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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Organize Your TBR: Writer's Edition
Writing, Craft, Community, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Guest User Writing, Craft, Community, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Publishing Guest User

Organize Your TBR: Writer's Edition

Getting your reading life together is particularly important for writers, because reading widely and voraciously is one of the best ways to learn your craft. But there are so many books! How do you prioritize what to read?

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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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Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author

An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience.

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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 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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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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Episode 27: Roz Morris, Ghostwriter and Writing Coach
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 27: Roz Morris, Ghostwriter and Writing Coach

Roz Morris and Mary dive into the mechanics of storytelling and discuss how to connect with your audience—whether you're writing someone else's story or you're telling your own.

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Episode 22: Kelly Madrone, Award-Winning Writer and Ghostwriter
Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Revision, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Memoir Draft, Memoir Editing, Memoir Idea, Memoir Outline, Memoir Publishing, Memoir Revision, Memoir Submission, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 22: Kelly Madrone, Award-Winning Writer and Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter Kelly Madrone joins us to talk about writing as someone else, modulating a professional potty mouth, and creating a story arc in memoir.

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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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Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator
Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator

Tune in for a chat with Mary Kole's long-time friend in the children's publishing space, YA Author J.C. Geiger. He tells all about how he made an epic mixtape with music no one's heard before (and met his heroes in the process), and talks about writing young adult characters, the future of post-pandemic fiction, and—of course—the power of music.

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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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