Alan Rinzler

Consulting Editor

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The blog for writers

The Book Deal

Big-6 publisher jumps on the indie bandwagon

September 6, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Was it just a matter of time? The news came recently that Penguin Group, one of the largest book publishers in the world, has acquired Author Solutions Inc (ASI), a leading provider of services for self-publishing writers, for $116 million. Penguin's CEO, John Makinson, waxed rhapsodic in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, ASI, Author Solutions, book editor, book publishing, developmental editing, developmental editor, John Makinson, Keith Ogorek, Penguin, Penguin Group, Penguin Publishing, self-publishing

The bears and bulls of publishing: An insider steps up

August 3, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

EBook buyers read more books. And why wouldn't they be? They can look on this article about ebooks and find places to get them for free! They're the future! We're in the midst of a fantastic transition. Words from another outsider advocating the overthrow of legacy publishing? Nope. Not at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, books, developmental editing, developmental editor, editor, future of publishing, John Glusman, publishing, self-publishing, Squaw Valley writers conference, WW Norton

What should you expect from a developmental editor?

July 3, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

As a longtime developmental editor, I often get questions from authors about the editor-writer relationship. How exactly do developmental editors work? How can I tell if I’ve found a good one? And will you correct my typos? I can tell you that virtually all successful writers – from Ernest … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Editor, Craft of Writing, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, character development, content, developmental editing, developmental editor, dialogue, fiction, freelance, independent, nonfiction, novel, plot, story, structure

What writers can learn from Barry Eisler

June 2, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

It's inspiring when a successful author goes out of his way to help others in the craft of writing. Barry Eisler is one of those good guys. Though he'd probably rather be known as one baaad dude. He's a one-time CIA operative, a judo black belt and an intellectual property attorney, who's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Craft of Writing, How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, Amazon, Amazon Publishing, authors, Barry Eisler, craft of writing, getting published, Grub Street, Joe Konrath, Kindle, publishing, self-publishing, writers, writing

Launching a successful blog tour

April 23, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

"When I was first starting out, I dreamed of being sent on a book tour. I'd travel around the world-at my publisher' expense, of course-and hit the major bookstores, where I'd do readings and signings for standing-room-only audiences," says Jackie Morse Kessler, the author of a four-book YA … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, blog tour, book bloggers, book tour, developmental editor, Jackie Kessler, promotion, publicity, self-publishing, writer

Book marketing & publicity: Advice from three experts

March 29, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

A smart marketing consultant and basic ideas like meet the users' intent, can be the secret weapon in an author's campaign to market and promote a book. That's according to Adrienne Biggs, one of three experts interviewed for this post. Since not all authors are experienced or even comfortable … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Adrienne Biggs, Alan Rinzler, book publishing, Cindy Ratzlaff, consultant, indie publishing, marketing, publicity, Stephanie Chandler

The Viagra Diaries: A self-publishing mega success story

March 26, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

"Barbara Rose Brooker is fearless. The Viagra Diaries does for single seniors what Helen Gurley Brown's Sex and the Single Girl and Erica Jong's Fear of Flying did for the women's sexual revolution in the sixties and seventies." -- Entertainment Tonight It's a blurb to die for, and well … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, How To Get Published, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, Barbara Brooker, book deal, developmental editing, developmental editor, editor, HBO, self-publishing, Simon & Schuster, The Viagra Diaries, writers, writing

Growing a short story into a novel

March 5, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Do you have a short story work-in-progress that just doesn’t want to fit into 10,000 words or 25 pages? Is it bursting at the seams? Does it feel incomplete and frustrating to read? Then you may have a recalcitrant short story that could be transformed into a successful novel. A case in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Craft of Writing, How To Get Published, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author, developmental editing, editor, novel, novella, rewriting, short story, short-form fiction, writer

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

The new author pitch: Show, don’t sell

January 16, 2012 by Alan Rinzler

Authors today need a whole new attitude toward the all-important pitch. Until now, the author pitch was defined as a hard-sell verbal punch to persuade agents and editors to take on their book. It was typically brief, high-concept, often hyperbolic and was designed to convince the agent standing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Industry Trends, Marketing Your Book, Self-Publishing Tagged With: Alan Rinzler, author platform, authors, editors, pitching, selling your book, the author pitch, the new author pitch, writers

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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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