A guest column by Nour Sallam of Helm Literary. 

Everything you need to know about pitch events: How to prepare for pitching literary agents in person and what to expect in a pitch session. 

If you’ve found yourself here, you’re thinking about signing up to pitch an agent in person (or you’ve already done so!). As a literary agent, I’m going to tell you how to prepare for pitching agents and what you need to know about how to use the time you have for your pitch effectively. 
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Pitching in person (or virtually) can be daunting. I get that! I’m not here to tell you not to be nervous because I’m sure everyone in your life has already told you that. But what I will tell you is that I personally find that the best way to reduce my anxiety about something is to be very prepared for it. This post will act as your prep kit. It will cover what you need to know, what to expect and how to navigate your pitch.

(A guest column by literary agent (and author) Mike Nappa of Nappaland Literary.)

 
You want to write professionally? Then study the craft of writing. Here are a few places to start:
 

Genres are boxes.

Imagine you are a bookseller, and have a stack of books to organize on your store’s shelves. Each shelf is labeled with a genre: horror, romance, fantasy, thriller, literary fiction, and so on. Now and then, you may find a book that doesn’t fit neatly into a shelf. It is horror but set in space. You’ve got a sci-fi horror novel on hands. Where do you shelve it? Horror or science fiction? You need to choose. Who is the most likely to enjoy this book? Sci-fi readers or horror readers?
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Now, the good thing about being a writer is that you aren’t a bookseller. You don’t need to choose what box to put your book into when you are writing it. Of course, at some point you will have to ask yourself how to market your book to a literary agent, a publisher, or a reader, and the genre(s) of the book will matter. But when you are still alone in front of your draft? Forget the box.

(A guest column by literary agent (and author) Mike Nappa of Nappaland Literary.)

The woman asked a sensible question; she deserved a practical answer. 

I was sitting on an “Agents & Editors” panel at a writer’s conference when she took the microphone. “I’ve been working on revising my manuscript,” she said to all of us in the crowded ballroom, “and I think it’s getting better. But how do I know when I should stop revising and start sending it out? How do I know when my book is done?”
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Good question, I thought. And one with an easy answer.
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A guest post by Literary Agent Nour Sallam of The Caldwell Agency. 

What makes a good prologue? And a huge shoutout to the prologue in Riley Sager’s The Only One Left.

Agents don’t actually hate prologues. Sorry, I lied. But we do approach them with caution. That’s because we’ve been burned by many unnecessary or ineffective prologues before. 

But I’m a glass-half-full kind of gal, so let’s instead talk about what makes a good prologue. 

(A guest column by literary agent (and author) Mike Nappa of Nappaland Literary.)

Here’s the deal: You really only need to impress three key people to get your book published. No, your agent isn’t one of them. Neither is your editor. Those people are only scouts who may or may not get you to the real decision-makers. So, who decides if your book gets published, and how do you impress them? 

That’s what I’m here to tell you. I’ve spent all of the 21st Century working in book publishing in roles as varied as editor, literary agent, author, and marketer. For this article, I’ll be wearing my “acquisitions editor” and “literary agent” caps, and we can chat. (So, if I say something like “when you send me your proposal…” you can assume that “me” in that sentence refers to both “me-the-generic-acquisitions-editor” and “me-the-generic-literary-agent.”) When we’re done here, you’ll know what it really takes to get your next book published. The rest, of course, will be up to you. 
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Ready? Then let’s go. 

Picture books have the remarkable power to captivate young listeners with just a handful of perfectly chosen words. And nothing elevates that magic quite like the rhythm and musicality of poetry.

In this article, children's author Peggy Archer shares the poetic tools that make manuscripts sing. Whether you're writing your first picture book or polishing a beloved draft, embracing a “think poetry” mindset can make all the difference.

​Let's dive in and have fun with words!

In this heartfelt Q&A, Jan Zauzmer shares candid wisdom on writing what matters even when trends pull elsewhere, why the writing community can make all the difference . . . and more! 

Whether you're an aspiring writer wondering if it's too late, a parent seeking books that spark meaningful conversations, or simply someone who believes stories can change the world, Jan's journey and advice will leave you encouraged, amused, and ready to pick up your pen. 

Writing fiction is a deeply emotional process. Undoubtedly, we’re going to be pulling from our own trauma at some point. Sometimes we write the life we wish we had, and that can be a healing experience. Other times, we're writing to fight our way through perplexing problems. 

No matter where we find ourselves in the process, writing a novel is a transformative journey. It’s not for the faint of heart! 
 
In my own writing journey, I’ve seen a lot of highs and lows. I understand how crushing self-doubt can be, and that’s only mentioning one of the land mines that writers face.

I’ve been through periods of deep depression, and there were many times when I wanted to quit. Sometimes I did quit (for a little while), but if you’re truly called to be a writer, you’ll find yourself drawn back to the page again and again. 
 
“Writing is my obsession, my passion. My relationship with it is one of the most complex, and agonizing, and richly vexing that I have in my life.” ~ Julianna Baggott
 
“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”         ~ Thomas Mann

​The publishing industry can feel like a battlefield where many writers decide it's time to hang up their pens. In this post, four seasoned authors open up about the reasons why they haven't quit.