How Long Should a Book Be?
Audience, Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft, Picture Book Draft, Nonfiction Draft Guest User Audience, Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Draft, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Short Story Publishing, Freelance Draft, Picture Book Draft, Nonfiction Draft Guest User

How Long Should a Book Be?

Writers have a love-hate relationship with word count. It’s one of the necessary evils we deal with to determine if a manuscript meets an acceptable published length. So how long should a book be? Here’s a guide to help you answer.

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Episode 40: Danielle Marietta, Creator of Books & Things Publishing
Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Submission, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Publishing Kaylee Pereyra Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Submission, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Editing, Picture Book Publishing Kaylee Pereyra

Episode 40: Danielle Marietta, Creator of Books & Things Publishing

Danielle Marietta joins the podcast to discuss Books & Things Publishing, the children’s book sphere, and the importance of promoting diverse authors. Tune in to learn more about Danielle’s writing journey, and her tips on self-publishing, social media marketing, and connecting with your target audience.

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Episode 39: Allison Speka, Self-Published Romance Author
Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Outline, Freelance Submission Mary Kole Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community, Freelance Publishing, Freelance Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Editing, Freelance Outline, Freelance Submission Mary Kole

Episode 39: Allison Speka, Self-Published Romance Author

Romance author Allison Speka joins the pod to discuss her journey into writing and self-publishing. She talks about her love for the romance genre, and shares her experience with self-publishing, including tips on cover design, book marketing, and the value of learning from other indie authors.

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Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach
Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach

Katie Wolf joins the pod for an inspiring conversation about getting started in publishing, work-life balance, and writing to market. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health and why self-awareness is key in developing your writing craft.

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Changing Literary Agents
Market, Community, Agent, Writing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Guest User Market, Community, Agent, Writing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Guest User

Changing Literary Agents

One of the most difficult experiences for an author is changing literary agents. Sometimes, as much as many hate to admit it, seeking out new representation becomes necessary. If a relationship between an author and their agent isn’t productive, it can often be worse than having no agent at all.

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Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Submission, Memoir Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, ER/CB Submission, Memoir Submission, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 13: Wendelin Van Draanen, MG and YA Author

An uplifting conversation with author Wendelin Van Draanen, where we discuss the therapeutic nature of writing and the silver lining in a difficult path to publication.

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Writing Under a Pseudonym
Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Writing Under a Pseudonym

Many authors write under a pseudonym, also known as a pen name. If you think writing under an alias is in your future, here are some criteria to help you decide. I’ve also got some tips on how best to come up with one.

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Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole

Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger

Book Marketer and PR Coach Emily Enger joins Mary to talk about some of the aspects of the writing process that might leave a yucky taste in our mouths. Tune in for actionable tips and insights into a publicist and marketer's side of the publishing world.

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Marketing To Libraries
Marketing, Community, Market, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Marketing, Community, Market, Nonfiction Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Marketing To Libraries

If you’ve written a book, you’re probably considering marketing to libraries—especially if you’re a self-published author. As such, you’re the direct link between your work and the rest of the world—no fancy marketing departments to help you out.

So how do you approach marketing to libraries?

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Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 33: Sara Zarr, YA & Middle Grade Author

Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace, such as the popularization of certain YA genres and how that affects YA authors who specialize outside of those genres.

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Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole

Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author

Leslie C. Youngblood shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?

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The Young Adult Fiction Market with Sara Zarr
Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing Mary Kole Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing Mary Kole

The Young Adult Fiction Market with Sara Zarr

Join Mary Kole and Sara Zarr as they talk about the complex realities surrounding publishing and becoming a career author within a rapidly shifting YA and Middle Grade marketplace. Sara Zarr brings insight and personal experiences to surviving the sudden and drastic changes within the YA marketplace.

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Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author
Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author

A conversation with Kilby Blades (author of romance novels such as The Gilded Love series) about self-publishing, writing diverse, feminist characters, and changes the traditional publishing industry needs to make in order to be an inclusive space for writers of color.

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Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert
Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission Mary Kole

Episode 19: Chuck Sambuchino, Freelance Editor and Publishing Expert

Insights from industry veteran Chuck Sambuchino on how to become a well-informed writer, build a platform, and get published.

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Communicating with Literary Agents
Agent, Submission, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Agent, Submission, ER/CB Submission, Freelance Submission, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Submission, Novel Submission, Picture Book Submission, Short Story Submission, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Communicating with Literary Agents

Communicating with literary agents is an important part of the querying process. Here are some communication do's and don'ts that'll give you the best shot at receiving a response to your query.

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Growing From Aspiring Writer to Published Author with Rebecca Ansari
Writing, Craft, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Growing From Aspiring Writer to Published Author with Rebecca Ansari

Debut middle grade author Rebecca Ansari chats with Mary about the journey from aspiring writer to published author, MG craft insights, and what new things she has in the works!

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Writing for a Living
Writing, Market, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Market, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Writing for a Living

Many aspiring writers hope to quit their day jobs so they can pursue writing for a living, but is this a realistic goal? Here's an overview of what to expect if you want to pay the bills with your writing.

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Reading Like a Writer
Craft, Writing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Amy Wilson Craft, Writing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Amy Wilson

Reading Like a Writer

If you’re struggling to figure out how to write a good story, you might want to consider coming at it from a fresh angle: reading like a writer. What does reading like a writer mean?

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The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood
Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole

The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood

Author and former assistant professor of creative writing Leslie C. Youngblood joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. She shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?

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