fiction book needs an index: Here’s why

January 12, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Does my book really need an index? And I have to pay the indexer?  Wait, isn’t that the publisher’s job?  OK, well can I just put it together myself? I often hear questions like these from authors I work with. So I explain that an index is an indispensable tool for almost every non-fiction book. An … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Parts of a Book

Ask the Editor: The power of the opening sentence – 6 tips

September 18, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Q : Why is the first line so important? A : Agents and acquiring editors will quit reading if your opening sentence doesn’t zing. Any writer seeking publication or the devoted attention of a reader browsing in a bookstore needs to craft that first sentence, revising, revising, revising, until … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

About The Book Deal

Welcome readers.  Let me introduce myself and offer up some credentials for the opinions, perspectives and insights in this blog. In nearly … more »

Working with Alan

I can’t thank you enough!

"Working together was interesting, challenging, and fun. I can't thank you enough for taking my stories and putting them in a comprehensible order, focusing more on my younger, formative days with my parents, and helping me remember great events that added so much to the book."

– US Senator Barbara Boxer. Her memoir, The Art of Tough, was published by Hachette in June 2016.

Figure out how to get Alan on your side

"Figure out how to get Alan on your side. He took my rambling manifesto and helped me hone it into a sharp, funny, culture-changing book featured in the New York Times, the New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Times of London, and most recently on The Daily Show."

– Lenore Skenazy, author Free Range Kids – How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children Without Going Nuts with Worry.

Enthusiastic, imaginative and razor sharp

"Alan is enthusiastic, imaginative, razor-sharp, concise. His line-editing is specific and actionable; his developmental advice truly invaluable, providing focus and direction to the often chaotic process of writing a first novel."

– David Tomlinson, author of The Midnight Man.

An advocate, friend and mentor

“Alan can tell you at one glance, where a manuscript works and where it doesn’t. More than an editor, he’s an advocate, friend, mentor, and a bullshit detector of the highest caliber.”

–  Celeste Chaney, author of In Absence of Fear

A 5-star Olympic Gold Medal for editing!

"Alan Rinzler has edited seven of my books, and no one compares to his competence as an editor. Everything I write he makes better. Alan knows the business, knows writing and understands a writer’s needs. He has my 5-Star Olympic Gold Medal for editing! I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him."

– Michele Borba, author of Building Moral Intelligence, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, and others.

Featured Video

view more »

Ask the Editor

Tips for blending in the backstory

Tips for blending in
the backstory
2015-07-28T14:50:53-07:00
Tips for blending in the backstory
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/tips-for-blending-in-the-backstory/

Wake up your readers! How to thicken a plot

Wake up your readers!
How to thicken a plot
2015-07-28T15:29:05-07:00
Wake up your readers! How to thicken a plot
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/another-link/

Memoir or novel for my true story?

Memoir or novel
for my true story?
2015-07-28T20:47:16-07:00
Memoir or novel for my true story?
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/3172/

Is your book in need of emotional glue?

Is your book in need of emotional glue?
2015-07-28T20:51:25-07:00
Is your book in need of emotional glue?
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/is-your-book-in-need-of-emotional-glue/

Can I really become a better writer?

Can I really become a better writer?
2015-07-28T21:05:22-07:00
Can I really become a better writer?
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/can-i-really-become-a-better-writer/

7 techniques for a dynamite plot

7 techniques for
a dynamite plot
2015-07-28T21:17:53-07:00
7 techniques for a dynamite plot
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/7-techniques-for-a-dynamite-plot-2/

What to expect from a developmental editor

What to expect from
a developmental editor
2015-07-28T21:21:18-07:00
What to expect from a developmental editor
https://alanrinzler.com/testimonials/what-to-expect-from-a-developmental-editor/

Categories

  • Ask the Editor (23)
  • Book Industry Trends (81)
  • Book Proposal Critiques (4)
  • Craft of Writing (72)
  • Guts Ball: Editing Hunter Thompson (3)
  • How To Get Published (80)
  • Literary Agent Profiles (11)
  • Literary Destinations (3)
  • Marketing Your Book (33)
  • Memoir (7)
  • Parts of a Book (5)
  • Self-Publishing (34)
  • The writer's toolkit (3)
  • Writers at work (2)

Follow me on

2008-2025 © Alan Rinzler Consulting Editor