Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

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The blog for writers

The Book Deal

This agent is sizzling hot for debut authors

August 8, 2017 by Alan Rinzler

Are you a new writer with a killer book? Having a tough time nailing an agent? You'll be interested in this. Mark Gottlieb is a leading literary agent at Trident Media who's found great success selling first-time author manuscripts. We're talking six-figure plus deals. He also champions … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles Tagged With: advance, agency, agent profile, Alan Rinzler, author, book, debut, how to find a literary agent, literary agent, Mark Gottlieb, publishing, representation, traditional publishing, Trident Media, writer

Kickstarter author success stories

December 16, 2016 by Alan Rinzler

Different writers have different ways of maintaining an income while they are writing their latest book. Some write part-time and have a day job to help pay the bills, others have invested in things like Crypto Engine and are able to survive off a passive income, and others are able to be paid by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, authors, books, crowdfunding, developmental editor, getting published, kickstarter, writers

NPR’s interview with me on the Reader Analytics controversy

August 4, 2016 by Alan Rinzler

Breaking News! National Public Radio’s Lynn Neary of All Things Considered  interviewed me the other day for an editor's perspective on Reader Analytics, and whether data about reading behavior should have an impact on publishing decisions. Listen to Publishers’ Dilemma: Judge a Book by its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, All Things Considered, author, book editor, developmental editor, editor, Jellybooks, Lynn Neary, NPR, publisher, reader analytics

Jellybooks reader analytics: Sweet or sour deal for authors?

July 15, 2016 by Alan Rinzler

What if your agent called to say your publisher was doubling the ad budget on your new book because their Jellybooks reader analytics convinced them it was a rip-roaring page-turner? Yippee!! Or, what if you got a call with the heart-stopping news that your publisher was renegotiating your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, book deal, book editor, book industry, developmental editor, editor, Jellybooks, reader analytics, trends, writers

Self publisher’s wild ride

October 26, 2015 by Alan Rinzler

"It's been awesome," says Andy Weir. "It's like every writer's dream come true." The Washington Post describes Weir's novel The Martian, originally self published, as "Robinson Crusoe in a space suit." The unlikely New York Times bestseller is now a blockbuster Hollywood movie starring Matt … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, Andy Weir, developmental editor, self-publishing, The Martian

What 4 top agents desire in a memoir

August 10, 2015 by Alan Rinzler

Sometimes it seems like everyone's writing a memoir. You too? So how can you break out of the pack and and persuade an agent to take a look? Here are four accomplished literary agents, and they’re all selling memoirs. Scroll down to see some of the books they represent. These agents are the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles, Memoir Tagged With: advice, agent, Alan Rinzler, book, developmental editor, editor, getting published, how to find an agent, literary, memoir, traditional publishing

Can writing a book make you a star? Yes it can!

April 27, 2015 by Alan Rinzler

Just ask my author Lenore Skenazy, whose debut book Free-Range Kids – How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) led to her own reality TV show, among many other surprises. If you would like your children to learn then they can watch videos on Youtube such as the boo … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, book, children, developmental, editor, free range, Free-range kids, kids, Lenore Skenazy, reality show, world's worst mom

Wouldn’t you love an agent like this one?

January 3, 2015 by Alan Rinzler

Kimberley Cameron is a great example of how one innovative agent is dealing with the stonewalling risk-averse attitude these days of many mainstream commercial book publishers. "Traditional publishers are rejecting so many quality books we're submitting, by both debut authors and those with a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles Tagged With: agent, Alan Rinzler, developmental editor, editor, Kimberly Cameron, literary agent, publisher, Reputation Books

Women mystery writers break out of the shadows

November 13, 2014 by Alan Rinzler

The tired old stereotype of a mystery writer as some hard-boiled noir guy with a cigarette in one hand and a tumbler full of whiskey in the other is obsolete. Over. Done. Make way for Sisters in Crime, a nationwide organization of women mystery writers who are achieving commercial and literary … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, consultant, developmental editing, developmental editor, editor, editorial consultant, fiction, mystery, novels, sisters in crime, thrillers, writer

Eavesdropping for story ideas and other tips from a veteran novelist

October 6, 2014 by Alan Rinzler

Today we have some sage advice for writers from a proven practitioner of the art and craft of literary commerce who's had a successful career as a writer for more than 50 years. Warren Adler has published more than 32 novels and short story collections, including The War of the Roses, which was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, getting published, novelist, tips, War of the Roses, Warren Adler, writer, writing

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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

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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

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  • 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)

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