Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

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The blog for writers

The Book Deal

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

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

New author sells 80K books in 1 year. Here’s how

October 1, 2015 by Alan Rinzler

When John J. Davis set out to market his first self-published thriller Blood Line, he thought he did everything right. He hired an experienced book publicist, arranged readings at bookstores, went on a 30-day cross-country author tour. The results were dismal. "We quickly discovered that the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, Amazon, book editor, book sales, developmental editor, marketing your book, self-publishing

Ever wonder what a developmental editor could do for your book?

May 20, 2014 by Alan Rinzler

More and more writers are hiring their own developmental editors, whether they plan to self-publish their book or hope to land a literary agent and go for a book deal with a traditional publisher. To give you an idea what a professional developmental editor could do for your book, here’s a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Craft of Writing, Self-Publishing Tagged With: "narrative arc", Alan Rinzler, author, book, developmental, developmental editor, editor, how to, plot, self-publish, writer

Prequels build buzz!

December 16, 2013 by Alan Rinzler

Have you heard what some savvy authors are doing to build excitement and attract readers to their upcoming books? They're writing prequels: tantalizing teasers in short story form that preview the key characters and settings of an upcoming novel. Some prequels predate or provide backstories … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: advice, Alan Rinzler, author, book, book deal, developmental editor, editor, fiction, marketing, prequel, self-publishing, writer

How winning a literary prize can change your life

May 14, 2013 by Alan Rinzler

"First, it got my book published," says Kirstin Scott, whose novel Motherlunge won the 2011 Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award. "And with that, the prize gave me readers." There's no doubt that winning a well-respected competition can help validate your work with agents and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, award, developmental editor, fiction, Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, Iowa Short Fiction Award, literary, literary prize, novelist, prize, publication, winner, writer, writing

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 should anyone give a shiitake about your book?

December 14, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

That's the first question to ask yourself, writes Guy Kawasaki in the opening chapter of a definitive new book on self-publishing, APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur – How to Publish a Book, written with co-author Shawn Welch. Kawasaki is passionate about writers creating worthwhile books for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author brand, author platform, book editor, book publicity, book publishing, developmental editor, editing, editor, Guy Kawasaki, self-publishing

Timing your book’s launch date for maximum impact

November 1, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Strategic timing of your book's publication date can give it a jet-propelled boost and have a major impact on its long-term success. Commercial publishers and booksellers have known this forever. Christmas and beyond … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, book, book launch, developmental editor, editor, launch, marketing, publication, publishing, strategies for publication, timing, writer

Great reasons to self-publish: 7 case histories

October 8, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Writers who self-publish often reap enormous benefits that are personal and unique. This goes way beyond the usual notion of self-publishing as either an alternative or a pathway to a traditional book deal. Writing and publishing a book can strike an emotional chord of meaning and importance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, book editor, developmental editor, editor, self-publishing, writer

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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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