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

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

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

Market heats up for debut authors

April 22, 2013 by Alan Rinzler

“Editors still love a chance at debut fiction,” says Manhattan literary agent Michelle Brower. “If the book is unique and meaningful, the debut author doesn’t yet have a bad sales track record so we can look at their book with all of the rosiness of potential rather than reality” Good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles, Self-Publishing Tagged With: agent, Alan Rinzler, debut author, debut writer, developmental editor, editorial consultant, emerging author, fiction, Folio Literary Agency, Folio Literary Management, Jill Marsal, literary agent, Marsal Lyon Agency, Michelle Brower, novelist

Why writers need agents: 4 pros weigh in

February 22, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Literary agents are still the gatekeepers for authors seeking traditional book deals. That's the bottom line, despite all the big changes in publishing, says Candice Fuhrman, an agent with many New York Times bestselling authors in her corner. "As long as publishers are buying books and paying … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, authors, book deal, developmental editor, editor, literary agencies, literary agents, publishers, publishing, representation, writers

Hot young agent’s old-school methods

December 8, 2010 by Alan Rinzler

How do literary agents who blog, tweet and carouse online find the time to do the real work of agenting: reading, hobnobbing with editors, reading some more and making great book deals for their clients? That’s what Chris Parris-Lamb, a rising star at the Gernert Company in NYC wonders, and it’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles Tagged With: agents, Alan Rinzler, book deals, Chris Parris-Lamb, editors, Genert Company, publishing, writers

Literary agents open the door to self-published writers

September 25, 2010 by Alan Rinzler

The top dog at one of the most successful literary agencies in New York says he’s in hot pursuit of self-published books to represent to mainstream publishers. “Absolutely, yes!”  That was Jim Levine’s unequivocal answer when I asked him recently if he was accepting self-published … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, Jane Dystal, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency, Nathan Bransford, Rachelle Gardner, Sandy Dijkstra

Literary agent stars online: Nathan Bransford, blogger extraordinaire

March 14, 2009 by Alan Rinzler

Every day legions of writers and wannabes trek over to literary agent Nathan Bransford's blog for a dose of some of the smartest, most honest, entertaining and generous advice on the book business I've seen online. Leading the charge Bransford, 28, an agent since 2005 with the venerable Curtis … [Read more...]

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

Are you better off with a NYC-based agent? Maybe

October 4, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

“There are definite advantages for me operating in Manhattan. I can visit editors at their offices and schmooze over lunch,” says top literary agent Nat Sobel. “It’s terrific. Two or three days a week, I’m talking to an editor about projects I’ve already sold them and are now in publication, or new … [Read more...]

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

Hungry agent seeks up & coming writers: Tips for the unpublished

September 10, 2008 by Alan Rinzler

"I'm eager to discover writers who aren't famous yet but will be," says San Francisco-based literary agent Elise Proulx. "My mission is to promote literature and make some money for deserving authors," said Proulx, whose five tips for unpublished writers appear below. "My specialty is both high … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published, Literary Agent Profiles

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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/

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