Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

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The blog for writers

The Book Deal

Superstar literary agent Sandy Dijkstra: Q&A

August 8, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Business is booming at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Eleven new major book deals nailed down and that was while Sandy was vacationing in Europe. So look out, now that she's back! Widely considered the most powerful agent on the West Coast, Dijkstra has been called "tough" and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles, Marketing Your Book

When the author isn’t a writer: bringing in a ghost

August 5, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Many successful books are written by ghost writers, co-authors, and other, often uncredited, collaborators. If I sign up an author who's a highly regarded expert in the field but not a professional writer, I bring in a ghost who's a pro at getting under someone else's skin and producing a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published

Ask the editor: 6 steps to writing a memoir

July 30, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Q : I have so much material for my memoir. How do I sort out what to include and what to leave out? A : This is the key problem a writer faces when constructing a non-fiction memoir. Here are six specific steps to consider when making your decisions: 1. First, skip to the end Every memoir … [Read more...]

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

Choosing a title for your book

July 11, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Editors pray for the perfect book title: a tight high-concept combination of words that crystallizes the content and intention of the work. A title so scintillating and irresistible that millions of readers want to run out and buy this book immediately. Eureka! It happens. Think of Chicken Soup … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book, Parts of a Book

Clay Felker’s impact on a young book editor

July 3, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

I’m among the publishing veterans who admired and benefited from the creativity and courage of Clay Felker, who died this week at the age of 82. This celebrated and deeply influential editor made a big difference at the start of my own career when he assigned his young star reporter Tom Wolfe to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Craft of Writing, How To Get Published

The book proposal — here’s what publishers want

June 28, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

It's the #1 question aspiring authors ask me: How do I get your attention? Here's how: Send me a compelling, convincing book proposal that knocks my socks off! For those who've heard that a query letter should always precede a proposal, my view is that you may want to skip the query entirely … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book

No response to your query letter? Try this instead

June 20, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

M ost agents and publishers recommend a brilliant and scintillating letter that pitches and pleads for the right to send a full proposal and sample of the manuscript itself, but frankly I don’t encourage it. Break this rule! The only thing writing a query letter demonstrates is how well you can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published

Build your author platform: 10 tips from a pro

June 7, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

As an acquiring editor, one of the first things I look for in an author's proposal is the "platform", that is, the writer's reputation and public visibility – and the ability, willingness, and experience to promote themselves in the marketplace. What we publishers all hope for when opening a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book

Emerging novelist a Starbucks hit: Q&A with the author

May 26, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

Garth Stein's new book The Art of Racing in the Rain posted extraordinary sales of 15,215 copies the first week out. Of these, 3,515 flew out the door of retail bookstores, 2,217 were ordered on Amazon, and a whopping 9,483 sold at Starbucks stores throughout the country. The relatively unknown … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book

What to look for in a writers conference

May 15, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

N ot all writers conferences are created equal. Some can take place in your local library, others may happen in luxury function rooms warrnambool have to offer. As a faculty member, I've appeared at events where authors were treated respectfully and came away with valuable information. But I've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published

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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

  • 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)

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